Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/269

 it. Yet under that flag they had fought in their infancy for their very existence, against more than one determined foe. Under it they had repulsed and driven back the relentless savages, and carried it farther and farther into the decreasing wilderness as the standard of civilization and religion.

Under it youthful Washington won his spurs in the memorable and unfortunate expedition of Braddock, and Americans helped to plant it on the plains of Abraham, where the immortal Wolfe fell, covered with glory, in the arms of victory.

But our forefathers, when they separated themselves from Great Britain,—a separation not on account of their hatred of the English Constitution or of English institutions, but in consequence of tyrannical and unconstitutional acts of Lord North's administration, and because their destiny beckoned them on to independent expansion and achievement,—cast no lingering looks behind. They were proud of their heritage in the glories and genius and language of Old England, but they were influenced by the spirit of the North, of the great Hampden, Vistigia nulla retrorsum.

They were determined to build up a new power among the nations of the world. They therefore did not attempt to keep the old flag. We think it good to imitate in this comparatively little matter, as well as emulate in greater and more important ones.

The committee, on examining the representations of the flags of all countries, found that Liberia and the Sandwich Islands had flags so similar to that of the United States that it seemed to them an additional, if not a conclusive, reason why we should not keep, copy or imitate it. They feel no inclination to borrow at second hand what had been pilfered and appropriated by a free negro community and a race of savages.

It must be admitted, however, that something was conceded by the committee to what seemed so strong and earnest a desire to retain at least a suggestion of the old Stars and Stripes.

So much for the mass of models or designs, more or less copied from, or assimilated to, the United States flag. With reference to the second class of designs, those of an elaborate and complicated character( but many of them showing considerable artistic skill and taste), the committee will mainly remember