New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-01-18

Mrs. Rose Postor-Stobes Replies to
Some Recent Criticism.

Sir; / ask the courtesy of your columns for a
few words suggested by letter published in your
paper on January 13. signed IF. F." in the hope
that F. f. and such of the Tribune's readers as
share his point Of view may more nearly the
point of view of those who love the red flag while
honoring the Stars and Stripes The red flag of
socialism is worldwide flag. and its color signi-
hes the common red blood which flows in the veins
OF all humanity. Those who understand its mean
ing love it. and those who understand socialisms
message the world throw their entire being
into the movement that has grown beneath its
folds. In the last national Of the Social
list party 6S per of all the delegates present
were native born Americans. and in the opinion OF
a large increasing number of Americans
both native born and naturalized, the Socialists
stand second TO none in good citizenship because
of their vigorous protest against the widespread
condition of wage slavery existing in our midst.
There are many earnest people who fondly be-
lieve that slavery utterly abolished in our
country by the War of the Rebellion. and these
reading may take exception TO the above declara-
ton. For such reference may be made to Spargo
The Socialists" Ckerr & Co. Chicago Its fifty
pages sufficient believe, to convince OF the
truth of the declaration in question any man VINO
does not allow immediate material sef-interest 10
blind him to truth
There were four million chatteI slaves among
and the country rose in rebellion against the III
justice. To-day there is slave class OF seventy
millions out of eighty-four millions Of people
in country, and the beautiful repetition OF the
ballot Is growing which some day will put end
to wage slavery
When revenue cutter steamed out OF Boston
Harbor to hear back to slavery a fugitive black
brother The New-York Tribune published the fol-
lowing verses:
All hail the Haunting lie
The Stars grow pale ard dim;
The Stripes are bloody scars.
lie the Haunting hymn
II shields the pirates deck:
II yokes the captive's neck
And wipes the bloody stains.
Tear down the Haunting lie
Hslf-mast the starry flag,
Insult sunny Sky
With hates polluted rag.
Destroy il who
Deep sink it in the waves
bears a fellow
To groan with fellow slaves
Last February great mass meeting was held in
Grand Central Palace protest against the action
of certain officials. who smuggled William D.
Haywood out of Colorado into Idaho. The Worker
published the following verses:
Ye boast of all your liberties.
Ye wage slaves Yet asleep:
Atho, your helpless servitude
Makes even strong men weep.
Awake! arise with us men.
On each election day.
And make your claim in Freedom name
And end the Tyrants sway
We love the Red. the White, the Blue
The dear old Yankee flag,
OF one Gespised rag
For while the Yankee bunting
VIII fiPs dsa 2sT boi spf Bs Rsd Flag
The peoples life TO save
Here is a land Of plenty sir
For masters. not for slaves,
A prosp roIIs, unjust country. sir
DER which stained 5I.f flag wa waves .ss land
The Tyranr Powers which rule the lanQ
Have cast the stains thereon.
And neer shall we contented be
Till every stain is gone
One must know to exactly what extent the people
were aroused against the injustices thus expressed
in verse in the immediate period Of their respective
publication 20 know which showed the most fear
less patriotism The Tribune took just stand |
Yet at the time The Tribune published the verses |
quoted there were doubtless who cried shame
and would have un1hinkngly mobbed the editor !
too perhaps. in q psychological moment
Garrison was mobbed in Massachusetts not by !
those who understood him. but by those who did
not understand him He mobbed by Southern !
sympathizers. Those who heard the addresses
made in New Clinton Hall last Saturday under /,
stood the speakers well. and, far from being
aroused TO feelings unworthy of true citizenship.
were I believe, awakened 10 a deeper sense OF
responsibility toward their fellow men, It is re-
crettabIe that any man through ignorance of an
emblem and cause should be stirred 10 unworthy
emotion Our desire is to the world in such
ways as We can. Whether Americans by
accident or Americans by choice land this Is said
in an earnest spirft). feel benefting
more largely the country we live in and love by
including in love the countries Of all the world
than we could If VIC confined ourselves 10 mar
rover patriotism. ROSE PASTOR STOKES
Stamford. Conn. Jan. y. 1868