The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-03-01
Old Democratic Trick
How Secretary Endicott "Para-
lyzed" Boute1le

succeeded in getting a Resolution
through Congress, calling for inform
alton from the Secretary Of War, con-
corning the attempt to return to the
Confederate States" the flags captur-
ed from the rebels by the Union
forces. The history of this attempt
Is yet fresh in the minds of the
people-how Grover Cleveland as
President of the United States and
Commander-in-Chief of the Army,
issued the order for returning the
flags; how the great North arose as
one man and kicked His Fatness; how
the loyal people of Ohio, under the
Cadership of Gov. Foraker, took legal
steps to put stop to Mr. Cleveland's
Infamous attempt; how the President,
caught in the act, plead his ignorance
OF the nature of the order and the
law in the case; and how the Copper
heads OF the North howled that it was
Gen. Drum, Republican, who issued
the order. The fact, as every school boy
knows, is that the order could not be
issued by Drum without coming from
the President.
In reply to the Boutelle Resolution,
Secretary Endicott has furnished a
statement to the effect that the only
flags returned, after capture, were re-
turned by Republican Secretaries of
war. This is thought by Democratic
partisans to be sufficient answer.
Let us see: There were a number of
Union Flags sent back to Regiments
that formerly owned them, and there
were a number Of Confederate flags
sent back to the Regiments that had
captured them. That is all there is
in Endicott's romance. This argument
of the Copperhead Secretary is as
unworthy and untruthful as the
statement about Drums alleged
order.
What was Mr.. Cleveland's attitude
regarding the Flags? He expressed
himself as being afforded much
pleasure" to return these Flags to
''the Confederate States" Did any
Republican Secretary ever attempt
such thing, or use such language?
The fact is, Mr.. Cleveland's experiences
Of the war never reached beyond his
own ward in Buffalo, and he has not
the faintest conception Of what
battle-hag means-that is, as soldiers
understand its meaning. He never
heard his substitute talk much about
it, for, according to that substitute,
he could never get very close to Mr..
Cleveland after the war. The Presi-
dents conception of Flags seems to
be that the Confederate, or Rebel
Flag, was sacred emblem, typical of
the nobility and chivalry Of the Solid
South, and that the Stars and Stripes
was variegated rag used to rally the
hosts of Northern Mudsills" who
"overpowered" the South. What
can Cleveland know of the meaning
of battle-fag? How can he know
what it represents.
The most lamentable feature of
Cleveland's Administration, consider
it from any political standpoint, is the
with which the President
and his henchmen treat the Union
Soldiers. It is not wonderful that
man, who, as Chief Magistrate of a
great nation, and Commander-in-
Chief Of its Army and Navy, could
deliberately blackguard Soldiers and
Soldiers widows, in messages vetoing
acts to pension them, should think
that there would be nothing wrong
in removing from the War Depart
ment the evidences of the valor and |
sacrifice of the Union Soldier. He |
has shown all along, during his
limited public career, that he has no
sympathy with, nor friendship for |
The men who put down his Southern |
masters, and saved the life of the
Nation. We are tired of seeing and |
hearing the insulting mockery Of his
partisans, that he 'has signed humid
reds Of pension bills OF course he
has. Had he attempted the role Of
an obstructionist, studiously refusing
TO discharge his plain duty in all
cases, Congress would have simply
eft him to his own thoughts, and
gone ON with its work. Il is pleasant
% think that he has signed some
pills for the benefit Of worthy
Soldiers, and that he has some good
qualities as public officer; but the
Jpirit of his Administration is one of
contempt and antagonism for Union
Soldiers. Cleveland and Endicott
zee nothing in the Union Soldier but
he emblem of the defeat of their
Southern friends. They see nothing
20 admire about Union Soldier but
IN empty sleeve, or the death-dew on
lis face. To take advantage of this
,osition-in which he thinks he can
INSULT the Union Soldiers with
work every plan for
atisfying his antipatty, has been the
record. True, there are
many Union Soldiers employed in the
Departments; we are thankful for it,
nd understand why it is. Yet, had
;leveland his own way, and could he
ollow his own inclinationsin the