Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1885 — Dishonoring the Flag. [ARTICLE]

Dishonoring the Flag.

While Mr. Cleveland’s letter declaring that he intended to restord the old anti-National theories of Jefferson wab being read to the Tammany Society in New York the Fourth of July the people in Washington were astonished to see that no flags were floating over the departments where Lamar and Garland hold sway. For th® first time in twenty-five years there were bare flagpoles on these public buildings the Fourth of [July,- Garland and Lamar are State-sovereignty men, and they could not stultify themselves by hoistthe National flag. So far as these gentiemen have any particular taste in the matter of flags it seems to be m some other direction than toward the StarSpangled Banner. In times past they showed snch devotion to a flag of another pattern that they risked their lives in its defense; but as for the banner of the Union they could not trouble themselves to see that it floated over the public buildings during the celebration of the National Fourth, as has always been the custom heretofore. Lamar and Garland use the National banner only to lower it in honor of men like Jake Thompson. Twice since they have been in power have they dishonored the flag. In the language of the street the last Fourth of July was a rather cool day for the American flag, Mr. Cleveland’s letter declaring in effect that the flag represents a mere confederacy of States instead of a Nation was given to the public while his two Rebel Secretaries declined to hoist the flag over their departments according to the time-hon-ored custom. From another quarter came reports showing that the flag had been dishonored elsewhere in the name of the same identical doctrines. The bare flag-poles in Washington and the banners at half-mast in Salt Lake City alike attested the Democratic doctrine that this is not a Nation but a confederacy of States in which the people of the various sovereignties have the right to manage their own affairs in their own way according to the dogmas of “local self-government” and “home rule.” John Taylor and Brigham Young Jr. believe in this dogma as firmly as Cleveland, Lamar, or Garland. It was the same sentiment precisely that dictated the Tammany letter, presented bare flag-poles on the public buildings at Washington, and displayed the banner at half-mast in Salt Lake City. In each instance the sentiment expressed was one of opposition to Nationality and devotion to the Democratic dogma that the States are sovereign and independent. The dishonor offered the flag at Salt Lake City was not intended to express displeasure with the administration. Indeed, the Mormons had just finished a jubilee because Cleveland had removed a Republican J udge who was inflexible in administering the anti; polygamy laws passed by a Republican Congress over Democratic votes. Every grievance the Mormons have on the score of interference with their practices they lay at the door of previous Reppbliean.administrations. The saints have expressed their gratitude to Cleveland for removing an inflexible Republican Judge; they will thank him with still greater ardor if he carries out his promise to reverse the doctrine of nationality and restore ,the old Jeffersonian dogmas in regard to “home rule” and “local self-government,” thus leaving the Mormons to “manago their own affairs in their own way. ” In the nature of things every consistent Mormon is an out-and-out Democrat, and every man of them must indorse Cleveland’s letter to Tammany to the last syllable. Jeffersonian Democracy is exactly what they want. For precisely the same reasons Mormons and rebels dishonor the national flag and unite with Cleveland in declaring fervent faith in “Jeffersonian Democracy.” The same sentiment was represented by the Tammany letter, the bare flag-poles at Washington, and the banners at half-mast in Salt Lake City. With the national flag dishonored in this way the Fourth of July the people can understand just what “Jeffersonian Democracy” means. How do the mugwumps like it ? Do these incidents illustrate their ideas of “purity and reform” in the affairs of the Government ? How do the “Saint Johnnies” like their work?. Are they still convinced that there is nothing in national administration so importantas the town pump? With rebels in nearly all the high places of the Government, and |he bigoted enemies of nationality conspiring to insult the national flag the 'Eourtli of July, the people have been treated to a pretty strong dose of ancient Democracy. It remains to be seen how much stomach they have for displays like these when they are conductedin every instance in accordance with the very doctrines which the President himself proclaims. Chicago Tribune.