National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-01

O. Your brother remarked that that was cal
culated to excite young men "A. Yes, sir.
G! What were these colored men doing at the
time "A They were marching along.
g. Then what excited them PA. Well, the
fact Of their having y meeting down there,
which was q failure aud the fact of marching
through the streets as if they had obtained
victory instead Of going homo to work. made
them excited.
@. Thereupon you asked your brother to
stop the WA. Yes, sir.
BY the Chairman Distinguished Democratic
speakers were present? "A. General HAGooD,
the Comptrollcr.Gcneral of the State, who
came there at the request of the Governor,
and others were present
@. Did he speak "A. He did, at the Demo-
cratic meeting. / did not hear him, however.
Q. Who were advertised to speak at the
Democratic meeting "A l don't know all OF
them.
@. Did they remain there until the Republi
cans dispersed PA. Most of them did, be-
lieve.
O. What became of the band2-A. l don't
know.
O. What became of the flag "A I don't
know.
Q. Did they pull down the flag "A. Yes,
| sir.
q. You say II was an unpopular emblem PA.
| Only to this extent, that the Republicans al
| ways displayed the United States flag and the
| Democrats never did.
Q. In your judgment what was 1t that ex-
cited the men; was It the banner, the flag. or
the band "A think it was because the Re-
publicans had answered the proposition from
the Democrats in relation to holding a joint
meeting to the effect that they would hold no
meeting that day and that they did hold
meeting.
By Mr.. KrRKwooD-Q. You noticed num-
mer of red.slrirts at this cross street "A. Yes,
| sir.
q. And you were afraid of trouble?-A. Yes,
| sir.
Q. You stated you were afraid of trouble be-
cause the procession were carrying banners,
| had music, and you mentioned some transpa.
rencies and you said they carried the United
States flag PA. Yes, sir.
Q. And that that is not popular here "A
| No, sir. The Democrats of Sumter have no
flags they have never used any. When they
sec it Mt Republican meetings, where 1t is an
| emblem of oppression, II excitcs them. hope
some timo it will be otherwise.
So that noble old flag, which has been
tattered by the rage of battle in conserving
the national integrity, the flag of our fathers
its sacred emblem, the flag which has
brought respect to itself on every ocean, sea
lake, river, and nnvigable waterway on the
globe, and which has served TO protect the
rights of the nation and its people every
where on sea and land, is now regarded in
South Carolina as IAN emblem of oppres
"sion," aud its unfurling in the streets be
hind band of music, and borne in process
sion by American citizens on American soil
is unpopular, and excites the Democrats Il
outrage and violence The old spirit of re
bellion is aroused by its presence, and ii j
torn down and trampled in the dust as al
evidence that the spirit of hate toward th
Government and the emblem of its power i
implacable and ready for outbreak at an.
moment.
How long is this nation called upon Il
submit in tameness and quiet to such in
suits? How long and how often will tn
Government fold its arms in the sickl,
robes of pacifcation and conciliation ant
suffer contempt of its power, attended b.
, the most offensive insoence? We shall see
3 This evidence is but symptom of TIN
I disease of treason that pervades and is lurk
a ing through the South, waiting an excus
and opportunity for another outbreak in re
n bellion. Itis not only South Carolina, bu
g the entire late slave-holding South, whic
Il regards the old flag as "an emblem Of OF
, PRESTON" and becomes excited with hate
s full and vengeful feelings whenever they sc
= ii spread to the breeze. Those who hat
4 the flag abhor the Government and contem
l. its authority They have no fealty TO
n though they consent to live under it, an
n they endure this Government, its flag, an
e its authority under protest, waiting for IL
I time to come when, in the language of Il
# witness we have introduced, " it will
e otherwise"