The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1894-04-07
FLAGS AND
Wherein CoIored Men Differ From White
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Wherein CoIored Men Differ From White
Mel RS to Uniforms and Liveries.
Colored servants who in past years
have found pleasure and contentment in
attendance at the state camp will learn
with dissatisfaction that they can no
longer wear the discarded uniforms Of
either officers or privates, but must at
tire themselves in the habiliments of or
binary civilians. 1t is announced that
any colored man, acting in the capacity
of steward, body servant or helper, who
violates this rule will be summarily or
dered out of camp. This calls attention
to the singular fact that colored men,
who have so recently escaped from the
bondage of servitude, should, of all 9TH
ers. delight in any uniform or livery
which is generally accepted as a badge
of inferiority.
1t is a well known fact that such is the
pleasure derived by them from wearing
uniforms that in those employments in
which many of them engage a material
reduction in salary is agreed to cheer
fully, provided the use of one be per-
mitted. Thus a colored band in uniform
can be secured at a cheaper price than a
band the members of which are not so
embellished. Colored porters, conduct.
ors and coachmen will work for less if
in livery.
A peculiar thing about this partially
is the fact that it is exercised without
any reference to the significance of the
uniform or livery. The craving is for
the right to wear a particular set Of gar
ments-not for the honor which the use
of them may betoken. The soldier is
pleased with his uniform not merely be,
cause it is picturesque, becoming or
tasteful. 1t may be all these, but he
does not forget that it perpetuates patri-
and prowess and invests the wearer with
the responsibility of performing his share
in the public defense. Thus the soldier
admires his uniform for what it repre-
sents in just the same way as he reveres
the flag of his country without reference
to the arrangement of its colors.
There is indeed little art displayed in
national flags. Substitute an eagle for
a crown and shield, and the Italian flag
becomes the Mexican. Substitute the
Geneva cross for the star and crescent,
and the Turkish flag becomes the Swiss.
Substitute a black belt for a blue one,
and the flag of the Netherlands becomes
the flag of the Germans. Turn the belts
perpendicularly and replace the blue,
and the flag is the French. Yet we have
seen within a few weeks in the naval
demonstrations hereabouts how intense
are the emotions which can be stirred by
the appearance Of IL flag among those
susceptible to patriotic feelings.
No such feeling seems to actuate our
colored fellow citizens. They appear to
be indifferent to the sort of uniform
which is given them, provided it is a
uniform. The colored water carrier and
pail bearer is satisfied to wear IL cast off
uniform of any kind. He does not ex-
act, suggest or even notice whether it
corresponds with the one worn by the
regiment he follows. This is something
peculiar i'll this amiable and fantastic
trait of character so frequently observed
among colored people, but we leave the
solution of it to solne philosopher of the
negro race who has not studied the char
acteristics of his race in vain.-New
York Sun.