222 Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting. 
south all subscribe to the great underlying principle—the great- 
est good to the greatest number. Our state governments have 
become permanently welded together into one nation now 
known and honored as the foremost in all the world. Every 
citizen of every state is a patriotic worshiper and defender of 
his country’s flag. Everywhere we teach our children to respect 
and revere it. Every American citizen is proud of his country 
and proud that it has produced a Roosevelt. 
Shall it be said, then, that we fear to make its banner the 
emblem of authority on our great inland seas over which ride 
more ships than enter and clear any port in the world? Most 
surely not. We are not afraid of federal power. We are not 
afraid of federal encroachment. We stand uncovered before the 
old flag ; the new flag ; the flag of the future! Now, as it always 
has been, always shall be, the flag of the free. 
“Flag of the stripes of fire! 
Long as the lofty bard his lyre 
Can strike, Thou shalt inspire 
Our song. 
We'll sing Thee round the hearth! 
We'll sing Thee on strange earth! 
We'll sing Thee when forth to battle we go 
With clarion tongue. 
Flag of the free and brave in blood, 
Be Thou for aye the blest of God.” 
