The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-14
THE CONFEDERATE FLAG.
a Southern Papers Defense OF tho South.
ern Iieroes-Thoy Are Not Less Loyal
Dccnuso Tley Preserve Their Relies.

a Southern Papers Defense OF tho South.
ern Iinr0os-Thoy Are Not Less Loyal
nccnuso Tliey Preserve Their Relics
ATLANTA, GA, Nov. 12.-Tle ConNi.
tuition, in explaining the evident misap.
prehensions under which General Pal.
mcr, Commander.in.chief OF tho Grand
Army OF tho Republic, labors rs re.
CARDS n conspicuous Display of Conicd.
crate flags OH tho occasion OF tho un-
yelling Of the Grady monument, says
editorially concerning his interview:
"This is not tho talk OF q soldier. 1t
is sectional and partisan all the way
through. There was no display OF con-
iederato flags at the unyeiling OF tho
Grady monument. II there had been
such display among the picturesque
decorations OF the OCCASION, it would
have been all right, but nobody thought
OF it, A company OF Confederate veter-
ans carried in procession n war relic in
the shape OF Il tattcrcd banner under
which they had fought a hundred bat
ties. All genuine soldiers understand
the significance OF such an incident.
This relic or souvenir, was regarded by
old Confcderatcs simply rs relic, II re-
minder OF their hcroism and suffering
in the past. In all ages soldiers, whcth-
or victorious or vanquished, have
atIectionately treasured their uni
forms, their flags, their swords,
and other souvenirs OF their
campaigns. For n century after the war
OF the roses descendants OF the rival
houses OF York and Lancaster proudly
displayed their red and white roscs and
they were none the less loyal to Eng
land ior doing SO. Through all the
changes OF government in France there
has never becn 4 time when M old SOL
dier would notwear in public the legion
OF honor cross presented to him by tho
first Napoleon. Soldiers understand
this sort OF thing and only politicians
and narrow-minded bigots misrcprcsent
it. When the Grady monument was
unveiled, Atlanta was literally crowded
with Federal flags from the monument
to tho suburbs. General Slocum and
other Union officers, soldiers and vctcr-
ans SAW nothing but Union flags every
where.
General Palmer misrepresents Mr..
Grady when he says that he would not
have countenanced Confederate vetcr-
ans and their war relic. This is pre-
cisely what Mr.. Grady did when JeiIer-
son Davis paid his last visit 10 Atlanta.
There was some talk ut that time about
Il few Confederate flags. Several north
crn newspaper correspondents wrote OF
them, anu Mr.. Grady very happily and
satisfactorily made it plain to the coun-
try that the loyal south had only one
flag, but she had the right under that
flag to treasure her scars, her souvenirs
and her relics. There is no latter day
sentiment about it, and women, boys
and rebels have nothing 10 do with it.
The people from Virginia to Texas are
loyal to one flag and one country, but
they are proud Of their old battle fields,
battle flags, broken swords and other
evidences OF the gigantic struggle in
which they displayed such supreme
valor and endurance. IL is all right.
Union soldiers living in the south un-
dcrstand it, and they like the men who
wore the grey all the better ior this
little touch OF human nature.