Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-31
FOREIGN FLAGS IN AMERICA.

Iubllc eentlnenl III New 10TH CITY Is
very rapidly, though tardily, crystallizing
into an emphatic verdict of approval of
Mayor Hewett's " flag order" Through
out about all the other sections of the
country his sentiments concerning the dis
plsy.of foreign flags upon public buildings
received immediate commentator. But
New York is always slow to judgment in
such issues, and for the very good reason
that the elements composing the popula-
that of that city are so diverse in their
views concerning the scheme of a repub-
lican form of government. 1t is undenia-
BILE that in New York, as IN most large
American cities, there is a small num-
Der of people who look upon the United
States as little more than vantage ground
from which to project assaults upon other
nations, and where ideas of government
may be freely promulgated foreign to our
system, and very often in open enmity to
it. Great cities are the breeding places
for communism, anarchism, and all man.
ner of discomfort without cause, and wild
schemes to upturn and re-mold society &C
cording TO fantastic notions. If people
properly celebrating religious anniversary.
partaking also of foreign political char
acter, can justly be permitted to float a
foreign flag upon municipal building, by
what logic can the claim of the vicious classes
named be refused for like recognition of
their colors? Mayor Hewetts determined
refusal to permit the Irish flag upon the City
Hall staff on the celebration of Saints
day, by no manner of torturing can be con-
construed into an insult to Irishmen
or any cause with which they SYM
pathize But had he permitted the
flying of the flag, he would have been open
to the reproach that he had committed
the city government to expression of SYM
pathy with and approval ofone line of actiy-
itv upon the part of certain American cit
liens to which another class of citizens is
openly hostile, and concerning which the
overwhelmingly largest class of Americans
is indifferent
The flagstaff of public building in the
United States should fly only the flag of
the United States. That was Mayor Hew-
tits response TO the Irish delegation, and |
twas the only safe and proper reply to be
given. This the calm and sensible among |
Irishmen of the country themselves adj
nit, and they are not found anywhere con-
demning it. st. PatriciS's Day, the storm
ing of the Bastile; the recurrence of the |
date on which the battle of Sedan was |
fought; the birthday of the Queen of Eng
land; the national festival days of Russia;
the church feast and fast days; the great
religious holidays of Jew, Christian and
heathen-none of these are calendared as
American dates in honor of which the
flag of the United States should be dis
PLAYED, or that of any foreign State,
church or society should be foated upon
Government buildings. There is not
only no reason why the American ensign |
should give way at any time to any for
eign flag, but there is every reason why it
never should be displaced by any other
colors. The sentiment that attaches TO
the nations flag is enc that should never
be offended, even in the smallest of minor
titles, by any such action as was asked to
be taken in New York. More
over, if there was any reason
whatever for floating one foreign flag on
public buildings on that day, the same
reasons would fortify the demand for like
display of the flags of the French, Ger
man and other societies that take part in
the celebration of that religious annirer-
sary.
Now that the hest Of the immediate oc-
casion Of the refusal of Mayor Hewitt is
over, the judgment of the people of New
York is cening te his support, tardily it is
true, but with an emphasis not to be mis-
taken; and one of the most satisfactory
features of it is the fact that the most
prominent and intelligent adopted citizens
are among the chief defenders of the
Mayors order. This fact we think tes-
titles that the sentiment is steadily gaining
strength throughout the Union, that clan
nishness because of nativity is to be more
and more discouraged. The coming cam
paign ought to fortify this sentiment by
an absence of any foreign titled political
clubs. We ought to have no more Irish
American, German-Ameriean, French
American organizations in our political
campaigns. There should be clubs and
leagues only of American citizens in our
political battle-felds. There is no higher
and better title, and the sensible foreign
born citizen realizes that any and all
efforts to enlist him by appeals to his
nativity are insults to his sincerity in be-
coming an American citizen.
A QUESTION OF PERSONAL RIGHT.