The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-26
DISSERTATION OF THE FLAG.

For some time past there has been
good deal of talk about the improper
use of the United States flag. culminai-
ing finally in the organization of Il
society to prevent dissertations of the
national emblem and in the introduce
ton of Il bill by Congressman Roberts.
of the flag for advertising purposes. One
of the latest ofenses against the flag,
it appears. is being committed by a
Chicago pork packing firm which wraps
hams in it for export to Germany.
The Baltimore Sun thinks that the
present Congress can not consistently
object TO the use of the flag as cover
ing for hams. 1t says:
1T is doubtful whether an imperialist
Congress will pass Il bill to prevent the
use OH large scale of the flag for
advertising purposes, however com
mendable such legislation might be. In
fact. Congress has within the past year.
upon the advice of the President. per-
mitted the use of the flag for purposes
of trade extension and commercial ag-
erandizement. The principal argument
III favor of our land-grabbing operations
in the Philippines is that trade follows
the flag and the Stars and Stripes are
now floating over the islands as the
emblem, not of freedom, but Of bust
ness AS Mr.. Bryan very aptly said,
the dollar mark has been stamped on
the flag and if this dissertation by
the National Government is to be toler-
ated, why, the cynical may ask. should
the pork-packerS of the West or the
priZe-hghters be prohibited from getting
all the business they can out of the
flag? If the flag stands in the Philip
pines mainly as the emblem OF a new
commercial policy. why should not any
firm in the United States print Mr.. Nc
kinley's portrait on it in association with
the articles it manufactures and use
it as Il poster? Every advocate OF
Imperialism tells us that the retention
of the Philippines is necessary for
American commercial expansion in the
Far East, and that to give up the is
lands will be to throw away an oppor-
tunity for money-making such as the
United States may never have again.
That is commercalism, pure and sim
pie and the flag stands avowedly for
that policy in the East. Ii we are not
sensitive about letting it be known
throughout the world that the flag is
in the Philippines for sordid purposes.
it is to be feared that Congress will
not be unnecessarily alarmed il Presi-
dent Mckinley's portrait or the picture
of the Mayor of Chicago are imprinted
on it at home as an advertisement. IT
is true these are not particularly nice
uses to which the flag is put, but it is
not so grave an offense when compared
with the undisguised purpose fer which
the Stars and Stripes are floating over
the Philippines. Let us protect the
flag in essentials when we raise our hands
in righteous horror at dissertations by in
dividuals who wrap it around hams to
sell in Germany and almost every other
commodity. Our Government has wrap
ped it around the purchase of 10000
900 F'ilininOs, Il business transaction
beside which the pork-packers' enter
prise and the pugilists patriotism are
almost pardonable. Let US protect the
flag not only at home. but abroad as
well, and forbid its use for commercial
purposes under the guise OF imperialism
III the Philippines as well as for adver-
Using in the United States Mir. Rob
erts' bill is a good one. but he should
supplement it with provision which
VIII apply to the situation III the Far
East"