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true hearts, by the color of blue; the living, throbbing, self- 

 sacrificing hearts, by the color of red. That the States are 

 represented as a constellation of stars was symbolic of the 

 mission of our nation to the whole world. 



To the thoughtful mind, the true poet of our American flag 

 has not yet shown himself. Both Francis Scott Key and 

 Joseph Rodman Drake, a century ago, by reason of that bitter 

 war with England, sing of the flag as if it were chiefly a war 

 flag. Just as Key names "the rockets' red glare," " the bombs 

 bursting in air," " the havoc of war," " the battle's confusion," 

 "the blood washing out their foul footsteps' pollution." "the 

 terror of fright," "the gleam of the grave," — so Drake, "the 

 lightning lances driven, " "the thunder drum of heaven," "the 

 sulphur smoke," "the battle stroke," "the life blood warm 

 and wet," " dimming the glistening bayonet," " the gory 

 sabres," and "the cannon mouthings." 



In Drake, as in Key, is successful rhythm, vivid imagery, 

 and impressiveness. Just now, unhappily, we must remember 

 that one part of what every flag may signify, even though it is 

 waving over a schoolhouse, is brute violence as an argument 

 that must be used when nothing else will do. 



What our flag ought to stand for, what some new poet 

 needs to tell eloquently that it does stand for, above all else, is 

 the white color for righteousness in every-day life; the blue, 

 for faithfulness, of not only men, but loving women, in busi- 

 ness or in the home; the red, for a spirit of sacrifice, whether 

 for God or for man. 



In closing, I think that some slight vision of this highest 

 symbolism of the American flag is hinted by these four final 

 lines of the poet whom we honor to-day : 



" Flag of the free hearts' hope and home, 

 By angel hands to valor given," 



(valor, bear in mind, is effort for any good cause) 



" Thy stars have lit the welkin dome, 

 And all thy hues were born in heaven." 



