The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-14
y -
Make the Flag Respected.


The telegraph informs us that Admiral
HoFF hasfbee relieved from command of
the American Gulf Squadron, and that Conn
modore PooRE takes his place. The dis
patch declares that it is the intention of the
government to adopt vigorous measures for
the protection of American citizens and
shipping. Wehope that such is indeed the
intention of the governments and that the
new commander will prove the right man to
carry out such a programme. Admiral
HoFF has been greatly complained of by
American citizens resident in Cuba, and has
certainly evinced sympathy for the Spanish
cause somewhat remarkable in an American
officer. With the sympathy of the entire
American people so freely eyinced in favor
of the Cubans, no American officer has a
right to in any manner use his official posi-
ton to the prejudice of the reyolutionists.
True he has no right to aid them, but it Is
equally certain that he has no right to injure
them. He should observe strict neutrality,
unless otherwise ordered, and should report
to the government all matters that may
enable it to accurately judge of the progress
of events We hope that this will be the
course adopted by Commodore PooRE, and
that the United States Navy will fifty repre- 3
sent the great nation to which it belongs.
Let American citizens and American ships
be protected from insult or injury from either
of the contestants. There has been too much
neglect of the national honor already. The
sickly governments of South America have
been permitted to insult the representatives
of the United States without remonstrance
upon the part of the government. American
vessels have been needlessly detained and
overhauled without any reparation being
demanded. For many mt nths the American
minister to Paraguay had been lost sight
of, and not an effort has been made by the
government to ascertain the cause of so extra
ordinary an occurrence. 1t was reported that
hewas a prisoner in the hands of Lopez; also
that his dispatches were prevented by the ALI
ed forces from reaching this government. One
of these facts was necessarily true, and in
either case the United States had been in
suited through its minister. Amy other ma
ton in the world would have Immediately
the insult, but the United States
did nothing but wait for the minister to
turn up" He has now turned up" and
just cause for indignation must necessarily
be found in his report of the facts attending
his detention or the retention of his DIS
patches. What will the government do2
Will it redress the wrongs, or will it tamely
submit to them9 Time will show. But one
thing is certain-the American people are
tired of seeing the government pocket all
The insults offered it. Let some of these up
start " Greaser" governments be made to
feel that they cannot insult the Ameri-
IAN flag with impunity, and the work
s finished with all of their kind. Let
he same instructions as are reported to
lave been given Commodore PooRE be given
III the representatives of America wherever
hey may be located. Let this disregard of
he national honor cease, and let every ma
ion be compelled to treat the American flag
With that courtesy and respect which is
iue the symbol of great and powerful
lation.