The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-10
Those Conrederate FIars.

The Journal gives a correspondent what
purports to be the facts about the famous
order for the restoration of the rebel flags
and its revocation by President CLEvE-
LAND. But its statement is not a truthful
one.
The facts are that on April so, 1887, r.
G. DRUM, acknowledgement of the army,
sent letter to the secretary of war, in
which he said:
venture to suggest the propriety of return
| ing all the flags, Union and Confederate, 10 the
authorities of the respective states in which the
regiments which bore these colors were organ
lied, for such final disposition as they may de-
termine. While in oil the civilized nations of
the world trophies taken in the war against for
eign enemies have been carefully preserved and
exhibited as proud mementoes of the nations
military giories, wise and obvious reasons have
always excepted from the rule evidences of
past intenecine troubles which by appeal to
the arbitrament of the sword have disturbed
the peaceful march of people TO its destiny.
Over twenty years have elapsed since the
termination of the late civil war. Many OF the
prominent leaders, civil and military, of the late
Confederate states who are now honored rep
resentatiyes OF the people in the national cOun-
ellis, or IN other eminent positions, lend
the aid of their talents to the
wise administration of the affairs
several states composing the Union are now
united, treading the broader roads to a glorious
future.
Impressed with these views have the honor
TO submit the suggestions made in this letter
for the careful consideration it will receive at
your hands.
Thereupon, without any action being
taken by the president or cabinet, Gen.
DRUM wrote letters to the governors of all
the states, offering to return all Confeder-
ate flags stored in the war department.
The president never signed a letter, order
or document of any kind suggesting the
return, or offering to return, or endorsing
the return of any flag except the order
disappearing the action of Gen. DRUM, in
which he said:
lam of the opinion that the return of these
flags, in the manner thus contemplated, is not
authorized by existing laws nor justified as an
executive act. / request, therefore, that no
further steps be taken in the matter, except to
examine and inventory these flags, and adopt
proper measures for their preservation. Any
direction TO the final disposition of them
should originate with congress.
The president cannot remove an officer
of the army, but as will be seen, he
promptly revoked Gen. Drums action in
this matter. Not only have no Confeder-
ate flags been returned by President
CLEVELAND or his administration, but it is
a well-known fact that under the admins
tration of EDWIN NJ. STANTON as secretary
Of war, twenty-one such flags were sur
rendered.
1t should be added that Gen. DRUM is an
ardent republican. He was appointed ad-
jutant-general of the army by President
HAYES, and his term is irrevocably fixed
by law. He has been so strong a republic
can that, in spite of the non-partisan ira
ditions of the military service, he sent to
Gen. HARRISON, whose military adviser he
is said to have been during the the latter's
term of service in the senate, the following
dispatch after the latter's nomination by
the monopoly convention at Chicago:
WASHINGTON, June %, 1885,
Gen. Ben Harrison, Indianapolis:
Accept my sincere congratulations.
r. G. DRUM.
The foregoing are the exact facts.