The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-07-17
SOUTHERN WAR FLAGS
Possibly They May Be Placed In
the National Museum
Pressdent CIeveIand's PrOpoaItiOn
Ehat They De Returned to
Southern states Assailed
~ G., A. L. Men.
IspecIal washIngt0n Letter.l

Do you remember the great political
excitement which arose in 1887, when
President Cleveland proposed to return
TO the southern states the battle flags
OF confederate regiments?
The order, however. was never car
rfed out, because it was countermanded
before the affair could be attended to
by department officials because of the
remonstrance made against the move
by q. A. r. encampments and veterans
OF the union army generally. Immedi-
afely the agitation for removing the
flags and trophies of a like character
to the national museum was begun,
and pending a final decision in the
matter, the confederate emblems, which
had previously been in charge of the
adiutant generals Office, were removed
and put under the care of the chief
of the record and pension division of
the war department, where they still
remain.
Before the national museum can have
the relics added to Its collection of at
fractions a great deal of formality and
congressional legislation will be neces-
Il HdTNR anu CFCu 0nOuA0 DAC AhOFS INV
definite shape, and a bill for that pur-
pose pass at the mex session, the large
number Of trophies of all sorts would
require such a length of time and an
amount of attention in arrangement, so
that in no case will the museum, or any
institution which may be designated as
a permanent place of display, if at all,
be apt to have the collection housed
much within a year. A number of of
fcials in the wal department say that
an attempt will be made to ave the
necessary bill framed and urged to a
speedy consideration when the next
congress meets. The confederate flags
in themselves are no incumbrance, but
relics of various sorts have accumulated
until they hamper matters in q certain
sense, and it is thought that If the bill
can be made comprehensive in its ma
ture much Of an interesting historical
character can be placed where better
care can be taken of the relics and a
proper display made which will be ap-
preciated by the public.
Worn and travelling by the lapse of
years, tOrn by shot and shell, Some of
them almost riddled with bullets vary
ing in size from the ordinary musket
ball to the mimic, the confederate battle
flags which were captured during the
war, and such Of them as are still in
possession of the government, repose,
carefully wrapped and folded, in largs
boxes among the archives and safe
keeping places, and there they will re
main forever. Few people ever see
them; very few know o ftheir existence
The relics will never be placed where
the general public may view them, un'
less indeed they may yet be placed in
the national museum, together witt
the hosts Of foreign battle flags cap.
tured in various wars, and hundreds Of
other relics with a historical record
which the war department has had il
charge for years.
Tho sectional question has been up
permost in the minds of public mel
who had given consideration to tht
matter Of a public display of thes,
flags. The old confederate soldiers ye-
living would not want to see their bat
tie flags placed on exhibition. On
thing which becomes very dear to thu
heart of a soldier. no matter for wha'
cause he fights, is his regimental bat
tie flag. Its loss is a humiliation. TIL,
public display of the captured fla!
would be a needless humiliation in tn,
old age of the soldier. Therefore, be
cause we are a reunited people. trying
I, to forget and to forgive, leading pub