The National tribune., 1891-06-04
REBEL FLAGS.


iS61.
Comrade J. NJ. Young, Fort Clark, Tex,
sends us the following order issued by Gen.
Thomas In 1867, which he thinks will be in.
teresting reading 10 our readeas. in view of the
fact thst at the unvailing Of the Lee Monument
IN Richmonl l. rebel flags were plentiful in the
line and On the houses along the route OF the
procession; and also because Gen. Thomas was
native NIrginian:
HEADQUARTERS DEPAETSirSr OF THE TENNESSEE !
Louisville, Ky, Feb. 9. Is65. J
General Orders. No. u.
The following letter is published for the infOr'
nation Of all concerned.
By command n Mai Gen THOMAS
NM ID. MHIirLE, Bvt Mai and A. A. q.
HEADQUAETERs DEPARTMENT or rHE TENNESSEE, !
Louisville. Ky, Feb .. ls67. !
CHARITs II. SMITH. Mayor of the City Of Rome Ga,
JAMES G fENHEHroS, Member of the City COun'
cil. Rome, auu others.
GESTLINES: The Major General commanding
the Department directs me to acknowledge the re-
ceipt OF your communication OF the 18th ult., All
dressed 10 Brv't Maj. Gen. Davis lillsOn, com
maudiug sub District Of Georgia, giving statement
OF facts and circumstances which caused the arrest
oil certain citizens Of Rome Ca. for being con-
ccTned IN the display of tle flag Of the late south
ern ConfedcTaCy In that city aud asking that Just.
ice may be done and the prisoners released.
In your letter YOU stale that no dIsrespect was In
tended 10 the United states Government by the eX-
bibiiion OF the Confederate ~ and that the parties
who displayed IL have accepted ia good faith the
present status OF affairs, aud do acknowledge the
Jurisdiction OF the United States Government
etc
II that IS the case II can only be supposed pre-
suming that they possess ordinary intelligence
that they misundersiHnd the present status Of ai'
fairs, which is that tile rebellion has been de-
ctded to be a huge crime embodying all the crimes
oil The decalog. aud that Il has been conquered
and disaImed, and that its very name and emblems
are hateful To the people Of the United States and
lac must be indeed Obtuse who expects, without
ohense, 10 parade before thc eyes Of loyal people
hey s
winch they have expressed in the most emphatic
language ln which II - possible for great Nation
10 utter its sentiments.
IL - pretended 10y certain newspapers that be.
cause no order had been issued from these Head
quarters that the flag Of the Confederacy was not
10 see the light, tile citizens were not warned that
It would be- "A reasonable act.
This excuse Is too puerile to answer, and un-
worthy OF a schoOlboy even. The young men ar
rested as well as other citizens Of the South know
wen enough what IL right and what - wrong m
such matters without waiting to be guided by or
ders especially naming aud prohibiting displays
honorng treason, aud Of course eontemning 10y
ally. Were they so stupid not 10 pOss, IS such
Innate sense OF prOpTiety the order from these
Headquarters fOTblddiug rebel gioTihcatiOn over
The remains Of the rebel Brig Gen. Hanson. should
nave been sufficient warning that such perform
auces would not be tolerated.
The cole cause Of this aud similar offenses lies in
the fact that certain citizens of Rome, aud n pOr
lion oi Tie people Of the States lately in rebellion
do not and have not accepted the situation, aud
that i, that the late civil war was a rebellion, and
hirA'iN viii 80 feCofu luO.e euEhEEu IN IL are
and Will be pronounced rebels; rebellion implies
treason aud treason y a crime. aud heinOus one
too. and deserving uf punishment and that traitors
have not been punished is owing to the magma
nimily OF the cOnqueTOTs. With too many of the
people OF the South the late civil war Is called a
revolution, rebels are called "ConfedeTates loyal
lists to the whole country called id Yankee;
aud traitors, and over the whole great crime. Will
It's aceursed record Of slaughtered heroes patriots
murdered because Of their tTue-hearted love o
country, widowed wives and orphaned children
aud prisoners of war slain amid such horrors a.
find 40 parallel Ia the history Of the world, they
are trying To throw tie gloss OF Tespectabity, and
thTu-ting with cOntumey aud dcrisOn from then
society the men and women who would not JOIN
hands with them in the work Of running thcil
country. Everywhere IN the States lately in re
be4lion treason Is respectable and loyalty OdiOus
This the people Of the United States who ended
the rebellion and saved tile country will not per
nsit aud 'all attempts To maintain this uunAtuTa
order Of things will be met by decided disap
provAl.
As, however Il Is pretended by tho friends 70 thu
citizens arrested that they were innocent n moi
TO know that il WAS wrong for paToled prisoner,
ana unpuuished traitors To glory in their shame
and Haunt the symbol Of their crime in the face o
the country. they will be released from cOnhne
meni, with tie understanding that act Of Treason
will be passed unHoticed when detected, aud may
they and others who think like them profit bJ
ths lesson they have received.
gnl. very respectfully, your obedient serv't,
MM. IL. WHIFPLE,
Bry't Maj Gen. u. ,. A. and A. 4. G
Official.