The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-09-26
LOYAL TO THE STARS AND STRIPES

Wv S'"' -
a cssseeps.Aens Has ssaethisg to
Say AbSut tie O. A. =. Ressla-
items and sheir Critics.
We have read, with deep interest,
the resolutions recently adopted by
JUST Post No. 17S, G.. A. r., and also
the comments made thereon by Col. a.
Mitchell and Adjutant Hoffman. The
Col. q is badly muddled-off his base
and in a dazed condition. There is
not one wt.rd in the resolutions touch
ing politics, nor do they claim that
Republicans put down the rebellion
nor do they breath anything but the
kindest feeling toward the brave Ex-
Confederate veteran. On the contra
ry. they express the unanimous desire
of the members of the Post to aid the
long delayed effort to build those
neglected heroes a home where they
can spend their days in peace. And
further. they resolve to send, and do
send. money from their depleted Post
treasury TO help in the good cause.
Then why write all this balderdash.
that is not only silly but is sickening
to read?
Comrade Hoffman gets mad and
prints comments that he will regret
having published. lie knows that he
has done his comrades iujustice-that
he, by inucndo. divulged that which is
strictly forbidden. What has the
World to do with the Business of the
Post, the delays or the man who, as
amanpensis of the Post, drafted the
resolutions? Nothing. lie is no
more responsible for thcm than we are
and we were not present. This Com
rate Hoffman knows full well.
Then he gives, what he styles, a
statement of facts. but purposely or
otherwise, omits to give the cause of
dissatisfaction. This. Comrade H., is
neither honorable, just or fair Oh your
part, and in your mistaken zeal you
have added fuel to fire and pressed
home the poisoned dart that inflicted
the grevious wound, thereby identify
ing yourself with those who waved
the bloody rag in the face of your
comrades, and your new friends laugh
at you for your trouble.
You say, We know there are men,
beers of the Post that do not indorse
them,' (the resoIutions) What! MEN,
bers of JUST Post who voted against
giving money to the H~igginsville
Home? We cannot believe the state
mcnt.
Perhaps you mean that there are
some members who do not indorse
the condemnation of the rebel flag?
If this statement be true it is TO be
regretted. II is but a few weeks past
that, at a school meeting in Kansas,
a thing in human shape, lost to all
patriotism and love of native land,
denounced the emblem OF freedom,
OF equal rights and justice, aud OPP
posed raising the National flag
over the school house. Are there any
such men in Justi Post? From what
Adjt. III. says we are led to fear it.
But, let us get down 10 facts. The
ladies' who compose the Auxiliary to
the Daughters had nothing TO do with
the selection of the hated emblem
printed on their letter heads; and |
question very much if they know
what it represents. That came from
older heais. Mrs. Iiouck, President
of the Auxiliary, had spoken to a
number of the old Union soldiers to
assist her in the good work, and all
expressed a willingness to do SO, but
at the same time, she was cautioned
to do nothing that would awaken or
blow into new life the feeling of the
past. At that time the bloody rag,
that emblem of oppression and in
justice had not been SEEN. But strange
to say, the first public act of those
thoughfless ladies vas to send a~letter
to Justi Post, bearing. conspicuously
at its head a bastard English flag, the
same that the men bad met on the
field of battle. What was to be ex-
pected? When II was shown the same
old deadly chill that creeps up the
spine when the first volley was fired,
and the shower of rebel bullets plow-
cd through their ranks, laying scores
and hundreds of their comrades dead
at their feet, Was felt anew to be
quickly superseded by the rush of
boiling blood that proceeds the charge.
No wonder the mel were staggered
at the audacity of the act. Wave q
red parasol in the face of a gentle
Jersey bull and he will gore You. II
may well be asked, what Is there SO
terrible about that flag to move mems
resentment so quickly! These ladies,
of course cannot understand it, from
the fact that with one exception,
neither of them had q father, q
brother, husband or any near relative
in either army, and of curse never
fclt the torture endured by those who
had, much less the feelings of men in
the ranks: therefor, they are some
what excusable for their mistake.
Let US see what that flag does repre-
sent. 1t represents the treachery of
English statesmen, the handiwork
and the gift of Englishmen 10 our
disaffected countrymen, thereby en-
couraging them to fire on the flag
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