Mr. Sherman to Mr.
Storer.
Department of State,
Washington, November 19,
1897.
No. 60.]
Sir: I inclose herewith a copy of dispatch No.
17, of the 5th instant, from the United States consul at Antwerp,
Belgium, calling attention to the desecration in that city of the flag
of the United States by the defacement of representations thereof used
in connection with advertisements.
The particular instance of desecration to which the consul calls
attention is that of the “American stables,” Rue Montigny, 80–82,
Antwerp, two of whose advertisements (a handbill and a poster) are
herewith inclosed.
There is no Federal law or State law, so far as the Department knows,
prohibiting desecration of the national flag, the bills introduced into
Congress last winter to that end having failed of enactment.
While, therefore, we have no law applicable to our own citizens, yet you
will bring the advertisements in question to the attention of the
Belgian Government and ask that it prohibit such desecration of our flag
in future, if any proper way be open to it so to do.
Respectfully, yours,
[Inclosure in No. 60.]
Mr. Lincoln to
Mr. Day.
Consulate of the United States,
Antwerp, November 5, 1897.
No. 17.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
copy of a poster which has been displayed at different points about
the city.
My attention was attracted to this method of advertising the first
time about a fortnight ago by seeing a similar placard posted on one
of the street corners.
Your attention is respectfully invited to this distasteful
desecration of our national emblem in a foreign land, in view of the
proposed legislation of Congress last winter. I am uninformed as to
whether or not the bill introduced which intended to restrain a like
practice in our country became a law.
It is my opinion that resorting to similar means of advertising
abroad not only injures the credit and reputation of individual
business men, but tends to impair the dignity of American
citizenship in the eyes of other peoples.
It seems to me that ways may be found to promote the sale in foreign
lands of the products alike of our soil and industry without
resorting to a means disgraceful in the eyes of the foreigner as
well as repugnant to the good sense of every patriotic citizen.
I am, etc.,
