The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-06-28
FAMOUS FAME.

The fame of Foraker abroad in the
land rests very largely upon a telegram
he once sent to an Ohio soldier: mo
rebel flags shall be returned While l. am
Governor" During Foraker's recent
dress parade at Chicago, the galleries,
in loud acclaim were shouting the
rebel flag episode, whenever FORAKER
put himself on exhibition.
Well, what is there of this rebel flag
business? There has been much sald
about it: and much bad blood has been
stirred up W it, and yet, very rev
seem to know the bottom facts, For
aker's famous dispatch was sent in re-
ply to an ignoramus, who supposed n
captured rebel flags on exhibition IN
Columbus and in the custody OF the
State, were about to be surrendered by
the President. OF course, FORAKER
knew that the order of the Adlutant
General of the Army had only reference
to flags in Washington and in the Gus
tody of the General Government. In
stead of so informing the soldier who
made the inq .iry, he allowed the false
impression to stand, and sought to con-
firm it by his reply that no flags shoulo
be returned while he was Governor
There is quite an interesting history
connected with this rebel flag business,
that the public do not appear to under
stand. Early in the session OF the pres
ent congress, Mr.. Boutell, of Maine,
who figured so prominently last week
in Chicago, introduced a resolution IN
congress calling upon the Secretary OF
War to furnish the House of represen-
tatiyes with all the information touch
ing the return of the rebel flags;
how many were returned, to whom ie-
turned and when returned. Well the
Secretary of War some three months
@ furnished Mr.. Boutelle and his
committee with all this information,
since which time MIR. Boutelle has
never opened his head about it. Now
what about the rebel flag business? Let
us give you some pointers on this sub
iect, about which our beloved Governor
has gathered so much glory.
The record shows that the very first
man who officially advocated the re
turn of the rebel flags was a very rad
ical Republican, a member of the
famous Washburn family--Genera
Washburn, of Vermont. 1t was
way back in the past-twenty-thret
years a~go-before Governor Foraker
was much thought about.
In General Washburn's official repor
as Adiutant General of Vermont, Feb
ruary 10, 1865, he recommends the re
turn of the rebel flags.
1t is also a matter of record that sec
retary Stanton, then Secretary Of Wa
agreed to recommend the return of tn
rebel flags. No Republican will cues
ton the patriotism Of Secretary Stan
ton, or the robust nature of his Repuo
licanism.
But let us return to our mutton
When Boutelle introduced his rebe
flag resolution, early last winter, h
thought the record would show tina
the Cleveland administration had re
turned some rebel flags to Confederat
organizations. But when Secretary o
war Endicott made his report, unde
the Boutelle resolution, it said not on
single flag had been returned during
the present administration. Hence til,
drag-net of Boutelle failed to catch
single gudgeon.
The record furnished by Secretar,
Endicott shows that during the admin
istrations of General Grant and Gen
eral Arthur a few rebel flags were re
turned to Confederate organizations
The record shows that original
there were $50 captured flags inthe pos
session of the U. s. Government
Of this number 1886 were us. flags tina
were originally captured by the Confec
crates, and afterwards recaptured by |
S. soldiers. All these flags were orgir
ally kept in an old attic on Sevent
street Washington, in a building occr
pied by government clerks. In 1856
the superintendent of the building, o
his own motion, had these flags remo'
ed to his own office, where they remain
ed until 1874.
No one paid any attention to the'
flags; nc n appeared to know or Cal
, anything about them.
Foraker had no more control ov'
these flags than the Shah of Persia, al
' vet because he sent a foolish dispatc.
/ NO rebel flags shall be returned viii
: am Governor" he has been hailed
. a hero and a man of courage. w
there ever a reputation based on such
a shallow foundation, or was there ev
! such a transparent humbug, as IL
rebel flag episode, that created such
o furore.