Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-22
Tnr RErrRN oF THE TRopHIEs.

Among the northern newspapers sem
fiIuent seems to be crystallizing in favor
OF returning TO us such Confederate bat
tle-nags as are in possession of the Fed
erai and State governments. 1t is thought
thtt this would be a graceful thing
10 do now in recognition Of the heartiness
with which the South responded to the
Presidents call for troops and the cheer
fulness with which our soldiers are
marching to war under "Old Glory"
We appreciate the kind motives which,
we are sure. actuate our brethren of the
press who are engaged in advocating the
return of these trophies. In proper hands
the scheme would be promotive of great
good; yet we must say ii is very deli
cate matter and would better not be en-
tered upon at all than to be mismanaged
il would not do for our flags to be re-
turned to us accompanied with speeches
of forgiveness, etc. our people hold they
have done nothing 10 be forgiven for.
But. alas. southern feeling on this SUBJ
ject is not understood by one out of
thousand of the people, even the edu-
Gated people, OF the North. Nor is this
very wonderful, considering the persis-
fence with which our views as to seces-
sion have been kept out of their books,
newspapers, and public documents.
However, we will go no further into
that now. We only wish 20 point out
the fact that the matter in question is
one requiring great delicacy of treat
anent.
The movement now in progress is sup
ported by many men of the North. who,
we believe, earnestly wish to draw the
two great sections Of our country into
closer bonds of union. SO believing, we
cannot but wish them success in their
undertaking, hence we beg them not TO
let it assume the character of a spectacle
where the South is to be called up 10
receive a lot OF faded flags and be
oracularly informed that its past is for
given.
We do not see that we sontherners are
called upon 10 take any forma action in
the premises until we are officially in
formed that the offer is TO be made. Then
We suppose it would be proper for
the Grand Camp of Confederate Vete-
rams TO appoint a committee TO receive
the flaes: the said flags TO be received
md afterwards delivered TO the repre-
sentatives Of the several States that
formerly composed the Confederacy.
Many flags, we guess, Will never be
Identified as belonging 10 any particular
regiment, battalion. or State. These
ownerless trophies might well be turned
over 20 the Board of Managers of the
Confederate Museum. in Richmond.
And, by the way. we are quite sure our
Yankee friends have a great number Of
flags that were never used as regimental
colors or for any military purposes
whatever. This. we know-that when
Richmond was occupied by the Federal
army ali Confederate flags were seized,
ana 50 scores OF them that had been
used merely for decorative purposes came
into the possession of the Union troops.
Thus. while our northern friends have
some OF our regimental flags to which
pathetic interest attaches they have
many other flags which, we suspect
never saw sanguinary service. However
we repeat. we look at the motive which
has Inspired this movement. and II we
understand IL rightly. II is IN the interest
OF q better feeling between the North
and the South--a contamination most de-
voutly TO be wished