The Globe-republican., 1891-11-12
A FLAG ORDER.
Grand Army Members Not to Participate
In Ceremonies Whore the Confederate
Flag II Displayed.

Grand Army Members Not to Participate
In Ceremonies Where tho Confederate
Flag II Displayed.
ALBANY, N. Y, Nov. a-Gen. Palmer.
commander-in-chiefo of the Grand Army
of the Republic. has made public the
following order:
The attention OF the commander 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
nag was carried and displayed.
For four long years you braved all the
perils and vicissitudes of war to wipe ont
all that that nag represented. When your
great work was accomplished. the grand
union armies had become the most power
full 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 civilized warfare was such mag
nanimity evidenced toward a foe as the
terms OF the surrender of Lee and army az
Appomattox We have learned to admire
the gallantry OF the men We have vanI
pushed as only men could admire them
who had tested their endurance and valor
upon many bsttledelds :
When they laid down their arms we souXN
peace, and we reached out the right hand OF
fellowship to all who would accept 1t onlthe
broad grounds of American citizenship and
unconditional LOYALTY. The contest had
cost us untold millions OF dollars and the
lives of thousands OF the bravcst and best
men who marched under the stars and
stripes down into the jaws OF death, not for
q partv or 4 creed, for men of all opinions
and affiliations gave up their lives TO save
the nation from disruption and the flag from
dishonor.
To-day, the same flag which floats over
and protects the conqueror, protects equally
as wei the conquered. We admire the spirit
whi prompts the people OF the south to
comm morate the e illantry of the men who
sacrificed their lives in the lost cause, but
that civil conflict settled one great question:
the battle for the union was right. the doc.
trine of secession was wrong; and the stars
and stripes, the emblem OF iiber =, equal
rights. justice and law, is the on!y flag which
the 10y al 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 prosperity. instead of an enor-
nous and expensive litigation to be settled
by jury of soldiers, and to-day every
American citizen is in the full enjoyment OF
the fruits of our great labors.
We cannot afford to lo-e sight of the valor
that achieved victory for the right. We can
never forget what the contest cost US In
blood 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 organization 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: I'VE have
no desire to arouse sectional animosities or
passions ENGINEERED by the war Give US
loyalty and in return 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 pa riotic 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 few a desire, by display of that flag, to
fire the hearts of the young generation of
the south to rebellion.
A comrade wearing a badge or uniform OF
the order. participating in any demonstra-
ton where the bel flag is displayed. vio-
lates his obligation to maintain true allegi-
ance to the United States OF America, to
AOhOH IT'S SOhStieuescA ~ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
whatever tends to weaken loyalty, incite
treason and rebellion, and to encourage
universal liberty and justice to all mank ind,
and brings disgrace upon the order of which
he Is q member
While the commander H. chief has neither
the right nor disposition to interfere With
the rights or privileges Of members of tho
order, he has assumed an obligation to pro-
tect Ii 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. no
sleep in heroic graves died for? As the stars
are fixed in the Skies so your patriotism Is
fixed and immovable to preserve the mem.
DRY and fruits of that great struggle.