The Pledge_ A History of the Pledge of Allegiance - Jeffrey Owen Jones [37]
The times demand a patriotic citizenship, patriotic schools, a patriotic pulpit, a patriotic press. Patriotism in its broadest sense is the propelling force behind this multitude of thoughtful, earnest young men, whose generous action makes this event today possible. . . .
As the future shall behold them floating in their majestic mission, may all hearts wave a glad welcome to the coming millions; a welcome not in bondage and superstitions of the past, but to freedom, enlightenment and human brotherhood.
Bellamy was afforded the opportunity to lead the small group in the recitation of the Pledge as the huge flag waved, though the New York Herald Tribune incorrectly reported the words recited at the lighthouse as: “I vow myself to my flag and the Republic for which it stands, and liberty and justice for all.”
In fact, not until after the turn of the century did the Bellamy pledge emerge from the pack and get recognition as the Pledge. The act of showing deference to the flag with a “salute” was by then deeply embedded in the national psyche. But the first flag salute statute was passed in New York State on the day after the United States declared war on Spain, April 22, 1898. The bill was introduced in the state Senate by Senator Henry Coggeshall and required that the U.S. flag be flown over all public schools.
It shall be the duty of the school authorities of every public school in the several cities and school districts of the State to purchase a United States flag, flagstaff and the necessary appliances therefor, and to display such flag upon or near the public school building during school hours, and at such other times as such school authorities may direct.
The law also directed the state superintendent of public instruction to prepare “a program for a salute to the flag at the opening of each day of school and such patriotic exercises as may be deemed by him to be expedient. . . .” Interestingly, in keeping with a theme stressed by many of the government officials Bellamy interviewed prior to the public school event in 1892, the New York legislators forbade using any of the flag ceremonies for military purposes:
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize military instruction or drill in the public schools during school hours.
The superintendent, Charles Rufus Skinner, a former editor of the Watertown Daily Republican and U.S. congressman, noted that the law said “not a word” about its intent. So he intended to provide one: “But whoever will read between the lines cannot fail to see its gracious purpose,—nothing less or other than to awaken in the minds and hearts of the young a strong and abiding regard for the flag and intelligent appreciation of the great men and great deeds that made it to be, to all American youth, the rallying-cry of patriotism.”
Skinner got so carried away with the project that the “program” the law required turned into a huge 470-page Manual of Patriotism. “I would be glad to have every pupil in our public schools commit to memory each week some patriotic selection or quotation, no matter how brief it be,” wrote Skinner in the preface. “Let school be opened by a patriotic song and a salute to the flag. This may be followed by a short recitation or by several brief patriotic quotations from the masterpieces which have been arranged in this work.”
The tome was filled with dozens of poems, salutes, songs, and activities for use in the classroom and is a treasure trove for historians of the era who wish to find a single source for turn-of-the-century arcana of patriotism. It has, of course, things we recognize as standards—like “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America”—but most of the content of this book has been lost from our collective memories. Like “The Flag That Has Never Known Defeat,”attributed to songwriters Charles L. Benjamin and George D. Sutton:
On history’s crimson