The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-29
THE RED FLAG OF NEW YORK

We confess to a sensation somewhat akin to cold shivers'
that traverses our ANATOMY in the section supposed to contain
the spinal column, when We read Of ~Bosheyik demonstrations,
staged day after day, in Madison Square garden, New York.
When the German agents soWcd the seeds OF revolution in
Russia it was freely predicted that the harvest would be reaped
in Germany, but the force of the suggestion was not appre-
ciated at that time. Now that Germany is torn asunder by dis
cordant elements, all Of them hungry, and no way to pacry
them except through the tanning influence OF food, we may well
wonder if the results obtained from soothing applications will
not at best be temporary.
But we are not prepared to mediate upon the prospect of
such pernlclous influences gaining a foothQd in this country.
When such exhibitions become 4 nightly event in New York it
IS time to take radical steps to prevent the spread of the dis
temper to the United States, New York, Of course, is not an
American city. 1t is an agglomeration of all the nationaHties in
the world, and the product is New York, a definition readily
appreciate to the average mind, but Undesirable in the Ian
iguage as it is spoken.
If it were what we are accustomed to DESIGNATE a typical
American city there would be a quick return to the Ku Klux,
the Vignantes or some other effective remedy for the situation,
even if the law makes no adequate provision for the suppression
OF seditiOn or treason.
1t is most interesting and enlghtcnine to read that the New
York police are constantly on guard, and are using the night
sticks with alacrity upon the heads Of iLtcmpcrcd soldiers and
sailors, many OF them from the "barbarous South" when they
resent the rais%M OF the red flag of revolution above the Stars
and Stripes.
Some Of the speakers upon these historic occasions are
Judges IN New York courts, one of whom the World describes
as repeatedly referring to his motley congregation as Comrades"
The word "comrade," when diyestcd Of its recent association, is
respectable enough and without offensc, but bad company has
LETT a stain upon it and rendered it Objectionable, for we recall
that it is the word the Germans used when they persuaded the
Russians to come over and fraternize with them; it was the
"NH y hS INA III addressing the American soldiers
and inviting them to lay down their arms, with the promise of
a comfortable prison camp. 1t is the word the anarchists employ
to indicate the warmth of relation among the bomb throwing
brigands as opposed to law-observng mortals who have failed
to achieve destructive distinction.
Inc situation, frankly, is alarming. Unless the native
authorities show some disposition to suppress the revolutionary
demonstrations we shall urge that the United States government
send an eXpedltionary force to New York to protect the rights of
American citizens, who are entitled to fair treatment anywhere
IN the world, and regardless of what flag they may be residing
under temporarily. Berlin, New York or petrograd may fly the
red flag II they like, but the lives OF Americans must be pro-
.tected the world over.