The times., 1901-06-14
HoNoRING THE FLAG.
Some Very Positive Views as to Time
and Place.

To TEE Editor OF THE TINS: Your con-
cluding remarks in yesterdays edi-
torial on Flag Day have most i'm
pOrtant significance in the consideration
of the appropriate uses Of our national
. flag, and where it may be displayed as
an emblem of political power. 1 refer to
the following:
Whatever mistake may drag the colors into
places where they were never meant 10 be- how
ever greed may degrade them or commerciaiism
barter their glory for that which Is not bread,
the ideal flag still remains unsullied unsold
untouched by time IL stands for justice, truth,
loyalty, progress, the realization OF all that IA
best in mans instincts; and it is the business
of every good American 70 see that 50 far az
he can effect such result, the flag shall never
float over anything unworthy of its protection.
I am very confident, OF sure, that the
same thought was in your mind when
you peuned those words and charged them
with q meaning to every thoughtful per-
son that impels me to address YOU, and
thank you for that expression Of patrie-
tic purpose which Is so evident in every
utterance of The Times upon all questions
pertaining to civil and political liberty
and of public Justice
Who are they wh@ drag the cOIors into
places where they were never meant to
be - Who are they that 50 affect holy
AtCtA VI Lllt american lAdE DIS a SyLlDOl OF
supreme national power or authority that
they refuse its entrance to a church or
cemetery on the occasion Of the funeral
of a deceased ex-soldier of the civil war
as fitting dTapery of his coffin. and who
debar the c.. y. R., or other fraterual
comrades Of the deceased, from the per-
formance of the stated ceremony of the
ritual of that order-in the church. in the
cemetery-or that the badge of any pa
trIotic society may he worn in the places
mentioned by those worthy and duly quail
flied TO wear them? Who are they-I ask
in all candOr-that with such fncousis-
tency, such violence to their traditional
and practical antpdthy to and rejection
of political or civil control over the Daro-
Chial establishments Of a huge eccIesias-
teal society in our community. continue
with gigantic presumption to drag the
cOlors into places where they were never
meant TO De and perpetrdte a vile insult
to the blessed ensign of liberty by inter-
Jwining our flag with the folds of another
so-called flag. which Is no flag, and repre-
sents no national or temporal p0Wer2
With such an absurd association can YOU
say that the ideal flag still remains un-
sullied, unsoid, untouched by time.
There are. indeed. circumstances under
which the flag has been sullied and sold
and touched by a shameful intimacy that
time cannot easily efface. And shall We
in our enthusiasm for promoting pure and
lofty patriotic ideals, go on in our pre-
tended desire to Undue the youth of our
country with sentiments OF respect and
devotion TO the principles symbolized by
the American flag, and still permit il to
be degraded dragged in the mire Of sell
fish and false adulatiOn by the represen-
tatives of foreign eccIesiasticism2 Shall
the flag that is not worthy 10 float over
the parochial school in every city and
tOwr be allowed to give character. in anv
degree, to an Occasion-nOt of public or
general interest, but of a society whose
objects are purpOsely secret and opposed
TO the UtDOTlIN of the State in qT
concerns involving the safety and hapUi-
ness of society and the individuaI2
These questions are pertinent 70 present
and events, and 1 ask The
Times to consider how they NAV be an
sWered. c. F
Washington, June p