The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-12-31
From the Boston Advertiser, Dec, 10. ]
Our Battle Flag.

From the Boston Advertiser, Dec, 1911
our Battle Flag.
The easy and airy Indignation that has
been excited on account of Senator Sum-
ners bill relating to the names of battles
now printed in the Army Register and
inscribed on the regimental flags of the
Unite d States, seems to lis quite as un-
necessary as the resolution itself. If Mr.
Sumner had been man Of ordinary tact
and discretion he would not have offered
the bill at time like this, when it could
not fail to intensity the hostility which
his recent political course had already
excited against him. And vet there is
much to be said in favor Of it. While
the rebellion maintained itself in arms,
and every incitement to courage and sac
rifce was needed, there was govd reason,
or at leasta more obvious one, than now
remains for blszoning the flags Of the
Republic with the inspiring list Of battles
won. But when those who had been our
foes confessed defeat, and the flag 6oated
in undisputed security and authority
over them, as over us, the emblem. of a
reunited country, they became again our
fellow citizens. If we would have, as
we have SO freely professed, a cordial
Union, WHY insist upon forever waving
in the faces OF the Southern people re-
minder of their treason and It's failure?
There are many soldiers and many suf-
ferers of the late war who, under the in
fluence of severe and intense, but nev
ertheless narrow, view of the situation,
cannot be won from regarding the South
ern people as constant enemies. Others
are jealous beyond reason respecting the
honor due them, as if they feared lest
they should suffer any statement or dis.
tinction, as if their fame vas not part OF
the impershaMe record of the country
history. Aud there are also, it must be
said, a school Of small politicians in
Washington who keep themselves anoat,
or try to do so, by persistently Hattering
the prcjudices and championing the jeal-
ousies of the classes of soldiers we have
mentioned They are the superservicea-
BILE friends" Of the soldiers, who live by
dexterously representing that somebody
else doesn't love them as well as they do
To this end they do not scrupe TO misrep.
resent the facts whenever it will serve
their turn. This bill proposed by Sena:
tor Sumner is case in point. We quote
it in order that lis purport may be clearly
understood
"Be it enacted &c, That the names OF
battles with fellow-citizens shall not be
continued in the Army Register or placed
on the regi,nental colors of the United
States" "a
1t will be observed in the first place that
there is nothing in the proposed act
which, il it were passed, will cause to be
erased.any name of battle or any blood
stain upon any State regimental flag
The United States could not 90 this il il
would. For aught that the bill proposes
the splintered lance of the old Massachu-
sets Second Regiment, and the emilia
zoned flag on one Of its fragments, may
stay in their glass case in the Doaic hall
till they moulder into dust. There il
nothing in this resolution to canse 10 bt
washed out the blood stain on the "Pori
Hudson on the flag of the Seventy-thirt
United States Colored lnfantry-wber
ever that flag may now be. The two in
cidents narrated with so much eloquence
by Col Quincy in the House of Repre-.
sentatiyes, last Tuesday, "only to illus
trate what further measures the astound
ing proposition of the Senator from Mas
, sachusetts will necessitate," and to show
that the proposition advanced by Mr.
Summer is zone which every Union sol
dier throughout the land must regard al
an insult" seems to us as lrrelavent as i
related of the Franco -Prussian war.
Atthe head of the roster Of the regi
ments of the United States Army, pub
lished in the Army Register. is given, il
fine type, a list of the battles in which thu
regiment, and We believe the other regi
ments that may have been consolidated
with it, have done honorable service
The list of battles for which some ofthest
regiments have credit, numbers mort
than forty dating back to the war of 1912
1t is proposed to discontinue publishing
the names Of battles fought with fellow
citizens in these lists, and not to place
them upon the regiriental flags of the
regular army. We must expect,o or ough,
10 expect, that these regiments will soon
be composed in part of Southern men
who will in case Of war fight side nv
side with those from the North. Such 8
condition would certainly be desirable
and would have much of al assurance
that past differences we're healed. But il
we insist on requiring all to march and
fight under a banner which osteLtatiously
records the triumph Of part over the
rest, it is butreasonahle to doubt whether
even in case of invasion the South would
rally very cordially to the support of the
honor of thathag. Even if, in the pro-
gress of time, new generation in the
! South should come to regard, as we do
now, the real Questions at issue in the re.
belion, they will not enjoy this Wanting
OF their folly. Would it be just to CON-
pei repentant and reformed felon, anx-
ious to regain the confidence Of society,
to endure the shame Of his jail clothes
or mark of forgiveness and charity to
compel his children also to wear them
A jury has been obtained to try Stokes,
At Olathe, Kansas, corn is selling at