Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-11-19
Only One Flag.

Two CIRCUMSTANCES udhO OOOuA4OO
during November which should en-
phasize the allegiance that every
American citizen owes to the flag of
this country. The one is the procla-
nation of Gen. Palmer, commander in
chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic, advising and directing mem
bers of that patriotic order not to
participate in reunions or parades
when any but the union flag is dis
played. The other occurred last week
when Chicago's chief of police made
the anarchists in one of the halls of
that city stop their proceedings, hoist
the flag of the United States and
refrain from speaking disrespectfully
of it.
Gen. Palmer's proclamation was
doubtless prompted by the frequent
reports that have come up from SOL
diers' reunions in the south and
participated in by union and cOnfeder-
ate soldiers at which rebel flags have
been openly displayed as emblems.
The act of the Chicago police was in
defense of the lives of her citizens
against the dynamite methods of
socialists and anarchists, for the
promotion of which methods the meet
ing was assembled.
The mere fact of body of men
displaying a banner which is ia the
least intended to represent or symbol
ize anything or any sentiment that is
un-American, ought to furnish and
does furnish a good apd lawful reason
why that flag should not float in the
American atmosphere. There is no
room in this country for any haS "nlcn
is emblematic of the least antagonism
to the government of the American
people. There is nothing patriotic |
which cannot be best said and best |
done under the folds of the stars and |
stripes. No foreign flag should ever
be permitted to float in this nation d.
an emblem of the rights of any Ameri
can citizen. No patriot would ever
tolerate a flag that represents an idea
foreign to the government of his coun
try. No foreign born citizen, if he
was sincere when he renOunceG all
TO every foreign power, would
ever ask to have the flag of his native
country unfOlded as an emblem of any
tight under this government.
There is less excuse for the display
If the rebel flag. 1t represents moth
ng but treason to the United States.
There is entirely too much sentimental
nonsense in this talk about the war
)eing a little npleasantness" and
hat we ought to tolerate" and
'placate' our enemies by permitting
hem to teach their children that the
ebels were right and to display their
Id flag as an emblem of their devotion
o the ''lost cause" If the confederate
lag represents anything, it represents
reason against lawful government, /,
reason against human rights, treason
gainst God. There were just as
incere and honest men in the southern
s in the northern army. They
bought they we're in the right. Now I
they yet live they know they were in [
be wrong. The flag does not repre-
ent the individuals but the ideas for
,hich they fought. The only purpose '
displaying the rebel flag % years
fter it should have been in eternal
light is to recall and revive the ideas
-hich it once represented. By all {
leans let there be every magnanimous
ointment toward the defenders of the /
st cause. but let there be no maudlIn s
which would on public s
permit a rebel flag to be t
nfolded beside the stars and stripes '
nd thus obscure the eternal difference i
etween the cause that was lost and t
he cause that was won.
The flag of the union should wave I
one wherever it is hoisted. In some il
arts of this country it is impossible to
ut flag on top of a public school
aiding, There was an instance of
lis condition in southern Indiana only g
month ago which brought out the v
ave qualities of a noble young lady a
acher, who ran up the flag after the "
en- of the place had chopped it down a
I'd who guarded it with a rifle. She "
as ready to shoot any man on the q
'ot who would attempt sgair to pull 9
down. This is the true spirit of the q
yalty and patriotism with which the n
merican flag should be regarded d
erywhere and by every citizen. q
hen We regard it with love and Il
lection at home, so that we will not al
low it to be insulted directly or indi- hi
city from any source, it will be re- hi
ected the world over. There is one Il
g only for Americans. al
II. N Gaines. the self conscious and