The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-07-15
FTRTNq ON THE FLAG.

The American flag was fired on last
Tuesday by anarchists In Chicago. while
being carried In procession. Six bullets
went through its folds, and one Of its car
riers was wounded IN the neck by spent
ball. A party of Norweigans were carry
ing the flag, and when the firing COM
menced they started on on the double
quick, but holding the banner proudly
aloft. Several bullets followed them, and
they feared repetition of the Haymarket
massacre. We think the motto so much
quoted during the war would be very APP
plicable Just now, viz: "If any man IN
suits the American flag, shoot him on the
spot" These are probably not the words
of the fiery old Governor Dix, bat 1t is
free Translation, and the sooner it is put
into practice the better.
We're the flag of any other country
Haunting on the streets of Chicago, or any
other city Of the union, and this insult Of
Eered It the probabilities are that blood
would have been spilled on the spot, and
a costly government inquiry made into
the facts of the matter, as was done in the
case Of the Austria dag at Pittsburg,
where a fancied insult was offered It.
The fact of the matter is that the Amer
lean laws are entirely too lax in this PAX
ticulAr. ANY party of foreigners, no mat
ter how large or how insl gnihcaut IN num-
beTs, on every and all occasions when they
deem At, are allowed to parade the streets
of our cities with the flags Of the repudi-
ated countries Of their nativity flying over
them. And not only this. but the blood
colored flag Of the commune has on more
than one occasion been Haunted IN the faces
Of American citizens in this land Of the free
by foreigners who owe allegiance to no
country under the sun, and who glory in
the avowed intention of doing away with
all law and order entirely.
All this Should be stopped. The person
who finds home In this country such as
he never hoped for In any other, should
surely ind our glorious banner Of free
dom good enough for all purposes for
which q flag may be honestly used. When
they leave England, Ireland, Austria, or
any other. country, let them leave their old
country ideas and flags behind them.
We do not want them. If they are so fond
of then, why not stay with them.
America is supposed to be the land Of the
free and refuge for the downtrodden and
oppressed of all nations. But we want
none of their ensignas of the power that
has driven these refugees to our shores for
protection and liberty. Let them then
either become Americans in ever sense OF
the word or 60 back to their old masters
where they may faunt their flags to their
hearts content.
With regard to the anarchist these prin-
ciples should be enforced with even more
force than were their red rag representa- :
tive of some foreign power. It represents
nothing but rapine, murder, arson and all
the crimes on the catalogue, and under no
circumstances should be allowed to ap-
pear on American or any other soil.
But, whether flags are allowed to be car
ried on the streets or not, 1t speaks but
poorly for America or Americas govern
ment that the banner should thus be pub.
licly insulted on her streets of one of our
most populous cities. The matter should
be looked into, ana If there is no law to
reach the offenders let one be Immediately
enacted for future use.