The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-03-21
One Country, One Flag, One Ideal.


guished soldiers of the. army OF the
southern Confederacy, who by appoint
ment were restored to the roll OF the
United States army, from which they
resigned in 1861, have passed away,
with hOnors from their former COM
vades under two flags. Both t1tZ-
Hugh Lee and Joseph Wheeler were
notable men personally, but their
unique military careers gave them an
Unusual prominence. On the other
hand, the characters of the two men
Invested their unique careers with sps-
cial significance.
The acceptance Of commissions un-
der the flag they had fought against by
Lee, Wheeler and other former Con-
tederate officers at the outbreak Of the
war with Spain in 1898 was severely
condemned at the time among south
erners. Perhaps there was also feel
ing against the granting Of such COM
missions among northerners, but if so
it was not freely expressed. Wheeler
was from Alabama, Fitz-Hugh Lee
from Virginia, which was also repre-
scented Ivy Thomas l.. Rosser, and II.
kyd Douglas was appointed from
Maryland. All Of these soldiers had
fought to the bitter end for the Con-
federacy. There could be no charge
that they were half hearted in their
opposition to the old flag in the hour
when 10 fight against it meant some
thing. A suggestion that any one of
them had ever held u thought disloyal
to the cause of the south would not
have been entertained for a moment.
When the south grounded arms in 1865
these former soldiers became patriots
OF the highest type in their devotion to
the welfare Of the nation. Any other
conduct would have been excused per-
haps as weakness of human nature,
but could not have given them the
place of honor they held in 1898.
For years before the crisis of 1898
it had been the dream Of the survivors
OF the northern and southern armies
that one day the very men who wore
the blue and the gray, or at least their
worthy sons. should take up arms 40
gether under one flag to meet a foreign
foe. The idea was brought out as
challenge to any who doubted the good
faith of the south in accepting the
verdict Of the sword at Appomattox,
The event had to come. and it was
well that 1t should come early in order
to lay early the specter of sectionalism.
to give national peace. No better men
could have been found In the south to
stand for the army Of the Confederacy
than Lee and Wheeler. They had
served most honorably and worn the
blue in the United States army before
the civil war. They had resigned hon
orably to bear their swords in another
cause and had honorably put by their
swords when peace was made which
wiped their nation from the face of
the earth,
one by one the scars of the civil con.
dict have been obliterated. Veterans
meet and talk their battles over and
honor the fallen regardless of the col
ors they wore in 1865. Cadets of the
south, sons Of Confederate soldiers and
sailors have for years served in the
United States army and navy. The
event OF 1898 and the survival Of men
IKE wheeler, Lee, Rosser and Doug.
las were fortunate Incidents, In that
tney gave a chance for conspicuous
demonstration, the purity and sincerit,
OF which could not be questioned. tina,
the Union is complete and that wa ara
people with one flag and one "a.
ttonal ideal.