Evening journal., 1888-12-21
TIE GORGEOUS ENSIGN.
Judge Speer on the Insult to
the Stars and Stripes.
THE SOUTH is LOYAL TOTHE FLAG
graph Pole, and the city was Excited
aad Indignant over the Act--A Patriotic
Address, Apropos, from the Bench.

graph Pole, and the city Was Excited
and Indignant Over the Act--A Patriotic
Address, Apropos, from the Bench.
MACON, Ga, Dec. ALA Union flag, nailed
upside down, was found on a telegraph pole
In q street near the court house. Marshal
Lamar spoke to Judge Speer about it, and
the judge ordered the flag taken down. Then
it vas run up on the court house flag pole,
and all the court officers and those who
heard Of the indignity to the flag felt re-
lieved.
A local paper intimates that the indig-
nifty to the flag wns a joke intended for
local candidate city sexton. who was de-
feated for reelection, claiming that the flag
nailed at half mast, union down, was indica-
tive of sorrow for his political death and
that it was not United States flag at
all. The facts are that the flag was a
large twelve foot banner with thirty-eight
stars on blue field with the regulation
stripes, but having one stripe and the bottom
torn of. II was suspended just where two
streets meet, through one Of which the judge
was compelled to pass going to court. II was
nearly a square from the sexton's. There
were several telephone poles between the
sections house and that point, and one right
in front Of it
No person has yet made the public ac-
acknowledgement to the hanging Of the flag and
avowed that it was intended as q Joke. Be-
fore the court convened Col. Lamar, the
marshal assisted by the members Of the jury
who had furnished the flagstaff, unfurled
the captured banner over the United States
court house, whore it now floats The Incl
dent has awakened strong national spirit,
and 1t is said that a new and beautiful flag
win be presented to the court by prominent
citizens as a Christmas present.
On opening the court Judge Speer said.
"The presiding judge and the gentlemen who
acted with him in attempting to redress.what
appeared to be deliberate and public dis
honor to the flag are as much delighted as
any one could be at the published statement
that it was not with such purpose that the
flag was exposed and reversed. but from a
thoughtless and idle spirit Of merrilnent We
trust this is true
I'VE were aware that tho flag was mutt
lated That did not detract from the signi-
fcance Of the incident. 1t was none the less
what the eloquent Webster calls the gor-
geous ensign Of our country and whatever
the motive that prompted the perpetrators
OF the act, or whatever others may think,
there are those who will never behold any
apparent indignity to the national colors
without the most poignant sensibility and
the most gloomy forebodings for the careless
and unpatriotie spirit such wanton action
inculcates.
"lf there was ever a people whom it be-
hooved at all times TO show devotion to the
symbols Of government, law and order il is
the southern people. The flag whose mutt.
lated beauties and whose reversed union was
exposed on yesterday to the contumely and
derision of the passer by may tomorrow be
the rallying point at which good men and
true viii assemble TO defend or enforce the
law, to protect wife and little ones and an
that men hold dear.
"Ihere is but one solution for all our
troubles in the south, and that Is respect for
law, its steady and impartial enforcement.
obedience to the national law, a devotion 10
the flag Of our country and all the principles
Of good government which it typifies and
represents in the minds OF all men. II Is
well TO be sensitive for the flag Il is well
for the youth OF the country, the rising gen
GRAFTON, to he apprised and to know that
there are thousands among us who love il
and honor its stainless glory, and who will
never, without protest the most vigorous. SEQ
its hallowed folds floating in dishonor. be It
intended or not.n