The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-14
DISSERTATION OF THE FLAG
STRONG NATIONAL MOVEMENT no
PREVENT INSULTING ACTS.

Bin to be Presented to Congress by Ma
tlonaI Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution - Connecticut
Takes Action-Mrs. r. w. Benedict
Represents New Haven.
Milwaukee, Wis, June, 1S9S.-The
following circular and the draft OF
"bill to prevent the Dissertation of
the National flag" which will come be-
fore congress this winter, with the
brief statement concerning the neces-
sity for such a bill, are herewith pre-
scented for your careful consideration.
The strong sentiment upon this mat
ter which exists among earnest and
patriotic men and women is united IN
support of congressional action. Pat
riotism Is more than mere catchWord,
and as surely as the love OF country
burns deeply in the hearts OF the peo-
pie, lust as surely do acts of valdalism
and insult to the national flag arouse
feelings of anger and resentment. Inc
sense of shame and indignation spreads
and deepens, and voices have been
heard in all parts Of our land demand
ing that these outrages and indignities
should cease. Military and patriotic
societies have come forward with ur-
gent requests for the action OF the
National government to protect It's
emblem from dissertation. The veter-
ans of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie and the Loyal Legion, the ex-Con-
federate Veterans, the younger men
of the National Guard who are sworn
to preserve it, and the various socie-
ties of descendants Of the early pat
riots who gave it to US, all unite in
ringing call for protection for the flag.
1t should hardly be a question for
argument whether man may wanton-
ly and maliciously tear our country
flag to shreds or trannple it into the
mire: hardly less of a question wheth-
err 1t ought to be used as vehicle OF
advertisement for patent nostrums or
Intoxicating liquors, yet instances OF
such misuse are too well known; and
with such associations may also be
classed those of political partisanship
with their accompaniment of intense
and bitter feeling, rancor and turbu-
1ence, all of which being neither glory
nor benefit to the flag, nor to those
who are bound to honor and protect it.
The last presidential campaign fore
ed upon many the unwelcome recogni-
ton of the fact that although in time
of war our flag was a sacred emblem
to be treated with respect by all, even
upon penalty Of death, in the piping
times of peace it might be treated with
any conceivable indignity, like the YER
lest rag of the street. That this state
ment may not be considered exaggera-
ton, the following instances are given
which were matter of public knowledge
and not denied; notices of which were
widespread in the newspapers at the
time of the occurrences:
In the rooms Of the Madison circuit
and district court of Anderson, Ind.
paper flags bearing pictures of political
candidates were torn down and tramp
led upon.
A stranger in Council Bluffs. Ia, rode
up to a large American flag bearing a
partisan banner and fired upon it with
a shotgun. A soldier shot at the
mounted assailant of the flag, killing
the horse and wounding the man, who
escaped
At Sedalia, Mo-, child on the plat.
form of a special train was singing
campaign songs and holding flag ir
her hands. The flag was seized by 6
man In the crowd of the opposing
party and thrown upon a bonfire, and
its destruction applauded by his com
panions.
A large American flag bearing ban.
ner with a partisan motto, the prop
erty of a citizen, was suspended across
the principal street of Hammond, Ind.
from private residence. After hav.
ing been repeatedly threatened the flag
was torn down in the early morning
and trampled into the mud.
Clubs of opposing political parties
met at the railway station at James
Vile, Wis, with the result that Ma
tional flag was rotten-egged and torn
At Waukesha, Wis, large silk FLAG
bearing no emblem whatever flying
from flagstaff upon street corner
the property of a political club, wa!
pulled down, torn to shreds and thu
fragments trampled into the mud
In Chicago a large number Of tn,
flags bearing the pictures of politica
candidates We're spread over the foo
of the headquarters of an opposing
party and ostentatiously used for wip
ing muddy boots, and for the reception
of tobacco juice. One of the offender
claimed that the use Of the flag for TIL,
candidates portraits justified their ac
tons. No legal steps being possible t.
stop the outrage, the threats of tn
other tenants of the large office build
ing finally brought the outrageous con
= duct to an end.
A procession marched unmolestet
through the streets Of Lafayette, Ill
bearing the red flag at the front an,
trailing the American flag after i
through the filth of the street.
Heated and unreasonable partisan
ship and fierce political excitemen
can hardly be assigned as the excus
or occasion for maliciously tearing tn
National flag to bits at a small stree
meeting in Chicago on the evening O
September Is, 1897.
Many similar occurrences are know
KA