Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-11-12
w. w. DAVIS
Blue Front Shoe Store, Opp. Postofice.
A FLAG ORDER.
Grand Army Members Not to Participate
In Ceremonies Where the Confederate
Flag is Displayed.

In Ceremonies Where the Confederate
Flag is Displayed.
ALBANY, n. Y, Nov. 9-Gen. Palmer,
commandments of the Grand Army
OF the Republic, has made public the
| following order:
The attention of the command err in chief
has been called to the fact that comrades,
wearing the badge and uniform of the Grand
Army OF the Republic, participated in a re-
cent demonstration where the confederate
flag was carried and displayed.
For four long years you braved all tn 9
perils and Yicissitudes Of war to wipe out
all that that flag represented. When your
great work was accomplished the grand
union armies had become the most power
ful and effective the world had ever seen
They melted away like the snow on the
hill tops under the beams of a noon
day sun. You resumed the peaceful vo-
cation of civil life, and the nation re-
sumed once more its career of unparalleled
progress and prosperity. Never in the his
tory Of any civil zed warfare was such mag
nanimity evidenced toward a foe "a the
terms of the surrender of Lee and army at
Appomatt0x- We have learned to admire
the gallantry of the men we have van
pushed as only men could admire them
who had tested their endurance and vIlOr
unOn many blttle1elds
When tn y laid down their arms we sought
peace, and we reached out the right hand of
fellowship to all who would accept it on the
broad grounds of American citizenship and
unconditional loyalty. The contest had
cost us untold millions OF dollars and the
lives Of thousands OF the bravest and best
men who marched under the stars and
stripes down into the jaws of death, not for
party or a creed, for IN n of all opinions
and affiliations gave up their lives 10 save
he "A n
dishOnor
To-day, the same flag which floats over
and prot cts the cOaquerOr, protects equally
as wei the conquered. We admire the spirit
which prompts the people of the south to
commemorate the gailantry of the men who
sacrificed the T lives in the lost cause, Lut
that civil conflict settled one great question:
the battle for the union was right the doe
trine of seces lion was wrong; anI the stars
and stripes, the emblem of liber Y, equal
rights. justice and law, is the ony flag which
the loyal people of this great nation respects
and honor.
We saved to our children the contest that
they would have been compelled to en-
counter. We have given them a heritage of
peace and prospect y. instead of an enOr-
nous and expensive litigation to be settled
by jury of soldier. and to-day every
Amer" an citizen is in the full enjoyment of
the fruits of our great labors.
We cannot aft Jrd to lose sight of the valOr
that achieved victory for the right We can
never forget what the contest cost US in
b God and treasure We must not forget
that loyalty to country is not mere senti-
ment, but that it requires a devotion to
principle, and that principle means that the
flag which every union soldier stood ready
to defend with his life must now be saluted
with honor One of the great principles of
our organic ttion is to teach the rising gem
Grafton loyalty to country and fidelity to
duty. The Union soldiers have repeatedly
said to the soldiers of the south: 1--WE have
no desire to arouse sectiOnIl animosities or
passions eng n Tered BY the war. Give US
.oyalty and IN re we Will give you fra
ternity."
You have demonstrated your fraternity on
numerous occasions, but when comrades
Joined in the recent ceremonies in memory
of patriotic journalist and philanthropist
they found their fraternity confronted with
the emblem OF treason, which is an evil
dence to you that there turks in the hearts
of a few "A desire, by display of that flag, to
fire the hearts of the young generation of
the south to rebellion
a comrade wearing badge or uniform of
the order. participating In any demonstra-
ton where the T bel flag is displayed, VIC
lateS his obligation to maintain true allegi-
ance to the United States OF America, to
honor its constitution, to discountenance
whatever tends to weaken loyalty, incite
treason and rebellion, and to encourage
universal liberty and justice to ali mankind,
and brings disgrace upon the order of which
he is a member.
While the commander ill., chief has neither |
the right nor disposition to interfere with |
the rights or privileges of members of the |
order, he has assumed an obligation to pro |
;ect it against any and all acts that will |
bring reproach upon its good name.
Do you propose to surrender what you |
fought for and what your comrades, who /
sleep in heroic graves, died for? AS the stars
are fixed in the Skies so your patriotism is
liked and immovable to preserve the mem
Dry and fruits of that great struggle.