The Portland daily press., 1881-02-01
The Battle Flags.

Mr.. EDITORIALS some misunderstanding
has arisen and objections have been made in
the matter OF removing the flags from the
State House at Augusta for the purposes of a
State veteran reunion, it may be well to
bring to public notice the circumstances under
which this suggestion first appeared. At the
annual meeting of the Maine Soldiers and
Sailors Association held in Portland, Jan.
Goth, the subject was first mentioned and the
resolution presented at that meeting to the
veterans suggesting the parading of the battle
flags, receiving their unanimous support,
which expression is rendered particularly i'm
portant from the fact that out of the FORTY
regiments and other organizations which the
State raised during the rebellion thirty-two
were represented at that meeting. AS a
matter OF love and veneration for the old flags,
1t IS safe to presume that these men who took
an active part in the war and who proudly
bore their colors on to victory or bravely de-
Tended and protected them in defeat. bear
them as much love and veneration as any
body OF men possibly can. 1t was not ex-
pected that the State would part with the
custody OF these valuable relics, but that the
peculiar circumstances and purpose of State
veteran reunion, would be sufficiently weighty
to deserve favorable consideration. There are
thousands of soldiers in the State who have
not since they left the ranks end retired to
their homes had the pleasure Of looking upon
tnelr war stained banners. They do not ex-
pect the flags to be put in their hands and to
be exposed to the danger of being mutilated,
but they ask that they shall be suitably pro-
tected by military detachment of the State,
sufl1clently strong to render any harm to them
impossible, and that any of the flags, which
are SO mutilated as to be unfit to throw to the
breeze shall be bound up with ribbons and all
danger from that source thereby removed, and
only those unfurled which are in a suitable
condition.
1t is we'll known that some of the New
England as well as many of the western states
have brought out their war flags on the occa-
sion OF State reunions, and some of the States
have sought no further protection for them
than what the men who braved the cannon's
mouth and instant death to save them from the
enemy and destruction, might give them, and
we have to learn as yet that they have given
them other than the most careful protection.
We do not quite see how the flags, with pro-
per protection, can suffer any serious harm, as
has been suggested, by being removed for two
or three days, but on the other hand any
general movement of the Maine veterans.
which shall tend to re-kinde and keep bright
the camp fires of patriotism, will be of in
valuable service to our common country.
AS veterans we humbly ask for a fair and
Impartial consideration of this matter by the
public and the State legislature
VETERAN.
In order to remove the flags from the State
House the resolve of 1866 must be repealed
Ii done away with once it will be done away
with again. AT each meeting of the many
regimental associations in the State the right
to carry the regimental colors will be demanded
and conceded. The first step will be the cost
ly one, and therefore should not be taken.
The PRESS WOuld he nleased tn Saa tho old
colors floating over the heads of Maine
soldiers once more, but knowing the condition
OF the flags it does not believe they can be
prudently removed from the State House.
The plea of Veteran does not lead us to
change the opinion expressed by us Monday.
Ed