The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-11-28

had been whispered around among re-
pablicans that rebel Gag was to be
displayed on that occasion. One report
had il that a woman would actually |
como ous and carry such Gag in the pro-
cessior. Another had It that two La
dies, (bOth democrats, and possessed Of
more patriotism 70 the square inch than
any other two ladies of the city, one
living in East Albany and the other in
West Albany, were actually making
rebel 1ags with which to decorate their
houses on the occasion Of the rati6oa-
tion. Still another report had il that
two boys had been selected to carry the
flag in the procession. There we're many
other wild rumors aHoat which aroused
much feeling among republicans, Dem
ocrats very industriously hunted up
these reports, and in each case, traced
them to republican sources. No dem
osrat could be found who knew any
thing about this flag. Each democrats
however, pledged to every other demo
orat, "his life, his fortune and bis sacred
honor" that no such flag should be car
ried in the procession. These reports
continued to pass from mouth TO mouth
among republicans and kept them work.
Cd up to fever heat. The report that
the lady in west Albany would decor
ate her house with rebel Aags was per-
sistently peddled in all directions and
expectation ran high. On Friday noon
this lady began the work Of decorating
her mansion and preparing for its illum-
ination. The frat thing was to almost
literally cover the front of her residence
with American flags OF various sizes.
This was great disappointment to those
Republican tAls-beaEers who had been
assiduously circulating these reports
with the evident purpose of disturbing
tho peace Of the good citizensof Albany.
Time wore on, Friday night Games and
darkness settled down upon the city
like pail. Fire rockets soon begau TO
illuminate the darkersd heavens. As
If By magic, residence after residence
in all parts Of the city, poured fonrth
their great beams of light upon the vis-
ion Of four thousand democrats.
| Great bon6res and the booming OF
cannon gave expression TO the thousands
of jubilant democrats ratifying with
overfowing zeal the election Of Clsve-
land and HsndrickS The streets In ali
directions were filed with jubilant dem
iocrats answering back with joyous se-
lclaim s.Hurrah for Cleveland"
/ While all this was going on tSs Ar
gus-eysd form of . fOrlorn follower oi
the adoomed knight" WAS vending bis
way along the street OF distsut part
OF the city, when, in the darkness of the
night his eye caught the outlines of an
illuminated house, where resides higa-
ly respectable widow lady. On her
front porch was an illuminated banner
which attracted the attention of our
young "knight." l. was suspicious
looking thing. He gazed long and IN
tentiy ct the banner. Of sudden, in q
ct of the most spasmodic excitement be
whispered the words audibly "Tt's itP'
H1t's itiP' ''Thats the rebel aaglIi''
"By the gods, it must come down"
With lightning speed he rushed on to
the crowded streets Of the city where be
| gathered up . few struggling republi-
cans and told them of the discovery.
They returned to q dark corner near the
widow lady's residence and there they
had fsir view of the banner. The dis
cussion was long and animated as to
whether it was really rebel flag or not
But they could not agree. The news of
the discovery spread. One aged and
devoted follower of the man of Mulligan
fame said to number ofyoung knights
fyou go and tear that rebel flag down,
and if you can not do it the old men
wilLo But again doubts crept into the
minds Of tho excited crowd 81 they won-
dered in their minds whether It was reb-
el flag or not. One young man declared
that his father told him that he once
saw . nan that lived in Dakota who
was acquainted with man in Rhode
Island who was informed by . negro
who lived in Bencombe county North
Carolina, that rebel flag was made by
making q cross with two wooden bars
with Is stars painted On the bars. This
did not suffice. Then runner was sent
TO bring in ell the college professors, stu
dents, men Of ripe scholarship, and all
who understand fiagology, to settle the
question but in all this array Of scholar
ship and wisdom no one was found who
could unravsl this strange device.
But one or two of these young men
who were imbned with as mnch courage
as Blaine exhibited when he did not
vote for the Maine prohibitory amend
ment wanted to tear this rebel flag down
anyway, but better cOnnsels prevailed
and the crowd dispersed TO their respec-
tive pisces Of abode. On the next