National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-05-13
THE OLD FLAG IN GEORGIA.


THE OLD FLAG IN GEORGIA.
Although the State of Georgia is counted
among the United States, from what we
CLEAN of it's feeling and habits the Old
Flag of the nation is not in as common use
by its people rs it is in the Dominion of
Canada, and really has far less respect from
native Georginns than it receives from the
subjects OF Queen VICTORIA. This con-
spicuous absence of the Stars and Stripes
becomes all the more marked from the fact
that Georgia is rapidly assuming n mill
tary aspect of no mean proportions, where
we should, under an established loyalty to
the Union, very naturally expect to find
the Old Flag quite numerous. The mill
tary of Georgia, as appears by an alb
stract from the State records in At
lanta, the seat of its government, con-
sists of the following white organizations
One hundred and seventy-seven companies
of infantry, siXty-nne companies of cavalry,
! five companies of artillery, all finely
armed and equipped and well drilled
and disciplined. This force is re-
garded by the GnIgians as ample to
protect the polls, without the inter-
ference of any soldiers of the army of the
United States, who use "bayonets." As it
is bayonets" that the Democrats abomin-
ate, the inference is that the military of
Georgia use nothing of the kind.
Aside from these white companies, there
is the following colored military enrolled in
the State service: Twenty infantry COM
panies, one cavalry company, one artillery
company These are in degree unarmed,
and especially are they so on election days,
when they are divested of their armOr un-
der State law which is only enforced
against the colored people, while the whites
hover around the polls, every pocket stuffed
with arms, which are used without mOlesta
ton. This no doubt, accounts for the feel
ing of adherence that seems to inspire the
Democratic Georgian against the use of
United States troops at the polling places
during Federal elections.
Now, as to the use of the United States
flag in Georgia II friend writes us as fol-
lows: 81 have lived twelve years in
" Georgia, and | never yet have seen the
United States flag carried by IA white mill
"tary company on any occasion, and it is
"not now displayed anywhere except over
national institutions" A friend writing
from Savannah states that there are in that
city ten full companies of military, and if
any of them have ever carried the United
States flag he did not see the sight at any
time since 1864. He adds:
If any such thing was ever done, it must
have been on some occasion when they sought
to impress the North for political effect I'M
til about two and half years ago the people
of Savannah were loud in their insulting re-
, marks in reference to the old flag. Toward
the close of the last Presidential campaign in
} suits to it ceased, and pleasant speeches began
D to be made about it before the electoral count
closed. do not think any military company
of Georgia, composed of whites, ever so far de-
parted from their sworn faith as to carry the
G flag of our country; if SO, the occasion was
/ such that the moral effect of carrying it was
: calculated to enhance the chances of the
Democracy at the North for success
Il have known several rows in the State
G over the flag. On one occasion grand mill
, tary demonstration in Atlanta was thrown
- into confusion by company under Captain
u JOHN l.. CoNLEY, Republican, with thu
@ United States flag as their banner. The cir
, cumstance was resented as n gross insult to al
> the other companies, and created big row
+ The intrusion of the national flag into Confed
crate military society is, l am quite sure, re
q garded as an insult, except upon rare occa
sions, calculated to be blown all over the NOrtl
e as evidence of Southern loyaty | can recall
d quite number of occasions when the COnted
ts crate flag was borne in triumph. i do no
-. see how the United States flag could well b
~ carried up to two years ago, for the reason tina
d they could not be obtained here, at least | fee
Z justified in so concluding from the fact tina
81 81 % lOnOrp
- on great OCCASION by the great lights whic
l. sine equally in the military circles and in til
Of Democratic rings, and the national flag, whic
n, was required to round out the affair, could no
- be obtained any where in the city, except a
; the custom house, whittier they finally II
1T paired and begged to be relieved Of their EN-
ts barrassmcnts which was done.
" There was from 1860 to 1877 undisguise
y hatred of our flag in the hearts of the natiy
s. whites all over Georgia, expressions whereC
% were common until comparatively shol
10 time ago IL was called "t the Haunting lie,
N that old rag, the emblem OF tyranny"
ID is truth to say, however, that since the hope
q ruling the country has possessed the peopI
here, these expressions have ceased to be heart
at least so far us l know and believe.
Is This, we feel confident, is Il truthful re
C. fiex of the respect and love borne by I'll
ie people of Georgia for our national emblem
l. The speech of Senator HILL on Saturda
al fully corroborates all that is said in that +,
u gard by our correspondent, who is a candle
~ reliable, and highly respectable citizen
10 that State. That effort was surcharged wit
'e State sovereignty-a principle which bt
Vi Titles the nation, its Union, and il
Vi flag, and dips its supremacy unde
" meath the reasonable line which
i yet held in respect in that State, Sena t.
10 HILL is supposed to represent the sent
'c mcnt of his State with fidelity, and his rel
y resentation is in strict conformity with
'e want of proper respect for the Constituto
III the Union, the Old Flag, and the Feder
laws, except that they can be placed excl
y sively in the custody of the late Confede
er ates, where the flag Of State sovereignty wi
so goat supremely over all, aud the Union ma
le of 1861 is in 1870 brought to pay homage
III the men counted rs traitors and rebels
t. that day. Under these indications it is ev
3 dent that the State Of Georgia has not az
se vanced sturdy step toward genuine 10y
i atty to the Union since the sword of rebe
~ lion was laid in the hands Of General GRAN
y at Appomattox, In view Of this the cOul
VI try may conclude to entrust him with Il
" accomplishment of work which seems
u have been suspended on the part of IL