The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-09
BURKE AND THE FLAG.


TO the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal.
Mr.. Frank B. Burke, Democratic nominee
for Congress in the Seventh district. does
not seem to display great amount of in
telligence or honesty i'm his speech of ac-
ceptance when he tries TO deceive the in
telligent foreign voter by proclaming mo,
hats off to the flag" The ignorance he
displays in regard to our flag and what it
means for our country would make a high
school boy blush
Mr. Burkes little military camp story
won't materialize with those who have
served their country under the stars and
stripes Mr.. Burke's flimsy effort to create
sympathy by appealing TO our Irish and
German citizens is touching and sounds
like the echoes from school boys debat-
ing society. When he asserts that foreign
citizens of our country are compelled to
take off their hats to the flag at the point
of nayonet he simply utters
an untruth and he knows
it. / cannot believe there is an intelligent
Irish or German citizen in our great State
who served in the civil war and the Span
ish- American war under the stars and
stripes, who will be influenced by such
demagogism or believe such schoolboy
talk. l believe our Irish and German citi-
zens as we'll as all foreign-born American
citizens are too well informed TO feel in
spired with Mr.. Burkes falsified claims TO
influence the foreign citizens to swallow his
16-to-1 pill and repudiate an honest cur
rency by denouncing our country'S prosper
Gus financial condition. Mr.. Burke asks
very foolish question, w VI ne wants an, TO
eign citizen is required to take off his hat
to the man who holds the flag, and the man
who commands" etc. Mr.. Burke is trying
TO work up his little imperialism scheme
on he DllrginS
to get votes at any cost IL he can make
the foreigner believe the moon is one great
cheese.
An American citizen who is ashamed to
take off his hat TO our glorious stars and
stripes is not worthy or the FRANCHISE or
it's loyal citizens, and from what Mr..
Burke has to say about NO hats OF 10
the flag 1 do not deem him worthy of
the support of a single voter who loves
his country and flag. Soldiers, sailors
and marines, who fought under the in
spring folds of our glorious flag know
what il means for them and our country,
and they love to honor 1T. If Mr.. Burke
respects the flag as he says he does he
must first change his mode of political
warfare.
The flag has never failed to represent
and defend American principles, American
manhood and the Union, and never will a
long as a Republican administration Is
guiding the ship of state. Mr.. Burke
claims the flag can never become the OBJ
ject of degradation to the American citi-
ton to our flag in 1861. Mr.. Burke. brought
about by the indifference of an old fossil
who was at the helm of the Democratic adj
ministration, who could have prevented
and resented the insults and degradation
heaped upon our flag by Northern copper
heads and secessionists of the South? i
congratulate Mr.. Burke when he says he
respects our dear old flag and will follow
ii as long as 1t waves over the land of the
free and home of the brave Again. Mr..
Burke, now about the degradation of our
flag at Honolulu when one of Mr.. Cleve-
lands emissarles hauled il down after il
had been run up by order of our govern
ment?
What would Mr. William J. Bryan do
with his imperial hobby IL elected Presi-
dent? Why, according 10 his own state
ment he would disgrace the flag in the
Philippines, Porto Rico and Cuba, and un-
do all the sacrifices that have been made
by our army and navy. Yes, dear Mr..
Burke, you are morally and imperiaily
wrong. Patriotic citizens, both old and
young, native and foreign-born, who love
our glorious stars and stripes Will continue
10 salute 1t by uncovering their heads. and
will doff their hats TO the hero who held
the flag aloft in the thickest of the battle.
where shot and shell made IL a hell. Yes.
the patriotic citizen Will don his hat to
the memory OF the old commanders-Grant,
Sherman. Sheridan, Thomas, Lawton, Far
ragut. Dewey ct al, and the surviving
heroes still living who defended their coun-
try and flag from treason and the disso-
luton OF the Union. God forbid that loyal.
patriotic citizens and the old defenders of
the flag should feel ashamed 20 dom their
hats I'm its honor in recognition of what its
inspiring stripes and stars mean for our
country at home and abroad.
With our flag in the hands OF the present
administration. there will be no danger of
there be imperialism. dishonest finances.
neither will there be q depreciation OF our