National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-04-11

tNV cnhleu VI NOlnpuIy "a NNShnBtun |
Light Infantry. We are flooded with COM
munications on this subject, some anony-
nous and some bearing responsible names
some in criticism and some in defense of
the action of Company A, in what seoms to
be an ignoring of the Old Flag upon public
occasions One correspondent, who has not
honorod us with his name, but sigus HIM
self SC. l.. P," defends the non-use of the
| flag by the company, and pays a high COM
| pimcnt to Colonel MOORE its commandant,
as brave soldier and loyal citizen,
with all of which we have warm
! feeling of sympathy. lie says Company
is composed largely of Republicans lin poll
ties, but politics are forgotten the moment
the armory is entered. This may be so,
but it does not harmonize with the fact
that the company marched in body, and
we think with arms and fixed bayoncts, to
serenade Mr.. BLACKBURN anu Give him an
opportunity to declare against what he dc-
nounces as bnyonct rule We thought the
company widely out of place upon that oc-
casion, unless it is it's policy to give nom
partisan serenades and receptions to our
statesmen and, if that be 50, we could not
clearly understand why Mr.. BLACKBURN,
u Confederate guerrilla, should be sere-
nadcd and General LOGAN, real Union
soldier and hero, who had made his mark in
the war to. crus, rebellion, should have
been neglected.
Our correspondent is little free with his
epithets, and those we will drop to present
his points of defense in this case. lie says:
"Nocompany carries a UnitcdStates flag; bat
"talions and regiments only do So" This
may he so, but Company A is the chief VOL
unteer military defense of the District,
which knows no flag but that of the nation,
and hence Company a can bear no other,
and must bear this or go flnglcss through
the world. The citizens of Washington
are proud of Company A. 1t is rare
/. specimen Of citizen soldiery and a credit TO
the National Capital. But what is mil
itary company without q flag? What is an
, army without banners? 1t would have but
little if any more military significance than
D a parade of circus performers dccked with
lace and tinsel and headed by band OF
music.
The absence of the flag having become
conspicuous upon repeated public occasions
has excited curiosity, remark, and some
severe criticism, and out of respect to pub.
: lie sentiment we should think the future
!. paradcs Of Company A would be marked by
. the Star Spangled Banner, unless there is
u an aversion to it on the part of its members
There is certainly no law or regulation pro
: hibiting it in this case. We have no doubt
; that in the future, in Difference to marked
: public sentiment that is strongly expressed
iustnow, the Old Flag will make its appear
Il ance whenever Company A parades th
= streets of our city, and thus show respec
l. for it, of which all loyal people are jealous
d In this connection we take the liberty o
IL suggesting, with becoming modcsty and as
/ a matter Of taste, that hereafter the com
ie pany parade under the national flag, an,
y, further that it abstain from bearing arm
" with bayoncts fixed when it goes out polit
ical party serenading, for bayonets i'll pol
,r itics are offensive to the class OF statesmen
III it has thus honOred.