Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1891 — STARS IN THE NATIONAL EMBLEM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STARS IN THE NATIONAL EMBLEM.

The Admission to Statehood of Wyoming; to Be Properly Symbolized. Another star now glitters in the national dag. This is not because of any recent admission ty Statehood, for there has been none. But the law requires that the admission of a new State shall be signalized in the national banner from the Independence Day following the admission. The new star which will find a place July 4 this year will stand for Wyoming. That vigorous young Commonwealth came in after last Independence day by just a week or so. Idaho had been

more lucky, as the President had signed the bill admitting it the evening of July 3, so it has had its star all the year. With the one added for Wyoming the stars will number fortyfour. It promises to be several years before any more Territories are admitted into Statehood, so that the emblem is not likely to undergo further change for some time to come. In unofficial flags the admission of Wyoming has been. recognized by its exjtra star for nearly the year past, and the grouping of the stars has been according to the individual flag-makers. It is left for the army emblem to fix the grouping according to the Government’s idea. This is done in the order just issued by the War Department, as follows: “The field or union of the national flag in use in the army will, on and after July 4, 1891, consist of forty-four stars in six rows, the upper and lower rows to have eight stars, and the second, third, fourth and fifth rows seven stars each in a blue field.” Every flag floating as the sign of authority of the National Government will henceforth conform to this order. The flags with less than forty-four stars and with the old grouping wnl not be at once condemned, forthe Government does not go to that extravagance. But as the new emblems are called for the new order will be observed and the old flags will gradually disappear.

POSITION OF THE STARS IN THE FIELD OF THE NATIONAL FLAG.