One of the greatest achievements of our flag in peace was the opening of Japan. In 1852 Commodore M. C. Perry was sent with a letter from President Fillmore to prepare the way for a treaty of peace and friendship and commerce with Japan. Its delivery was a matter of much ceremony. After a long delay a day was set for its reception. When the time had come, the officers in full uniform, the marines in blue and white, the sailors in navy blue and tarpaulins, and last of all the Commodore entered the boats. As the Commodore stepped into his barge, a salute of thirteen guns was given. Then the two bands struck up lively tunes and the boats made for the shore.

Along the beach were ranged nine tall crimson standards, surrounded by flags of all sorts and colors. Five or six thousand soldiers were drawn up in line, and the hills behind them were crowded with people. When the Americans came to land, a procession was formed. First, the marines and sailors, then the one flag of the procession, the Stars and Stripes, its brilliant colors flashing in the bright sunshine. It was borne by the two tallest, broadest-shouldered men among the sailors of the squadron. After the flag came two of the younger men, carrying a rosewood box mounted with gold and carefully wrapped in a scarlet cloth. In this were the credentials of the Commodore and the letter of the President. These were written on vellum, and the seals were attached by cords of silk and gold, ending in tassels of gold. Then came the Commodore, and on either side of him was a tall negro of fine proportions and armed to the teeth. After the Commodore walked the officers of the squadron. Commodore and officers were escorted into the handsomely decorated hall of reception. The court interpreter asked if the letter was ready. The two pages, guarded by the two stalwart negroes, were summoned and placed the letter upon a handsome box of red lacquer, which was ready to receive them. The Commodore made a formal bow. The bands played our national airs, and all returned to the vessels as ceremoniously as they had come.

This was the beginning of intercourse between the United States and Japan. Two years later a treaty was signed, and in 1860 an embassy from Japan visited this country.So it was that Japan was opened to the world. In 1901 the Japanese Minister of Justice said: "Commodore Perry's visit was, in a word, the turn of the key which opened the doors of the Japanese Empire. Japan has not forgotten—nor will she ever forget—that, next to her reigning and most beloved sovereign, whose rare virtue and great wisdom is above all praise, she owes her present state of prosperity to the United States of America." "Are you coming over here to fight us?" a young Japanese in this country was playfully asked. "Fight the United States?" he exclaimed. "The United States is our friend." And drawing himself up to his full height, he said proudly, "The Japanese do not forget. We know what your Commodore Perry and your country have done for us."

The American flag was first seen in China in 1784. The Chinese said it was "as beautiful as a flower," and for many years they always spoke of it as the "flower flag."

A custom of great significance and value, that of raising the home flag over legations and consulates in foreign lands whenever a home holiday comes around, is due to the tact and ready wit of one of our Ministers to Sweden, William W. Thomas, Jr. The following is his own account of the event:—

"If any man attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot," commanded General Dix; but the United States may well be proud of having herself hauled down her flag on one occasion not many years ago. After the Spanish-American War had been fought, the treaty of peace with Spain put Cuba into the hands of the United States, and the star-spangled banner was raised and saluted. This was in 1899. The three years following this act were busy ones with the War Department, for in its control was left the management of all Cuban affairs. Cuba was cleaned up, the yellow fever stamped out, schools were established, peace restored, a constitution adopted by the people, and a president elected. May 20, 1902, was the date set for the sovereignty of Cuba to pass into the hands of the Cubans. The island had been made free, and now she was coming to her own. Havana was in her best. Flags floated from every house. Ships displayed both the American and the Cuban flags. When the moment arrived, General Leonard Wood read the transfer, and the President-elect signed it in the name of the new Republic. To free Cuba from oppression the United States had entered into war. Our country sought nothing for itself, and now the freedom of the island was attained, and the American forces were to be withdrawn.

After the signing of the transfer Governor-General Wood loosened the halyards and the star-spangled banner was lowered, having accomplished nobly that for which it had been raised. As it sank slowly down the Union salute of forty-five guns was fired. Then, by the hands of General Wood, the Cuban flag was hoisted to its position and floated proudly over a free country. A national salute of twenty-one guns was fired in its honor, and the history of the Cuban Republic had begun. As the New York Sun said, "No country ever before conquered a territory at great sacrifice to set up a government other than its own."

In the hands of Admiral Robert E. Peary our flag has won the honors of the Northland. Many others had gone far north; for Peary it was reserved to go farthest north, to the Pole itself. This was no chance success, brought about by fine equipment and favorable weather; it was the fair result of careful preparation and hard work. The Admiral wrote in his journal:—

A little later, in acknowledging with gratitude the generous aid which he had received, the Admiral wrote:—

Such is the history of the flag of the United States of America from the time when a little group of colonies dared to raise their own standard and oppose their feeble strength and their slender resources to the trained armies and the ample wealth of England.

This was a century and a half ago. The Republic has come of age and has accepted her rightful share of the responsibilities of the world. The mother country rejoiced to do her honor, and on one brilliant April morning in 1917 the cities of England flung out her banner beside their own. In London the Stars and Stripes were everywhere—in the hands of the people in the streets, on private houses, on public buildings, even on the "Victory Tower" of Westminster Palace, where before that day no other flag save the Union Jack or the royal standard had ever been raised. In the historic cathedral of St. Paul four thousand people had come together to thank God for the alliance between the mother country and her eldest child, that in this war of the world "they should go forth and try the matter in fight by the help of God"—to quote the text of the Bishop of London. The two flags, of Great Britain and of the United States of America, hung side by side over the chancel rail. The thousands of people rose with reverence and sang, first, "The Star-Spangled Banner," and then, "God Save the King." And so it was that Great Britain and the United States took their stand shoulder to shoulder in the world-wide struggle to make sure "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."