Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-18
The Presidents Flag Rather Too
Too.
New York Sun

New York Sun.
The establishment of this flag is
defended by reference to the constitu-
ton, which makes the President the
chief of the navy. The
various Admirals have flags for their
respective grades, and why should not
their superior officer have this? The
reason why is plain. The President
never acts as commander-in chief of
the navy on s~hipboard. II he did, it
might be we'll enough for him to have
a flag. In fact, however, the very first
use to which the Presidents flag has
been put is purely private. 1t flies at
the mainmast of Q government steamer
which he employs, not for government
purposes, but for his personal conye-
n%ience, as if it we're his own individual
property.
A flag used in this manner is too
much like the standard of the English
sovereign which is hoisted on the
Queen s yacht. We do not want either
that sort Of flag or that sort of yacht
in this country. The best yacht for
the President to use in travelling from
Washington to New York lisa Pullman
car, and the onlysignal there employed
by him should be a ticket duly bought
and paid for. When General Arthur
thinks this matter over he will agree
with us.
Indianapolis Times: The "Presi-
dents flag" designed by the official
lickspittle at the head Of the Bureau
Of Navigation, in the Navy Depart.
ment, is fourteen feet long by eleven
feet broad, the material Of navy blue
bunting. In the center is the Ameri-
can coat of arms, the eagle holding in
its mouth the pennant on which is
inscribed, "E Pluribus Unum," and
perched on q shield, graphing in one
claw a bunch Of arrows and in the
other a bunch of leaves. Above the
coat of arms, arranged in a semicircle,
are thirteen white stars, representing
the thirteen original States. 1t is
announced that one of these flags will
be placed on board of each United
States vessel, and whenever the Presi
dent goes aboard one Of those vessels,
the Presidents flag will fly from the
main-mast. All this is opposed to
Republican ideas, and in very bad
taste.
Chicago Times.-With the brau.new
flag of the President-a novelty in
American naval customs, a sort Of
royal standard-fying at the fore OF
the aft, or the middle, or whatever
other part Of the ship it may properly
appear, the Presidents excursion
steamer, the Despatch, has weighed
anchor from the Navy yard at Wash
ington and is steaming for New York.
But the pennant will not be hauled
down in that port, and, much as he
would order cabby to wait half an hour
on the corner, the President will have
a war vessel awaiting his royaI
pleasure. He will remain New York
some ten days and then set sal.
for Newport, where the Despatch, still
fixing the Presidents pennant, will
anchor until such time as it seems
best to His Excellency to steam uE
the North Atlantic coast. This Mr.
Arthur, late of the New York Gus.
~tomhouse, is q man whom, in hi
retirement among the potato fields O.
Fremont, Mr., Hayes may look upoI
with envy. There are some othel
people terribly unhappy in this con.
nection who are to be pitied for more
reasons than one They are "the vel
disposed persons who we're willing t
be invited to join this private party
and made it convenient for the Presi
dent to invite them" The Presiden.
has with him his children and a frienC
of theirs. There used to be Presidents
who wouldn't think it honest to use
war vessel for this purpose; but time
have changed.