Stand by Our Country's Flag! (1861)

The Fort Sumter "Storm Flag," lowered by Major Robert Anderson on April 14, 1861, when he surrendered Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, S.C., at the outset of the American Civil War. —National Park Service

Source: The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: June 20, 1861

MR. EDITOR: -For many years past the Fourth of July has been a holiday here. It is now again close at hand, soon to dawn upon our country under circumstances gloomy to the extreme. Would it not be eminently proper for Americans in Honolulu, on their next anniversary of their country's freedom, to meet together to testify their devotion to the land which gave them birth? 

Now, when the rebellion and treason are doing their utmost to overthrow our government, is the time when those who are true ion their allegiance to American institutions, should not hesitate to give their country at least the benefit of an open adhesion to its cause. Let us see who are Americans in heart and feeling, as well as in name, and who are not. It is time we should know. 

Some men in high places here do not scruple to sympathize with traitors and robbers. A hireling and irresponsible editor takes advantage of the times to fling his sneers against our country and its government. Viper-like, he seeks to sting the land which for many a year protected him, and in which, it is fair to presume, he acquired much of the knowledge which he now prostitutes to so graceful a purpose. He cooly announces the destruction of the American Union, and talks of it, in his wordy editorials, with as much complacency and self-satisfaction as if his weak conclusions settled the whole affair. He, no doubt, would like to see such a result. With him the wish is father to the thought. He has heard the expression before, and is quite welcome to the clue it will give him to the identity of the writer of this.

I am almost ashamed to put it in print, that even among native-born Americans here there are some who favor disunion-some who have the unblushing audacity to justify the acts of the Confederate States at Charleston; and for one feel like taking measures to put such men in the place they belong. Let Americans here know who their countrymen are, and let all secessionists, and Southern sympathizers, be spotted as such.

Let us on the coming Fourth have a general rally of all true-hearted Americans in Honolulu. We have among us eloquent men, who, with patriotic inspiration and heartfelt words, can make such a meeting interesting and effective. While our friends and relatives at home are battling for the existence of their Government and the preservation of the laws and institutions under which every state has so greatly prospered, let us not idly look on, but rather encourage them with our unanimous voice. A Union demonstration here will not be without its effect at home, and we can have it without showing any disrespect to this Government, or in any way trespassing upon the privileges it gives us in the freedom of speech. Who will take the lead? 
                  UNION.
Honolulu, June 19th, 1861.