The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-04

| he dared the more relenting Of the old
time comrades to return captured flags
now hanging dusty and time-stafned
in the state house.
| The fervid exclamation of the old man
| came as a fitting climax to an after
noon Of strife spent by the members of
the Fourth Minnesota regiment re-
united in annual session.
| The plan of restoring to the South
] ern regiments the battle flags brought
| North at the close Of the war has
been discussed in the different Grand
Army posts of the country, and at the
reunion yesterday afternoon a resolu-
ton ordering the return of the flags
taken from the Thirty-fifth and Thir-
| ty-ninth Mississippi regiments by the
soldiers of Minnesota was introduced
and opinions called for.
Thought of the Price Paid.
The expressions came fast enough
and the conservatives who believe that
| the trophies must go back before the
war can be completely forgotten soon
discovered that the resolution was
doomed.
The old soldiers forgot their years
and thought only Of the price paid for
the trophies asked to be returned. They
were willing to do almost anything to
| show themselves standing with hands
outstretched to the men who fought in
/ gray but the request to return the
| flags was asking too much.
/ The conservatives argued and plead
ed. The joy Of the men in gray, who
/ fought SO hard only to lose their fight,
at the return of flags was pictured,
| but arguments failed to move the vet
Grams and deaf ears were turned to the
| pleas.
| Bitter words were exchanged and a
split in the ranks Of the Old Fourth
| looked certain when Ezra Towne push
ed his way to the front.
"The Flags Are Ours"
."The flags are ours" shouted the
old man, waving his hands before a
| face white with emotion. eve bought
those flags and we paid price for
them. I would rather burn them than
| return them!"
Ezra TONNES speech killed the hopes
| Of ther'oldo soldiers of the South.
DR.. Sweet, of Minneapolis, made one
| last plea for the resolution, but the
wild cheers that followed Ezra Towne
| marked the plea wasted one.
''You would not burn the flags of the
Southern soldiers who fought and died
| on San Juan hill, would your" shouted
DR.. Sweet. -, 4.
| the Rebellion" answered a veteran.
eff the Southern regiments want
| their flags" said Rev. J. S. Bean, an
other Minneapolis veteran, 'let them
have their colors-"
Bought With Blood.
"They do not belong to any one but
u.s." was the answer hurled across the
| hall. I'VE bought them with blood
| These flags are stained with the blood
of Northern soldiers and belong to u.s.
"True," pleaded the clergyman, "but
what good are the flags to us hanging
| there in the capitol? We have but a
| few more years to live and before we
| die let us do something that will live
after us. Let US kill the veterans Of
| the South with Kindness"
But pleading was useless.
| They didn't kill us that way" came
a growl from the middle Of the hall.
The Rev. Mr.. Bean refused to give I'D
and again appealed to the relentless
ones.
Help, but No Flags.
Comrades" interrupted an old man.
as he raised his cane. Those flags
cost us the life of many brave soldier.
AS for me, will give as much as any
other man toward building home for
! the Southern veterans who are unable
to take care Of themselves in their old
| age. but the flags stay here. I will op-.
| pose their return. fighting to the last
| ditch"
Gen. J. B. Sanborn. president Of the