The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-03-02
Where are the Battle Flag Patriots

With the report OF the secretary o
war they are stricken with suddeI
silence. and the public misses their ef-
ferSesciug and insincere patriotism.
The doughty BouteIle seems to have
crswled into a hole and pulled the hole
| in after him.
The Boutelle resolution, based on ar
assumption o. facts that didn't exist
was designed to corner ;he admipistIs-
tion and make much needed capital fol
The q. @. p. 1t called for information
where the flags "weIe displayed or con
cealed," the sting being in the lying
inference OF the last word. Secretary
! Endicott's response is to the point, and
In its plain Statement. of facts scarIfes
and salivates Foraker, Fairchiid and
Tuitle, TO say nothing OF BOutelle.
| The only difference 10 the condition OF
| the captured rebel flags and re- captured
| Union hags now and when the Cleve-
/ land administration came into power is
that at that time they were stored in
the cellar OF the war department, by
! order OF Republican secretary OF war,
| where they were inaccessible and decay
| ing rapidly. By order of Secretary
| Eniicott they were taken from the box
es IN the cellar and "placed in room
| in the upper story of the war depart
ment building. where they can be east
IL visited and examined" He has had
prepared a full descriptive list of ''all
the flags, banners and colors that have
been placed in the custody of the war
department and can be Identified
1t was 8 Republican secretary of war
that consigned these precious relicsn
to the coal cellar.
AS to the exhibition OF the rebel fisgs.
the secretary of war shows that while
the law of 1914 required captured flags
to be exhibited at West Point or the
naval academy, such exhibition was
construed 10y Republican administra-
tions, and cOncurre6 in by the Cleveland
administration, not TO apply to hags
captured from our own countrY-men in
the war of the rebellion. And a very SEN
sible and wise conclusion this is. Just
after she close OF the war, Senator Sum-
ner, in we'll remembered speech. cited
the Roman precedents against perpetual
ing the memory OF civil wars by preserv.
ing their trophies. aud urged this as the
policy of the United States Thare
was no legislative action, but 1t seems
likely his view was tacItly accepted by
the Republican authoIi. les OF that day.
And in every way honorable TO them is
the fact. When We were recalling the
wayward s:s.ers back 10 the family ia
bic it would not have been chivalIic
or even courteous to have Haunted in
their faces the trophies OF their humi.i-
tion and defeat.
To dip into figures, Secretary Endicott
shows that there were 7S0 flags rescued
by him from the war department cellar.
and of :his number 236 were United
States flags originally saptured by the
IN har
aud 5i4 were Confederate flags taken
by United States troops. 1t has been
the practice OF the war department TO
deliver up recaptured Union flags on
applications OF governors OF States or TO
military organizations that lost the fiIgs
in battle under circumstances that re-
flectes no discredit upon the soldiery
and gallant conduct OF the troops. In
this way 10 Union flags were given up
by different secretaries and three restor-
ed by order o. congress.
or the 544 Confederate flags Mr..
Secretary Stanton did the liveIiest busi-
ness in disposing of them. He gave 81
OF these flags to individuals OF associa-
tions and loaned so others which were
subsequently, returned. Since S:anton's
day the only Confederate flag given ont
was one loaned to General W. 7. Clark.
q OulOu OIuCcE WHO originally deposited
L. This was in January, 1887. 'Since
tits date" says Secretary Endicolt.
mo Confederate or recaptured Union
flag has been issued OF lent by this de-
partment, and no confederate flag has
at any Time passed from the custody OF
the latter to any of the States lately
in rebellion.
All are familiar with that later occur.
renee, which started Fairchi.d out with
| three kinds of palsy, and set a going
| such universal bloviators as Foraker
and Tuttle. This was the suggestion
! or the adjutant general OF the army,
| that the moulderIng flags rescued from
the department coal cellar should be re.
turned to the respective State authori-
ties, North and South, Union and Con
| federate. PIesideE. Cleveland at frs,
/ approved 1t, but on fuller examination
revoked the order as not authorized b,
existing law. nor justified as an execu
J tive act" No flags were given up Il
J any one under this o:der prior to iss re-
vocation. But ir suggests the proper
distribution of these faded and crumb-
| ling relics 4; and some day, In burst ot
! good feeling. the Grand Army will pro-
badly ask congress to d } this very thing
| -Putsb,rg Post.