The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-03-22

Rallyine Rroud the Flag,

Rallying Rroud the Flag,
The patriotism of the American peo-
pie is one OF those deep and lasting i'm
pulses to which appeal is not made in
vain. They are careless, Indifferent,
tolerant of abuses that sometimes drive
us almost to despair, but their feelings
when reused are strong and true Let
a hand be laid on the public school sys-
tenn, for instance, and the invader
learns to his cost that he has touched
something to whose defense the whole
nation will rise as if animated by but a
single feeling. The same is true of de-
votlon to the flag, or rather to the feel
ing OF national unity and dignity that
the flag typiies. For years there has
been quiet and shameful progress go
ing on toward recognition in this
country Of the equal rights of other
national emblems upon our own soil.
In every large city there is an element,
consisting of persons newly naturalized
or not at all nationalized, whose at
tachment to the symbol of the old al
legiance is stronger than the new.
These may constitute a voting element
numerous enough to make trouble at
the polls; and when they demanded, as
they did, that the flags of the govern
ments which they had renowned
should be displayed, on designated an
niversaries, from our public buildings,
trucking politicians FASTENED to obey.
But when a man comes along with
patriotism and courage to back it, and
declares that 'Old Glory'' is good
enough for US and for all Americans,
whether by birth or by adoption, the
people hail his proclamation with ap-
plause as sincere as it is spontaneous.
There is no need, we believe, for any
such legislation as is now proposed,
either by the State or by the nation,
prohibiting the display on public build
ings of the flag of any foreign nation,
save as a mark of honor and respect to
some visiting official or delegation
representing such country. It is not a
thing to be fixed by law, but by COM
mon sense and common love for the
flag that symbolizes to us our national
power and glory. The small potato
politicians can raise but a short-lived
cry. For they have no real sentiment
behind them. The true American. of
whatever birth he may be, and how
ever loyalty he may love and honor the
land where he first saw the light, does
not need or WISH that its flag should
float upon the air of the republic, any
more than he would desire to see Vic
toria or William or Oscar monarch of
the United States, simply because he
has revered the rulers who bear those
royal names. He gives no half-hearted
allegiance. And if once this issue of
the flags were raised, as a few fanatics
in the big centers of population
threaten to do, at the polls, he would
fight as he fought in our great civil
strife for the country he has chosen
and the flag that it carries proudly
around the world. It is a good thing
to have this question settled now and
for all time to come. It is well to have
done with this mummery of foreign
draperies, and to stop the. prostitution
of what stands dearest to US in order to
cater to feeling that does not exist
in the breast of a man not already an
alien in spirit. We have gathered to
US the oppressed of many lands, and
out of their mingled strength has been
built up the great nation and the great
race that dominates the Western world.
Our nationality and the flag that typi-
fies it are our own. The people of this
country rally around ''Old Glory'' in
peace as eagerly and as patriotically as
in war. No more foreign flags for US.
Pioneer Press.