The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-09-22
HONOR THE AMERICAN FLAG.

Last week We made what We IL
tended to be temperate but proper
criticism upon the refusal OF the
trustees of the public school at Cecil
ton to allow the American flag to be
raised over the public school build,
ing in that town, on Old Defenders
day, by the Junior Order of United
American Mechanics.
The reason given by the trustees
that ',hey did not consider the
raising OF flag an educational
affair, "()was very unfavorably com,
mented on, not only in the first dis
trict, but in the county generally.
Since our last issue We have had
placed in our hands the letter ad-
dressed by Mr.. Geo. R. Ash, County
School Commissioner for the dis.
trlct in which the Cecilton building
is located, to the local trustees of
the school, and submit it to our read.
ers as a proper subject OF public
criticism.
ELKToN, Sept $, 81.
Mr. 4. P. LUsBY,
Trustee School No. 4, LIST Dist,
Dear Sir: In reference to the proposition by the
local Council OF the Jr. o. U. A. NJ, to raise a
| flag and present the same to your school, would
say that 1 am not in sympathy with the PROPOSE
tion but as it has been the custom of the School
| Boards to grant such permission, so Tar as am
| concerned give consent to the erection OF flag
| pole upon the school grounds and the acceptance
by the school Of the flag, it being understood that
| the teachers and school authorities assume entire
control and direction of said flag; and further
that no demonstration of any kind, connected
| W it'll the proposed presentation be allowed upon
/ the school grounds. While this is my decision in
the matter it does not deprive the trustees of the
school the right to object to the whole proceedings
and if said trustees see tit to withhold their con-
| sent and so notify the representatives of the
Order in due time, their action will be supported
by me as the representative of the County Board.
| Yours, &c,
GEO. r. ASH, School Commr.
MIR. Ash, it seems, was not in sym
| pathy with the proposition to raise
an American flag over public school
house in Cecil county on Old Defend
er's day.
To what does Mr.. Ash object-to
the flag or to the Mechanics !?
Certainly as gentleman sufficient
| ly intelligent to fill the official posi-
ton he holds, he must concede that
there is educational power in the
American flag as the emblem OF
American nationality, to impress
upon the young, love OF country, and
respect for its institutions.
Why then should he, as an official
exercising authority over the schools
of the county, which are the prop.
erty of its people and maintained by
their money, object to a patriotic
demonstration On the county school
property on state holiday, set apar,
and observed for the very purpose
of cherlshing the memory of our
patriotic ancestors, whose coura-
geous deeds inspire our admiration,
and consecrate "Old Defenders day.
in the heart of every true Mary
lander2
| Certainly he cannot be callous, OF
Indifferent, to the educational infu
ence OF the day celebrated.
Ifthen we cannot see why he should
reasonably object to the flag raising,
or logically object TO the day on
which it was proposed to raise it,
his last refuge of objection must be
to the Order who proposed to raise
the flag.
Is Mr.. Ash an opponent OF the
| Junior Order of United, American
Mechanics, and if so, in which
capacity is he its opponent, officially
or individually :
| TIC COlCSuSS Ill Ills lSlltI thai
other school boards never held an
objection to raising an American flag
over Cecil school house; wherein
is he or the Board he represents
different from them ?
| If the American Mechanics were
partizan order, having for its
object the advancement of some
particular party, we could anticipate
his objection to such demonstrations.
| But since the Junior Order OF
United American Mechanics is a non
sectarian, non partizan organization,
made up of men representing all
shades of political opinion, object
ing to no party, race or creed, but
inspired by the sole purpose of in
culcating love Tor American institu-
tons and respect for the American
| flag, we are at loss to imagine
upon what logical grounds, either as
an official or individual, he can base
his objection to have the American
| flag float over public school build
| ino in the county