New-York tribune., 1888-03-21
MAYOR WAVES HIS OWN FLAG.

No FOREIGN FLAG TO WAVE ABOVE THE CITY HALL
WHILE HE COMMANDS THE srANDARD-BEARER.
Mayor Hewitt sent long letter TO the Aldermen yes
eray about nag question. After stating has ne had
not the slightest objection to floating the American
flags over the City Hall upon every occasion which a
peas the symDahles or the patriotism OF any
able portion OF the community he continues IN 'ho
resolution relating German Emperor the request was
limited to the American flags. and the German nag was
not mentioned In resolution relating to the oeleora
ton of St. Patricks Day, the Mayor was requested 70
cause the Irish flag to be displayed over the Ciy nan III
addition to the American flags Why this discrimination
was made by your honorable body 1t not Tor me 70 eA
plan but It appeared be my plain duty not to give
any offence the German residents OF THIS cy
who though those OF Irish birn are not
80 well represented the membership Of your honorable
body.
Under no circumstances while have the honor to be
the Mayor city will be willing to permit the hags
any nationality except our own to float over the Oiy
Hall Any departure from this rule in favor OF my
Irish birth would have been regarded as
lust ground OF offence to those who had been denied
similar qualification. The whole policy OF our ponca
system has been eace all distinctions between citzehs
ground OF BIRTH and hence even In foreign cou
tries the Government OF the United States throws the
broad shield Of It's protection the naturazed citizen
who may visit the land OF his birth The flag is the
symbol Of sovereignty The public buildings are peeu
LARRY Of that sovereignty. In them only ono
Jurisdiction can be recognized and suffered 70 prevail
over them should only the dag Of the country TO
which they belong So sacred is this right tina, the nag
foreign Minister consul noatng over his ool
cile foreign land converts 1t into the soil OF the
country which represents The display Of foreign
flag over public building Is therefore, In direct contra
dlcton Of the fundamental principle Of Home Rule
lnJeinEcuS rItfIvn ausVVasoS' ~''o "~'-~
doubtless intended 10 emphasize py your resouon
"Let It be remembered chat fully 90 per cent OF our
populaon do not speak the English language and must
be ignorant laws and incapable Of under
stadlng the genius OF institutions To them the nag
is the emblem Of power and if the spectacle is habtuay
f,ar Of from
our public buildings they be expected recognize
the fact that the only is the whole people
whose unity and sovereignty are symbozed by the nag
Of the Union alone observe with regret that my action
ha, been thoughesy denounced In quarters as the
outcome OF On unfrendly disposition toward the irish
peope in their struggle for national independence
very little reflection will TO show To these com
nanants that In my action have only been giving enecs
10 the principles upon which their cause Is advocat oy
all lovers civil liberty. myself among the others ana
that II It be right Ireland should be governed py
Irshmen as France is governed by Frenchmen ana "er
many by Germans then IL is equally true that America
should be governed by Americans and that 80 r IS tno
ia the symbol OF Home Rule It. and 1t alone, should noss
from the seat OF authority"
The Mayor then gives tables OF figures showing tue
strength OF various nauonaes OF foreign birth and Tor
elen parentage Those relating the German and tho
Irish the most Striking Those born IN Isiaiu anu
who dwell here number 245 and those born here OF
one or beth parents Irish $50 357. making total OF
so7 900 The German born number 204, 352. and the
German Americans 231 995 total OF 430347 All other
nationslities born abroad number 145740. All other
natlonalities whose parents born abroad lloS2
These figures are based population Of 1'5o7.S74.