The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-07-16

New York the Fourth of July the peo-
pie in Washington were astonished t.
see that no flags were floating over the
departments where Lamar and Gar
land hold sway. For the first time in
twenty-five years there were bare flag
poles on these public buildings the
Fourth of July. Garland and Lamar
are State-soyereignty men, and they
could not stultify themselves by hoist
the National flag. So far as these gen.
tlemen have any particular taste in the
matter of flags it seems to be IN some
other direction than toward the Star
Spangled Banner. In times past they
showed such devotion to flag of an
other pattern that they risked their
lives in its defense; but as for the ban
ner of the Union they could not trouble
themselves to see that it foated over
the public buildings during the cele-
bration of the National Fourth, as has
always been the custom heretofore.
Lamar and Garland use the National
banner only to lower it in honor OF
men like Jake Thompson. Twice
since they have been in power have
they dishonored the flag.
In the language of the street the last
Fourth of July was rather cool day
for the American flag. Mr.. Cleveland's
letter declaring in effect that the flag
represents mere confederacy of States
instead of Nation was given to the
public while his two Rebel Secretaries
declined to hoist the flag over their de-
partments according to the time hon
ored custom. From another quarter
came reports showing that the flag had
been dishonored elsewhere in the name
of the same identical doctrines. The
bare fiag-poles in Washington and the
banners at half-mast In Salt Lake City
alike attested the Democratic doctrine
that this is not Nation but confeder
acy of States in which the people of
the various sovereignties have the right
to manage their own affairs in their own
way according to the dogmas of local
self-government" and "home rule"
John Taylor and Brigham Young Jr.
believe in this dogma as firmly as
Cleveland, Lamar, or Garland. 1t was
the same sentiment precisely that die
tated the Tammany letter, presented
bare hag-poles on the public buildings
at Washington, and displayed the ban
ner at half-mast in Salt Lake City. In
each instance the sentiment expressed
was one of opposition to Nationality
and devotion to the Democratic dogma
that the States are sovereign and indie
pendent.
The dishonor offered the flag at Salt
Lake City was not intended TO express
displeasure with the administration.
Indeed, the Mormons had just finished
jubilee because Cleveland had re-
moved Republican Judge who was
inhexible in administering the anti
polygamy laws passed by Republican
Congress over Democratic votes.
Every grievance the Mormons have on
the score of interference with their
practices they lay at the door of pre-
vious Republican administrations. The
saints have expressed their gratitude
to Cleveland for removing an infexible
Republican Judge; they will thank
hun with still greater ardor if he carries
out his promise to reverse the doctrine
of nationality and restore the old JEFF
fersonian dogmas in regard to home
rule" and "local self-government," thus
leaving the Mormons to manage their
own affairs in their own way" In the
nature of things every consistent Nor
mon is an out-and-out Democrat,
and every man of them must indorse
Cleveland's letter to Tammany to the
last syllable. Jeffersonian Democracy
is exactly what they want.
For precisely the same reasons Nor
mons and rebels dishonor the national
flag and unite with Cleveland in de-
claring fervent faith in "Jeffersonian
Democracy. The same sentiment was
represented by the Tammany letter,
the bare fiag-poles at Washington, and
the banners at half-mast in Salt Lake
City. With the national flag dishon-
ored in this way the Fourth of July
the people can understand just what
"Jeffersonian Democracy" means. How
do the mugwumps like it? Do these
incidents illustrate their ideas of
purity and reform in the affairs of
the Government? How do the saint
Johnnies" like their work? Are they
still convinced that there is nothing in
national administration so important as
the town pump? With rebels in nearly
all the high places of the Government,
and the blgoted enemies of nationality
conspiring to insult the national flag
the Fourth of July, the people have
been treated to q pretty strong dose of
ancient Democracy. 1t remains to be
seen how much stomach they have for
displays like these when they are con-
ductedin every instance in accordance
with the very doctrines which the Pres
ident himself proclaims. - Chicago
Tribune.