Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-18

Bangor Wing.
The sclf-respecting nations Of the world
will share the amazemen, of all patriotic
Americans at the announcement that tic
first act of President Cleveland cx Confed-
crate Commissioner James II, Blount, after
his arrival at the Hawaiian Islands. has been
TO order the Stars and STRIPES hauled down
ami the protection of the nitcd States Navy
withdrawn from the provisional government
at whose relues, the protection was granted,
and whosc commissioners have been in
Washington for two months seeking to be
stow the richest and most important posses
sion IN the Pacific upon the United States
upon terms to be made practically by our
selves
There is not ano r. r civilized people on
the earth whose government would thus
shamefully discredit its patriotic and
gaeious minister, who had promptly and
juIiciously taken advantage of remark
able opportunity offered for obtaining
great benefit for his country. and we mis-
take the temper of the American people if
they do not Indignantly condemn the man
ifestly partisan and uupatriotic attempt to
discreiit our minister and navy at Hawaii,
for doing what would have won for them
honors and promotion at the hands of any
of the great governments of Europe.
SO strong is the sentiment of national
pride. and so universal is the recognition by
Intelligent men of the importance of the
Sandwich Islands to our commerce and our
military security on the Pacific. that before
Congress adjourned majority even of the
Democratic members freely declared that
whatever might be the specific method of
establishing our control, THE flag liolsted
over Hawaii would never come down"
The act cannot fail to remind our people
of the persistent hostility to the United
States flag manifested hy the Democratic
party ~ an organization. AMI by the men
who have controlled il before. during AMI
since the Rebellion They began 'haul-
lng dovn the flag at Sumter over thirty
years ago. and they seem unable to over
come their aversion TO it even when by
some mid summer madness they have been
given full possession of the great govern
ment they so desperately strovc to destroy.
1t is known of all men that President
Harrison . administration negotiated treaty
of annexation that conceded everything to
our government and courteously left all
the details to he adjusted by Congress
under Democratic administration, That
treaty should have been ratified at
once by the Senate. and the Republican
IN iority then controlling that body have
furnished no valid excuse for permitting
the Democrats TO stave OF action until the
session adjourned. But President tleve-
Land and his motley crew of constitutional
tlsisers. have exhibited TO the country the
narrow partisanship that controls them by
jeopardizne Que of the greatest opportunt-
tvs that ever came to nation, solely in or
der to prevent . successful accomplishing ut
upon lines adopted BY the Republican al
ministratiou.
That is the whole of it and no impartial
citizen will fail to understand it. And
whatever pretexts may be advanced. and
however this administration may seek to
CIevelandze the eventual acquisition of the
nited States control of Hawaii, by meth
obs purposely modified from that which
had really accomplished the object, no
que will fail TO see that the unnecessary
lowering of our flag. and the AFRO
giant humiliation of Minister Stevens who
has loved and honored it all his life. con-
stitute an affront to our national pride and
to the Unborn instincts of patriotism in all
parts of our country where patriotism has
not been suppressed ut home by the same
spirit that has just hauled down the Amer
lean flag from the citadel of the Key to
the Pacific
The loyal portion of this country was
never thrilled more intensely by patriotic
sentiment than when grand old General
Dix. as secretary of the treasury. though
surrounded by traitors and rebels. sent out
his famous order in 1861
m any maa attempts to haul down the
American Flag sheet him on the spct,''
President Cleveland in his first term, tried
to steal from the government the flags cap
tured By the brave defenders of the MON.
to give them back TO the unrepentsnt rebels
from whom they were taken at the cost of
more than three hundred thousand 10y al
lives. lie has already distinguished lis
second term in the same line BY sending
Democrat to the Pacific to in
sui, our lo,al and distinguished minister
and put an ssront upon our gallant navy
by hauling down the American
lag in the presence Of the /!
of other nations all eager |
10 see the symbol of their own governments /
waving from the staff where our own had /
been tiying in undisputed authority.
Mr.. Cleveland's feelings toward the flag 4
ire seemingly very much as they we're dur
ny the Rebellion aud his own frs, term
And having surrounded himself at home
md filed the most important posts abroad /
Dv men who spent wears of their lives in
hating it and shooting at lts defenders. he
~ill probably enjoy reading the report of its
almost as much as his Georgis
enjoyed embracing the first
opportunity he has ever had to haul down |
the American flag