The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-06
AN UNGENEROUS ENEMY.
PALMER WRITES ANOTHER FLAG
INCIDENT" LETTER.

Re Maintains That to Display That
Splendid Old Book-Mark IN the
Worlds History Il Treason to the
Government-A Soldier Without APP
probation Of a Soldiers Nature.
ATLANTA, GA, Feb. 6-John Palmer,
commander in chief Of the g. a. r., who
declared when in Augusta a week or So ago,
that be was really not afraid 10 venture
south Of Mason and Dixon's line-that
being his first visit southland whose order
regarding the display Of confederate flags
has made him an object Of contempt by all
true Americans, has added another chap
ter to the record Of his ungenerous hatred
Of the south and southern soldiers.
1t will be remembered that when be is
sued his confederate flag manifesto, the At
lanta post of the G. A. R., sent TO him a
communication defending its participation
in the demonstration attendant upon the
unwilling Of the Grady monument several
months ago. when an old confederate battle
rag was carried by the veterans in line, in
which letter the Atlanta G. A. R. men de-
clared that they had no apology to make
for their action. At meeting Of o. NJ,
Mitchell post last night Gen. Palmer's letter
in reply to the posts position was consid-
cred. In this letter, which is remarkable
for the narrowness of its tone, the COM
mander in chief OF the grand army says:
PALMERs LETTER.
The display of the rebel flag on any coca
sion, or under any pretext whatever, ought 10
be regarded by any American citizen-l don't
care whether he fought for against the
nuinn-au insult To the national government.
and in justification of my action, quote the
language OF Attorney General Speed, who re-
piled TO Gen. Grant as follows
"A rebel officer has no right to wear a rebel
uniform 10 any loyal city 1t is simply adding
insult to injury. He has as much right TO bear
the traitors flag through the streets Of loyal
city as he has TO wear the traitors garb. 1t is
against the terms OF surrender and an act of
hostility against the government OF the United
States"
Your southern journals excused the carrying
of this confederate flag by saying it was "a
tattered battle fog that the same confederate
veterans carried through many hard fought
union Of ex-confederate soldiers. held as such,
aud the battle flag was brought out, possibly
there might be some excuse. lido not say there
would be, but think can appreciate the feel
ings of those eX-confederates for the flag
though IL we're the emblem Of treason that they
followed through many hard fought battles.
You say the only one you saw was a fac
smile of the first confederate flag adopted by
the confederacy. IL So then above all others,
was it not the flag shat union soldiers should
have refused to parade underY Why should
men, who shed luster and reDown upon Ameri-
can valor, participate in demonstrations where
the emblem of treason is either carried or dis
playedi The @. A. Il. has invited fraterniza-
ton, but it has never agreed, never
consented and never will, that its
bers. wearing the badge and uniform of the
order, should march under anything that has
the semblance of confederate dag. AS the
survivors Of that grand army, which saved the
union and the and from diahOnnr
we recognize our late foes in arms as brave and
gallant soldiers.
No nag should be carried that will tend to
arouse a feeling of animosity or revenge 10 the
minds Of the young generation of the south
That the members of our order do not approve
OF participating in any demonstration where the
confederate flag is displayed is well understood,
and feel sure that members Of your post are
in perfect accord with this doctrine
A TILT AT THE PRESS.
We're l disposed to reply TO the southern
press, the bitterness with which l have
been assailed, the malicious and will
full falsehoods told concerning my record
as union soldier, the foul attacks made upon
the G.. A. R. and the vile slanderous letters |
am in almost daily receipt Of, might be justifi-
able excuse; but am not seeking any excuse for
recrimnaton. They demonstrate very clearly
that there is class in the south who entertain
the most hostile feeling toward the union
soldiers. and who have no appreciation OF our
beloved and patriotic organization. There was
nothing Of q partisan nature in my order. |
recognize the right of every union soldier TO
vote as his conscience dictates Believing that
the confederate flag, when carried on parade,
represents Just what it represented during the
four years struggle, from 1861 to 1868; that it
is the emblem OF a cause that cost us the lives of
thousands of the bravest and best in the land:
that it cost us untold millions Of dollars, 1t sig
naliZes the disability of thousands of living
comrades and untold suffering which flied the
land with widows and orphans: it this
thought that prompted me to issue general or
ders No 4. have no apology to make and
nothing to retract.