Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-19
FLAGS AND ROLLS.

FLAGS AND ROLLS
Representative Bromweli. Of Ohio. has
introduced a bill in Congress authorizing
the return of Confederate battle flags
captured by tho linton armies during the
civil war OF 1916. Commenting upon
this fact. the Washington Post says the
conditions are favorable to making the
return "a memorable and most auspi-
cious episode" yes" II reiterates. tine
flags should be returned. The last re-
naming emblems OF the fratricidal strife
of thirty-fve years ago should be re-
moved from the capital OF the Union.
which all sections now revere and love
with equal fervor and sincerity"
II these flags are TO be returned as
proposed, arrangements therefor couid
be made best through the United Con-
federate Veterans, who are soon to meet
In annual encampment at Atlanta our
Grand Camp would doubtless undertake
10 receive the flags on the part OF the
South and distribute them to the seve-
raj states through their State camps.
Or. the Grand Camp. by and with the
consent of the proper State authorities.
might hold the entire collection until
such a time as we have a battle abbey,
or other suitable place in which to de-
posit them permanently
II the Bromwell bill be passed by Con-
gress, we presume that such OF the
Northern States as have collections Of
southern flags will authorize the return
of them also. Ohio, we know, has such
a collection.
We think Il opportune to say here and
now, as we have said before, that the
return OF these flags, II authorized by
Congress, ought to be made In a manner
that will be altogether acceptable to the
feelings Of the southern people. Better
that they should stay in the garrets
where they are now moudering into dust
than that they should be returned ac-
companied with any imprudent or Had
vised speeches or resolutions.
The truth is the South has never
bothered itself very much about these
trophies, so called. In the first place, we
are confident that many Of the battle
flags" are no such things. In every
northern collection there WIFI be found
numerous Confederate flags that were
never used for aught but decorative pur-
pose. Again, in some OF those collections
are bundles Of old flags that were turned
into the Confederate War Department
when the new battle-fags were Issued TO
our regiments. There were many such
flags stored in Richmond when this city
was evacuated by the Confederates and
occupied by the Federals OF course
they were legitimate spoils of war, but
whoever undertakes to estimate the num-
Der of our regiments by the aggregate
number of flags captured or surrendered
will be grievously mistaken.
So far as Virginia is concerned, there
is no question but that our people would
rather the Federal Government would
give us access TO our muster-rolls than
give us back our flags. These rolls
were captured at Richmond and Danville
at the close Of the war our State has
long desired to have copies Of them
maze, DuL uIutI llic aiSiN AHi~' - 49,
War Department no copying of that cha'
racter can be done there except by It's
own high-salaried clerks. Thus the copies
we wish would cost about $4,000, where
as. we could send a clerical force of
Young women there and have the work
done at an expense of about 5000.
Copies of those rolls we very much de-
sire; the flags we are not at all concern
ed about. Our greatest interest in them
is to meet any friendly overtures made
by Congress in a becoming manner; a
manner in keeping with the fraternai
spirit that seems to actuate our friends
in the North who are urging the govern
ment to return the flags to their former
owners.
And we repeat here-what we have
more than once said-that whether Con-
gress shall or shall not return the flags Is
a matter that should be left to the north
ern members to decide.