National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-15
THEREBgL FLAGAFLOATAGALM

In our issue of the 9th instant we printed
3 communication from Subscriber" at
Lynchburg, Virginia, announcing that ION
"the I'd of July, on the line of the
Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio rail-
.sroad. between Vicker's and Gen.
"tral stations, was seen floating a large
"regulation-size Confederate flag, from a
pole about fifty feet high, and that ''at
"Lynchburg the Confederate flag is thrown
''to the breeze from the boat of member
"of the Tobacco City boat club" At the
same time we expressed the opinion edito-
rally that 'the floating of Confederate flags
Eat this time in Virginia is practice which
will receive the earnest condemnation of
"an overwhelming majority Of the citizens
4" of that Commonwealth. In point Of fact
q" the practice can do no harm, except in so
q far as it promotes and keeps alive the bit
ter feelings Of the war. As it is confined
''to class of people who may claim to be
gentlemen. but are something far from it,
q" we feel satisfied that it will do no great
"iniury. Nevertheless it should be re-
"proved by the moral sentiment of the
community in most unmistakable terms. "
The result of this publication has been to
arouse different feeling from that which
we expected and predicted. The Lynchburg
newspapers, for instance, have not done
themselves the justice to reprove the act
although, as direct opponents of public SEN
timent in the locality most directly inter-
ested, it was naturally to be expected that
they would do so. On the contrary, they
have, in common with the entire press of
the State, avoided any allusion to the sub
ject, except in the way of attempts to ex-
cuse the offence or to prevaricate regarding
the facts involved. Instead of denying the
occurrence Of the second instant, they
endeavor to detract attention from it by de-
claring that the colored people held cele-
bration on the fourth instant, at which the
Stars and Stripes were displayed. This
kind of equivocation is unworthy of the
gravity of the subject and Of the character
of the gentlemen who are supposed to tell
the truth regarding current affairs in the
columns of the journals which they re-
spectively control. The following extract
from a letter recently received by US on the
subject is both explicit and reliable:
''The Montgomery Messenger, published at
Christiansburg, Va, denies that Confederate
flag ioated from pole on the line of the At
laptc, Mississippi and Ohio railroad on July
?, 1874, from the fact that its editor saw the
Stars and Stripes on the Fourth of July, when
a celebration was being held by some colored
people, on the line Of the same road. was
Subscribers informant, and saw on July second,
1874, Confederate flag floating from a pole,
as stated BY subscriber such as have often
seen in Confederate hands at the front during
the war"
We beseech the journalists and the, peo-
pie of Virginia at large to treat this matter
seriously. 1t involves too much of grave
importance to them TO be sighted in the
manner in which they have attempted TO
pass 1t by. Unfortunately for them The
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN containing the
first article has been sent broadcast through
out the United States as well as to all the
treaty making powers Of the civilized world.
The influence of this widespread puhliCa-
ton will at once be appreciated by every
thoughtful man., and Il is already showing
itself through the columns Of our exchanges,
The Chicago Inter Ocean, for example, a
paper which lsbors earnestly to induce i'm
migration to the West, remarks that there
lis no law against mans making fool of
''himself Doubtless q large majority of
'the people Of Virginia earnestly desire to
welcome immigrants within the borders of
''the State. These will regret that there are
certain zealots IN their midst so stupid as
still to nurse rebelfous sentiment, and so
''impolitic as to advertise their stupidity by
displaying it There were good many
''grown-up children in the South at the
breaking out of the rebellion, and few
appear 70 be still left in the old State of
Virginia, Flying the Confederate flag is
IAN amusement to them-a silly and profit
'1ess amusement such as is sometimes in
''dulged by ill-educated and Inbred chill
''drpn -