Mr. Patenôtre to
Mr. Wharton.
[Translation.]
Legation of the French Republic in the United
States,
Washington, June 19,
1892.
Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to
call your attention to the following facts which have been brought to my
notice as having taken place on the 30th of May last, in the little city
of Jeannette, Westmoreland County, Pa. Mr. Auguste Lelang, one of my
countrymen residing in that locality, wishing to celebrate Decoration
Day, hoisted the American flag between two French flags from his second
story window. During his absence one Thomas Spiers, a policeman of West
Jeannette, accompanied by two other persons, climbed up to the window in
which these emblems were placed, tore down the French flags, threw them
into the mud, and tore them. I at first refused to believe that such an
act had been perpetrated. It seemed the more inexplicable since the
Federal Government, as I am happy to state, has always been glad to
assign a place to France when the War of Independence was to be
commemorated, and since, on that very 30th day of May, I was requested
to furnish a tricolored flag for the decoration of La Fayette’s statue.
Before asking your attention to the facts in question, which were
communicated the very next day to our consul at Philadelphia, I took
pains to ascertain their correctness.
You will find inclosed a report of the investigation which has just been
held on this subject, at the request of our consul, by Capt. Lejeune, a
chevalier of the Legion of Honor, who resides at Jeannette. This report
is signed by three of the residents, who were present when the flags
were seized and torn. The facts, moreover, do not appear to be disputed.
As you will see, the chief of police of Jeannette censured the conduct
of his subordinate, but declared that he could not dismiss him, except
in obedience to superior orders.
You will doubtless think, as I do, that the best way to close an incident
that is so much to be regretted, would be to remove at once an officer
who has been guilty of an act which you will certainly condemn as
severely as I do. I take the liberty to insist that this case be
promptly settled. Our national holiday, July 14, is near; it will call
forth, at Jeannette as well as in all places where there are numbers of
French residents, patriotic manifestations which will again be the
occasion of placing the flags of our two countries side by side, and it
is much to be desired that, at that time, the policeman who has been
guilty of so vexatious a violation of duty may no longer be in his
present position.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Investigation relative to the removal, May 30,
1892, of two French flags from the second-story window of Mr.
Auguste Lelang, at West Jeannette, Pa., by a policeman who
climbed up to the window for the purpose.
Jeannette, Pa., June 15, 1892.
To the Consul of France at
Philadelphia:
Mr. Consul: On the 30th of May last,
Decoration Day, most of the French residents of Jeannette decorated
their houses with American flags. Mr. Auguste Lelang,
[Page 173]
after having first hoisted
the American flag from one of the windows in the second story of his
house, afterwards hoisted two French flags, one on each side of the
American flag.
As the workshops were closed on that day and the workmen were free,
they took advantage of the opportunity to go to merry-makings or
meetings. Mr. Auguste Lelang was absent all the afternoon, together
with his wife and children, and he had locked his door.
At about half-past 7 o’clock in the evening, after the flags had been
undisturbed for almost all day, Thomas Spiers, a policeman of West
Jeannette, accompanied by a townsman named John Koekerel, both of
them being assisted by a man named Harliman, who lent them a ladder,
placed the ladder against the front of the house, climbed up and
pulled down the two French flags, which they afterwards tore and
threw into the mud. Mr. Auguste Lelang had the remnants of these two
flags sent to the consul of France at Philadelphia.
Many women and children witnessed this scene, the men being almost
all absent. However, Francois Diffemback, a brewer, Joseph
Mommaerts, a baker, and Jean Vertingen, also a baker, saw the act
and signed this paper, together with Capt. H. Lejeune, chevalier of
the Legion of Honor, who was instructed to make an investigation by
the consul of France at Philadelphia.
On the day following Auguste Lelang asked the policeman why he had
committed that act of violence and brutality. The policeman replied
that he was not responsible to Mr. Lelang for what he had done, and
that he had pulled down the flags because he wanted to. Mr. Lelaug
was not satisfied with this and went to see the squire who has
charge of the police of the town, who, while he said that the French
residents were right, and disapproved the conduct of the policeman,
retained the latter in his place, saying that he was awaiting
superior orders before acting.
The foregoing is a correct statement of the facts, and Capt. Lejeune
would have informed you of them at once if he had not learned that
Mr. Lelang had taken the initiative in the matter.
Consequently the signers of this statement, in which all the French
residents of Jeannette concur, they all being proud of their
nationality and loving their flag, demand that reparation be made
for the insult.
The witnesses signed after the statement had been read to them.
H. Lejeune,
Diffemback,
Joseph Mommaerts,
Jean Vertingen.
State of
Pennsylvania,
County of
Westmoreland, City of Jeannette, United States of
America.
I, a notary public in and for said county and State, hereby
certify that the above statement was duly signed in my presence
this 15th day of June. A. D. 1892.
[
l. s.]
A. L. Bethune,
Notary Public.
Examined and transmitted to the minister of France at
Washington.
Philadelphia,
June 18,
1892.
[
l. s.]
L. Vossion,
The Consul of France.
