Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-21
THE GORGEOUS ENSIGN.
Judge Speer on the Insult to
 the Stars and Stripes.
THE SOUTH IS LOYAL TOTHE FLAG

1t Was Nailed Jack Down to a Macon Tele-
 graph Pole, and the City Was Excited
 and Indignaut Over the Act-A Patriotic
 Address, Apropos, from the Bench.
 MACON, Ga, Dec 2l--A Union flag, nailed upside down, was found on a telegraph pole in a street near the court house. Marshal Lamar spoke to Judge Speer about it, and the judge ordered the f1ag taken down. Then 1t was 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- heved.
 local paper intimates that the indig- nifty to the flag was joke intended for a local candidate city sexton, who was de- feated for election, 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 large twelve foot banner with thirty eight stars on a blue field with the regulation stripes, but having one stripe and the bottom torn of. It was suspended just where two streets meet, through one of which the judge was compelled to pass going to court. It was nearly 0 square from the sexton's. There were several telephone poles between the sexton's house and that point, and one right in front of 1t.
 No person has yet made the public ac- knowledgment to the hanging of the flag and avowed that it was intended as a 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, where it now floats. The incl dent has awakened a strong national spirit, and it is said that new and beautiful flag will ha fad t0 hn hxrvo ant 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 merriment We trust this is true.
 "We were aware that the flag was mutt lated. That did not detract from the signi- ficance of the incident. It 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 forebod1ngs Tor the careless and unpatriotic spirit such wanton action inculcates
 "n there was ever people whom it be- hooved at all times to show devotion to the symbols of government, law and order, it is the southern people, The flag whose muti- lated beauties and whose reversed union was exposed yesterday to the contumely and derision of the passer by may tomorrow be the rallying point at which good men and true will assemble to defend or enforce the law, to protect wife and little ones and all that men hold dear.
 'sThere 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, devotion to the flag of our country and all the principles of good government which it typifes and represents in the minds of all men. It is well to be sensitive for the flag. It is well for the youth of the country, the rising gen. eration, to be apprised and to know that there are thousands among us who love it and honor its stainless glory, and who will never, without protest the most vigorous see its hallowed folds floating in dishonor, be ii intended or not"