108 TEAKS ACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



dense superstition of his land ; the lotus flower symbolizes the 

 mystic philosophy of Egypt; and the "Fleur de Lis" of France 

 is abandoned by all the advanced republicans of to-day as 

 a symbol of liberty. 



Shall we, then, in view of these quoted facts, emulate Europe 

 in the matter? Can we readily concede that our floral emblem 

 should be a single flower, because all the European nations have 

 a single flower? How cheap, how inglorious is such an argu- 

 ment. 



Another great objection to the single flower idea, and one 

 which will prove a bristling wall of opposition is State pride. It 

 may be urged in opposition to this statement that our pride 

 should be suppressed in the matter, but it can hardly be allowed 

 as a point in the discussion, because of this accepted precept, 

 while we are a homogenous people considered as a nation exter- 

 nally, internally considered, the relation of the States to the 

 nation are decidedly Homologous. 



In view of this fact it is absurd to ask the States to surrender 

 their pride when one or many of their sister States are 

 clamoring for national recognition in a matter equally pertinent 

 to the"" State or States asked to keep silence. Negligent, indeed, 

 would be the State that would not by every honorable means 

 seek aggrandizement in any matter that would shed such honor 

 alike upon her escutcheon and her citizenhood. 



Who is there in our State who does not share the honor of his 

 selection with Melvin W. Fuller? who does not feel proud that this 

 man now occupying the most eminent position among his coun- 

 try's officials, was electedfrom the yeomany of American citizen- 

 ship? Who blushes with shame for their State pride when 

 Lincoln's greatness is named; who hang their heads when the 

 brilliant Douglass is quoted ; who trembles with guilt at the name 

 of Grant and Logan, now glorifying history's page and worn in 

 the hearts of all? And what Illinoisan would bury his State 

 pride, and not strive to place among the honored emblems of his 

 country a floral emblem from Illinois? And yet we are only one of 

 many. The citizens of our sister States would be, and are, equally 

 anxious to secure this honor. 



This State pride is a fact; it may be a question in ethics, if it 

 be right to indulge in it, but our province is to discuss the char- 

 acter of the floral emblem, and not violations of the ethical or 

 moral code, and when facts are presented they should be 

 weighed carefully, that we may determine judiciously. And, as 

 before remarked, it is a fact; it exists, and will be a mighty 

 factor in the contest (if our national emblem is to be a single 

 flower) that will be long and profitless. 



Already in the field as candidates for the honor, are some sixty 

 blooms, and the one which wins the victory must take the palm 

 from many handsome favorites. It would have to outride in popu- 



