The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-15
THE FLAG QUESTION AGAIN.
Mr.. Garland Jones Replies to Hon.
Fabius H.. Busbee.

To the Editor: The communication
of Hon. Fabius III. Busbee in this
mornings News and Observer will be
read by hundreds with genuine amaze
meut and sorrow. Stating an issue
nf LOYALTY or disloyalty which is in
no way involved in the question as to
whether the United States flag can be
appropriately thrust upon some wo-
men engaged in honoring the memory
of their dead, he sophistically argues
to the astounding conclusion that the
mere absence of the flag would stamp
the whole service as reasonably incon-
sistent with respect to the Federal
Government. No such issue as Mr..
Busbee has stated is in any wise IN
yolved in the matter under considera-
ton. The Confederate flags are dls-
plaved not as symbols of any antagon-
istic power; and as the service is not
supposed to be in favor of any govern
ment on the face Of the earth no flag
of the United States is appropriately
required in it; and to thrust it forward
has all the appearance OF ghoullsh
malice which would obtrude insult
unon the dead and daunt deliberate
humiliation in the face of the living.
Mr.. Busbee claims the right to speak
for himself and for some ex-Confed-
crates now living, but neither he nor
they can have the right to speak for
the countless dead. No mortal has q
right to wave that flag over those
graves. AS those men fell, so, In the
name of decent humanity, let them
lie. and plant not above them the SYM
bol of the power that struck them to
the heart and laid them low in death.
No generous foe would be willing TO
nut them in any other relation to that
flag than the relation looked upon
II with eyes becoming immutally fix
ed i'm death. Woman's instinct of re-
finement and delicacy is here true to
the line" She declares with quick
breathing and flashing eye, that TINS
service is for the dead, and that thofe
dead men never were reconstructed
and shall not be so represented. AS
they fell. so they shall lie. Politicians
may change, survivors may accept
the situation" Mr.. Busbee and ten
thousand others who are alive may
very appropriately put themselves into
any relation to the United states flag
that their hearts or their interests
may dictate; but the wives and moth
ers of our dead men, who cannot arise
and give consent, will ever treat with
deserved scorn any man, friend or
foe. who would plant upon a soldiers
grave any other flag than the one ms
hand upheld when his blood gushed
from his heart.
"There ought to be no misunder-
standing on one point Very true,
Mr.. Busbee. and the one point is this:
Memorial Day is set apart not to pa
rade loyalty to the Federal govern
ment: not TO honor Union soldiers;
not to magnify the stars and stripes,
but to remember and honor thu Con-
federate dead; and while our loving
women bend over those grassy
mounds. their hearts speak true when
they saw. "until from these cold ashes
can come consent we demand that in
them shall be presumed to live their
wonted fires" The dead, at least,
change not. Not disloyal to the flag
Of the living, those women would go
at midnight to stay the hand that
would wave that flag over the grave
Of the Confederate dead.
GARLAND JONES.