Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-21
RED, WHITE, AND
THE FLAG INCIDENT AT MACON. Ca,
A HOAX.
Yet Il Calls Forth Patriotic ssntimsnts
from Native southern Judge--
A AChristmas Gift.
fpr telegraph to the pIspa,eh.l

MACON, Ca, December 20.-A local paper
this morning intimates that the iodiRnity TO
the fi1g mentioned ia yesterdays telegram
was Joke intended for local candidate for
CITY sexton who was defeated for reelection,
the flag being nailed at hnli-msst on tele-
phone pole. union down, a. indicative OF
sorrow for his political death, and that II was
not United states flag at ali. The facts are
that the 1Ig was tweive-ioot baoner, win
thirty.eight stars on the blue field, with
the regulation stripes but having one
strjne and the bottom torn OIL
the trnc stars and stripes. IL was
suspended Just where two streets met,
through one OF which the Judge was COM
PEELED 10 pass gong to the court. 10 was
nearly a square from the sections. There
were several telephone poles between the
sexion's house aud that point and one
right In front OF IL. No person, however.
has vet made public an Acknowledgement 10
the hanging OF the flag and ayowed that II
was intended as a Joke. Before the court
convened this morning Colonel Lamar, mar
shal, assisted by members OF the Jury, who
had furnished the fag.sian, uniufied
the captured banner over the United
States court-house, where 1t now noais.
The incident has awakened strong
national spirit, and II is said that Dew ana
beautiful far will be presented to The Court
by prominent citizens asa christmas present.
On opening court Judge Speer said; " rhe
presiding Judge and gentlemen who acted
with him yesterday IN attempting to redress
what appeared TO be deliberate and public
dishonor TO the Gag are as much delighted as
any one could be at the published statement
that 1t was not with such purpose that the
flag was exposed and reversed, but from
a.. 81
We trust this is true. We were aware
that the flag was mutilated. That did not
deiract from the significance Of the incident.
Ii was none the less what eloquent Webster
calls the gorgeous ensign Of our country
and whatever motive that prompted the per-
petratOrs Of the act or whatever others may
think. there are those who will never behold
any apparent ffldign'ty to the national c0lors
without the most poignant sensibiiites and
the most gloomy torebodings FOR the careless
and unpatTiOtic spirit such wanlon ac-
ton Incucatss. IL there was ever
people whom It behoOyed at all tunes
10 show devotion 70 the symbols 81
government, law. and order, il is The south
ern people. The flag whose mutllated beau.
ties and whose reversed union was exposed
on yesterday TO the cOntumely and dcrislOn
Of the passers by, may tomorrow be .he raj
lying noint AZ which the good men and true
will assemble TO defend or enforce law, to
protect wife and little ones, and all that men
bold dear There Is but one solution for
all our troubles n the South, aud that is a
respect for law, its steady aud impartial
enforcement obedience 10 the national law,
devotion to the flag Of our country. and
all the principles OF good government
which It typiues aud represents 10 the mind;
Of all men. IL Is well to be sensitive for the
Gag. IL is we'll for the youth OF the country,
the rising generation, to be apnrised aud TO
know that there are thousands among us
who love It and honor It's stainless glory aud
who will never without protest the most
vigorous see its haliowed folds floating 10
dshonor, be 1t intended or no,V