The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-30

| Mr. Editor I don't suppose you have very
exalted opinion of Democrats who repudiated
good old Democracy for Socialism. anarchy ana
possibly some other bad things. but / am able
to make a close guess to what you think OF
the Republicans-you believe it a hard matter
to spoil bad egg.
object to the wage system rather than the flag,
and only oppose the flag 1t stands for and
represents that system believe that to be
right and proper; to oppose the system and
honor the representative of that system would
be hypocritcal and unworthy Of anyone who
has honest streak in his moral makeup.
When the flag should say The Flag? was
being praised and honored in the North and
at the same time was thing to be scorned
and dishonored in the south, and you and l.
Mr.. Editor. fighting shoulder to shoulder
Ito perpetuate the ensIavement OF millions OF
black men. were kept so busy killing yam
KEGS that hadn't time to ask what We were
fighting for or to hunt up the pedigree OF the
flag.
Had we read but little history we would
have known that this same flag that opposed
human slavery In the South once waved in
triumph over the very same slavery in the North
Why was il that this bloody was fought?
Why did brother murder brother and working
men go out and slaughter other working men
lby thousands and tens of thousands?
Industrial conditions had changed. and this
same flag that waved over black chattel
slavery in the North and chattel slavery in the
South, and chatte slavery had decided
effect on the dividends paid to these ex-slave
owners of the North who had invested the price
of their black slaves in manufactures, these
worthy gentlemen decided that chattel slavery
must cease. Did the question of States rights
cause the war? Not bit Of It, Did these
master manufacturers OF MassaC hpsetts care for
the negro? No. Then, now, the master class
did not a tinker's dam whether the work
ers skin was white or black; the only question
was that of profit
Mr.. Editor you and 'ft' against the flag and
did best to put 1t the bum. Tell me-
were right the flag right? II the
flag was right, we were wrong and II
right, the fact that got licked did not change
the righteousness of our cause, and for one
will never honor and admit that the other fell
low Is right simply because he licked
Now, it seems # the flag may stand for
this that, any other thing that the ruling
Ipublcianism and high tariff; IT stands for
Democracy and low tariff. and in a few years
lit will stand for Socialism and tariff
And lastly Mr. Editor, I beg OF yoi don't be
go hard on foreigners There are restrictions
laid upon foreigners who come to shores
They are required to be OF certain standard
mentally and physically; they must be able to
support themselves and not become charge
on the country But how about you? You
struggled in, without passports or credentials
undeveloped mentally or physically. hungry and
some od-natured people had pity on you, fed
and clothed you. sheltered and educated you
The only thing that you possessed when you
landed in this country was healthy pair of
lungs with which you soon made yourself such
a nuisance you should have been deported, only
subject to deportation the country has been
compelled to struggle along in spite of you
After this exposure of your private career. I
hope you will be good
Governments with their flags have risen,
hcurished and decayed and passed into oblivion,
some peacefully some violently: others will go
the same road.
Let us honor people for their love for one
another and for their help to the needy rather
than honor flags, ensigns or totems.
Richmond Va.