The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-20
LOCAL CELEBRATION.
Prominent French People in Its
Favor.
DECREE OF FEBRUARY Is, 1894.
Desire That Liberty, Equality and
Fraternity Shall Be Honored
on That Anniversary.

An interesting matter has just been
brought to the notice Of the French colony
of San Francisco.
"On February Is, 1894. almost hundred
years ago." writes Ivan A. FOurquet in
the course of letter published in our two
city French newspapers. "the national
convention made a decree determining
that the national flag should be composed
OF three vertical bands. Of an equal width,
arranged in the following order: Blue.
white. red. That date should be an excel
lent occasion for the French 10 display
their patriotism by celebrating the GEN.
tenary of the tri-colored flag. the emblem
of the sublime legend, Liberty. equality,
| fraternity. How many nations have seen
! in the folds of our Iricolor the dawn Of
their freedom! Why, then. should we
neglect date that should be so dear to
us? Ii my humble appeal touches French
hearts February 10, 1894, will not pass by
without a n echo on its centenary"
Il think that all our colony has read the
letter with interest" observed A. Lalande,
the french Consul, when questioned by a
CALL reporter on the subject, but so
lar. he continued. I'VE have not had time
TO take any action. l am sure, however.
that something will be done. Still, the
matter Is too important for anything TO be
decided without the French colony being
fully consulted and having the chance Of
discussing the matter among themselves"
Daniel Levy of the French consulting
committee also stated that something
would be done, for the committee is inter-
ested, but no date for demonstration has
ever been discussed.
Il heartily coincide with something
being done," said Sylvan WE'LL. The
triculor is better than the old white flag OF
Bourbon, and its centenary ought TO be
observed. If the Midwinter Fair remains
open long enough we are going to keep
the 14th OF July at the grounds, and if no
celebration takes place before we shall
have that at hand, for on that day q
Frenehman always celebrates his flag"
The subject is certainly an extremely
interesting One," said Raphael WE'LL, ''in
TACT fully agree with the idea that the
French ell over the world should recognize
the trlcolor as the real EN- blem of France
OF course the white flag of the Bourbons
deserves recognition; we must not forget
that 1t was the standard of Henry " and
OF Louis XIV. of Cardinal Rlchelieu too,
though OF course he was not king; but as
an mblem of our growth and of the ideas
OF today, believe in the tricolor."
The flag is the emblem of liberty,
equality and fraternity" said Mile. Truf-
fert, enthusiastically. II am republican
in principles-oh! In the broadest sense
Of the word. and love the result of what
has happen ed since we have had our flag
representing republican principles. Every
one should be ready to commemorate its
teachings, Tor that tricOlor has DESTROYED
for the world the whole sentiment of
despotism. 1t has abolished the feeling
of arrogant superiority on the score of
birth alone. Some people have never
understood the revolution" she continued
They only see the guillotine and the ex-
termination of the nobility. not the result
of the principles of the flag. The French
and the American flags have the same
cOlors and to some extent they fly the
same principles. Yes, | really think we
may speak OF them as sister embems"
LIE Petit Californian suggests that the
French day at the Midwinter Fair, at
present fixed for February 90 should be
changed TO February 10. This question is
one, however, that, according to Mr..
Lalande, will be decided by the universal
suffrage" OF the French colony.