National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-04-11
OUR DlSHONERED FLAG.
The Norfolk Guards Unfurl the Stars
and Stripes.
a stnl March without Colors--The
Visitors Borrow u National Flag and
Proclaim Their Intention of Carry
Ing II Home-.An Enthusiastic
Time at Their Departure
-So"c ihSi". ats.
INC Willing Military Company.

~, inc '''~.ting Military Company.
20 '.ction of tho ex Union soldiers who &C, &c.
:. G. A. y = !"io ,yeGGSSllsaay evening and the
/ vigorous language used In their comments
upon the absence Of the Stars and Stripes in
the military parade on Wednesday was every
where the theme of conversation yesterday
and was widely discussed. The friends of
| Company A, or the Washington Light Infantry
Corps defended that organization on the
| ground that they were simply follow ing the
army regulations which prescribed that coors
shall be carried only by battalons and rcgi-
ments. One objection given to bearing colors
while on parade is that they interfere with the
evolutions in drilling, for W hich the corps 10
| famous.
For the cx.Unon soldiers, whatever ex-
| plantations were made, the fact remained that
| the organizations had paraded the streets of
| tho Capital, displaying no colors except the
State flag of Virginia, rs dear TO the cx-Con-
| lederatc heart as the Stars and Bars. When
| the members of the Norfolk company appeared
on the streets yesterday morning many of them
had miniature American flags stuck N their
caps. thus gracefully rendering obedience TO
| public opinion. The members of the visiting
company spent the day in inspecting the city,
and assembled at the armory, on Pennsyl-
vana avenue, near Sixth street, about four
| o'clock to prepare for their departure on the
| steamer Lcary at six.
Crowds were collected on the sidewalks and
in the streets about the armory, and stood in
the rain nearly two hours. Everybody was
| talking about the flag, and everybody was
waiting to see whether the Stars aud Stripes
would be displayed when the two companies
marched out into the street. When the band
made its appearance everybody watched the
entrance to the armory. Then Company A
filed out in their shakos and ovcrcoats-but
without flag. Everybody was silent. Then
the gray-coated visitors appeared--onc two,
three; then the color-bearers emerged from
the hallway, and loud shout of applause went
NJ from the crowd. Side by side with the
blue flag of Virginia the Stars and Stripes
waved triumphantly. The crowd of specta-
tors were enthusiastic in their cheering.
The two companies paraded down Pennsyl-
vana avenue to Four-and.a-half street. cOun-
termarched to Seventh street, and thence
marched TO the steamboat wharf, and all the
way the Stars and Stripes floated proudly and
beautifully, leaving in its wake many hearts
throbbing with patriotism. If there were amy
curses they were not uttered. 1t was not good
day for speaking aught against the Old Flag.
| Tho Norfolk Company took the flag with them
when they embarked, and it was placed in II
conspicuous place. At six o'clock the boat
steamed away. Unfavorable comments were
made upon the fact that Company A did not
also unfurl an American flag. Their neglect to
any intention to offend loyal men. 1t was held
by members of the company that as the visit
Ors themselves displayed a United States flag,
thus announcing their allegiance to it, the
charge that Company A had reirained from
carrying one out of respect for the sentiments
of their guests could not stand, and there was
no call for them TO do otherwise than march,
according to their custom. without cOlOrs.
Tho flag borne by the Norfolk company was
borrowed from Captain Moore, of Company A,
by Captain White, of the visitors. Before
leaving the armOry to make the march TO tho
boat number of speeches were made by menu
! bers of each company. The last speaker was
Captain White, who after thanking Company
A for their hospitable reception, said in sub
, stance: Captain Moore, if you have a United
States flag would like to borrow it. | have
no prejudice against 1t, and propose not only
: to carry it through the streets of Washington,
but with your permission, will take il home
with me and carry it to my armOry. 1t shall
} be returned to you, if you wish, and rs soon
as funds can be secured i will see that my COM
pany is supplied with ONE Captain Moore
then loaned Captain White the flag of the old
National Rifles, an organization that died with
the war, and this was the flag borne in the
parade yesterday afternoon.
The passage Of the two companies down Sew
l. cnth street to the wharf was attended with a
great deal OF enthusiasm. A number of pri-
i waite houses were decorated with the Stars and
i Stripes. One incident is worthy of particular
| notice: On the porch of q house at the south
! east corner of Seventh and j streets southwest
o large party of ladies and gentlemen were
gathered. A national emblem waved proudly
n over their heads, and when the Norfolk COM
!. pany saw it it was greeted with the " marching
o salute" This incident caused fresh Outburst
OF enthusiasm, and the visitors may well feel
proud Of theiI graceful act
Colonel William G. Moore, commanding
Washington Light Infantry Corps published a
| card last awning i'm which hp Sta tnIt hot lie
p command "a Company had never carried
l. national or any other colOrs since its reorgan.
F. ization in May, 1871 that he prefers to adhere
TO the rule of the regular service, in which col
" ors are not allowed TO companies; that it j:
l. false that Company carried q national or any
\. other flag when visiting Northern cities, and
q. equally false that the company refused OF
, neglected to bear our national emblem out Of
y Difference to the wishes of the Norfolk City
" Guard that an American flag of large dimen.
j. sons is spread across the Avenue in front of tho
s. armory and that the company is not provided
Of with quarters at the expense of the Govern
p. mGnt.
IN NusQUoTED.
: 10 The Editor of ne National Republican:
ID SIR; notice, in reading the report in yes
r terday mornings REPUBLICAN of the meeting
r. Of ex-Union soldiers, that Que of the speakers
o. was quoted as saying that he would be one o
lie the party 90 the streets aud boot and howl
81 &C." sat within few feet of the speake
nj and believe | heard him correctly. He wa
I'm speaking Of what it was customary for mil
r tary companies to do in the North, and ais
q, in this city when paradng as an Independent
err company, and said :" that If q company in an,
r. city or village in the North persisted In parad
,V ing without the national dag, as had bee
h, done by Company A, they would soon fluid
ss party to go on the streets and boot and how
at them until they returned to their armorN
to get United States flag" The gentlemai
IT was very warm in his remarks and spoke yer
rapidly hence the error reported in yesterday
paper. / make this correction in Justice /
b. the gentleman, rs do not believe either he 0
any Union soldier would resort to any sue
method to compel Company A TO carry on
20 beloved Stars and Stripes.
Il ONE WHO WAS THERE.