The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-12-28
MISTAKES SHOULD
BE CORRECTED
SHALL THE FLAG COME DOWN.
WHY NOT:

"Old Glory once raised shall never be
lowered is the shout of a multitude.
1t is poetic. All principles which vex
humanity sooner or later find express
sion in phrases. like this Such phrases
when the war cry for ideas, make his
tory. Time and again they have mold
ed the destines of nations They are
contagious. He who can turn an argu-
ment into an aphorism has given his
case to the world He has also half
won it, for the world finds it easier to
hide behind simple motto than arm
itself with logic. 1t would be wonder
full if the sentiment that the flag must
float forever over territory conquered in
the recent war was not popular. Upon
it's face it is patriotic, and that is
enough to insure popularity in war
times
If it was the honest expression of
principle, these words were useless.
AS it is uncertain what proportion of
real sense and what of blind love for
a phrase the sentiment contains, the
following instances in American history
are given to show that we have come
far short of a liberal adherence to the
creed that our flag when once raised
should never be lowered.
In 1901 the bashaw of Tripoli declared
war against the United States because
we refused to buy immunity from his
acts OF piracy. AS result the United
States bombarded the city of Tripoli
and brought the bashaw to terms.
Thomas Jefferson at that time would
have seized harbor in payment for
peace. Knowing our dignity would not
suffer by refusing to take territory be-
cause we could, the future purchaser OF
Louisiana was satisfied with frighten-
ing Tripoli into respect for our flag.
The land operations of 1912 were chiefly
carried on upon Canadian soil. The
Stars and Stripes were many times
planted there upon victorious fields.
eventually gaining substantial success
at Lundys Lane. The results of that
war were favorable to the United States
yet when peace came the flag, as a mat
ter of course, was withdrawn from Can
ada. 1t is true, the margin of our
triumph was too small to admit of de-
mands upon our part. If that is the only
reason we do not now possess both banks
Of the Niagara, what strong light
it throws upon our treaty with Spain.
1t shows we kept land wrested from
our late foe just because of our superior
strength. The war with Mexico result
ed in such notorious conquest of the
foreign territory by the United States
as scarcely needs mention. Enough land
taken in that questionable affair was re-
tanned under the flag to make three
states and parts of two states and two
territories.
On the plea that Old Glory should
never be lowered, we should have fur
ther despoled that then unhappy repub-
lie and the United States would be
bounded on the south today by Guata-
mania. Six years after the close Of the
Mexican war Commodore Perry sailed
to the realm Of the mkado and forced
upon that exclusive nation the right to
trade. Japan then lay at our mercy.
What was to prevent our enforcing the
policy since adopted with China by Rus
sia, Germany and England? Clearly
nothing save the entire previous course
of our government. which forbade even
the idea Of it.
The incidents connected with the first
unfurling of the Stars and Stripes over
Hawaii are fresh in the minds Of all.
The action of Grover Cleveland in
hauling down the flag from those
islands found condemnation only in
stump speeches until, as a war meas
ure,'' and by vote of the people of
Hawaii, the territory became our own.
Does anyone believe that political
party. no matter how strongly opposed
to Cleveland, would have dared to annex
Hawaii except during time OF such
national excitement as foreign war?
Quickly as it was done, there was time
to get the consent of the Hawaiians.
The Stars and Stripes are at this very
moment waving in the tropical zephyrs
Of the Pearl of the Antilles II we
blindly follow the rule of not lowering
our national emblem, Cuba will never
gain the independence for which she
fought so long. 1tremains to be seen
whether the United States will abide
by the Teller clause in the declaration
of war, so solemnly made, or play the
part of the intermediary who wins the
cause and appropriates all the benefits
to himself.
The United States mas not always OBJ
tanned everything it demanded in terri
torial rights. The people have from
time to time been stirred to great depth
over boundary lines. The United States
and Great Britain were at variance over
sss