The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-05-21

u
vet remains to be solved since the days
of reconstruction in the south is the
NEGRO question. Is it? There is an
other which has for the past few
years in these days of Tillmanhsm ana
Dxonism had its revival and which is
termed a greater one as seen IN the
eyes of the G. A. r. and many patri-
otic Union loving people, and that IS
the sentiment of the Daughters OF the
Confederacy and their supporters,
chiefly the younger element in pushing
to the front upon practically every
public occasion in the south, and IN
the north where opportunity offers not
only essays, lectures, writings, books
celebrations and monuments all from
southern standpoint and with the point
in view of education as to their Pc
culiar ideas but the Haunting OF the
stars and bars, the flag of the lost
cause together with the meetings OF
those southern women representing that
society, in their effort to cover up
many mpatriotic and traitorous acts
in the attempted secession and to
make it appear historically that their
chosen rulers and leaders were and are
the true heroes and in vindication of
the south's position that the south was
right constitutionally, and that the
Lincoln idea of coercion was wrong
with intent to lead astray the young
students of our country, and with in
tent to conquer with the pen that
which they failed to maintain by the
sword, only admitting that they were
subiugated by overpowering numbers.
The writer hereof was, during the
fall of 1885, present at the dedication
of Chicamauga Park where there were
present some over $4,000 members of
the late Confederate army. At that
time not a single flag of the stars and
bars fioated to the breeze. A few We're
exhibited as curiosities in the relic
windows of Chattanooga. Not a con-
federate flag was carried in that i'm
mense procession, the Johnnies carry
ing wreaths all marched with the
glorious stars and stripes at the head.
But how is it today? In few short
years there has been a wonderful
change through the influence of books
writers and agitators, builders oil
southern history until it is the excep-
ton that the flag of the lost cause il
not brought forth upon every public
occasion. There are several instances
that have been brought to the atten
| ton of the G. A. R. more fragrant
than the general average to which
refer. First, to the famous Cabin
John bridge at Washington, D. C.
i through which the great supply OF
water for that city passes in the great
! est stone arch of this country Thi.
bridge was built under Pierce's admin
! istration. jeff Davis, who afterwards
became famous as president of the so
called Confederacy was secretary O
war at the time of the completion o
this great work jeff had his nam,
inscribed thereon, thus taking the hon
or of executing the same. During tn,
: Civil War by order of the war de
er left the United States senate. hi
name was erased from the stone il
which it was chiseled. Within Thu
past few years there has been a con
tinual clamor in the seeded states b,
the women, the patriotic women a
| they term themselves and a few men
to have the name of jeff Davis rein
stated upon that bridge. Protests hay,
been entered by the G. A. r. and man,
Others and it never had any prospec
of success until Hon. Luke f. Wright
the last secretary of war under Roose
welt, who was a soldier in the Con
federate army, when by one of his las
acts before relinquishing his office-h
ordered the name of Jeff Davis re
inscribed upon the tablet. Second.
refer to the case of the Daughters O
the Confederacy in their movement
and persistent determination to erect ,
monument to the notorious Captail
! WIZ Who was he? He was a can
tam IN the Confederate army, first i,
charge and in immediate command q
that most terrible of all stockades-
Andersonville prison, and under tn,
immediate control, orders, and adyic,
of the commander i'm chief. Jeff Davis
WIZ was arrested upon charges ont
side of his duty as soldier for crne
and inhuman conduct; that he in hi;
capacity as captain in charge of Ander
sonville prison committed acts of fla
grant brutal cruelty and murder of tb,
Union prisoners of war and i'm violatio,
of the laws of war The commissio,
who tried him was composed of tn,
most eminent men in the country TIL,
charges were proven by 232 witnesses
His crimes were those of the notorious
Quantrell, Dick Davis and other ouer
lila banditta. He was convicted anc
hanged; and yet these daughters of tn,
south are determined to perpetuate hi.
memory as martyr-first by resolu
lions, next by monument, the GROUND
selected by them being opposite anc
adjacent to the former prison ground.
OF which he at one time had full swav
thus saying to the world historically
Captain Wirz, we honor you for YOU,
services in our lost cause"
Only few years ago while upon IN,
train nearing Atlanta the writer on
I LOO.