The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-02-08
Idaho Senator Protests Against Loan Of Gov
ernment Tents to Confederate Veterans.
ATTACKS PLAN OF H0NOR|NG GENERAL LII
Western Statesman States His Prejudice Against Placing
Statue Of Southern Leader in Hall Of Fame---Notwith
standing Arguments, Required Camping Outfit
Will BE Allowed to Old Soldiers.

rebel and the union flags were always
carried at these reunions"
Mr.. Hepburn then proceeded to say
that while he did not want to open
the wounds of the war he still
thought the south had made a
great mistake in that war He
had been told that the government was
In the habit of making such loans to
the Grand Army of the Republic and
he thanked God that such was the
case, because the Grand Army was
composed of men who had fought on
the side OF the union and their cause
was glorious and honorable one
do you expect" he said. going
back 70 the contrast of the q. A. r.
with the confederate veterans. that
those who gave their support to the
union cause would sit idly by and say
nothing when these issues are raised?
They are none the less patriotic now
than they were in 1852 -63-6i. Could
they be less patriotic and can they
complacently permit the subject of the
war to become jest in this age? II
go. the sooner we know 1t the better"
AT this point Mr. Hepburn received
his only interruption. 1t came from
Senator jefferson Davis of Arkansas.
who, even without awaiting the per-
mission of the Idaho senator. abruptly
interposed the question: Were you
In tho war;"
"oh. no." responded. Mr.. Hepburn.
that Is the stock question of the
cheap reporter"
II understand" replied Mr.. Davis,
that the senator represents 264 mig
gers in his state"
Too Young.
Responding to the last interruption,
Mr.. Hepburn said IL there were 26l
| negroes in his state he intended to
| try to represent them. He added that
he was not a senator from his state
alone, but senator of the Fnttel
States as well. AS for his partlcipa-
tlon In the war he stated that he had
been too young for that, but that he
had been very anxious to enlist while
the war was in progress. Mr. Hey
burn said that IL there We're senators
who thought that 1t was proper that
the .'rebel' flag should wave over the
property of the United States, they
could vote for the measure, but he
would remind them that there were
millions Of people In the United States
who have implanted deep in their
hearts the spirit of patriotism and who
would not follow them In that course.
From the consideration of the pend
ing resolution Mr.. Hepburn turned
temporarily to the question of the wis
aF .ln ri fotn ~
Lee in the Hall of Fame In the
national capitol. He did not mention
General Lee by name, but left no
doubt that he had him In mind. He
spoke of the fact that the object of
his remarks had been an officer In the
army of the United States when the
war broke ont and said taa, IN had
done much To render more serious
that conflict which had cost the eoun-
try millions upon millions OF money
and thousands upon thousands of
lives He appealed to the people Of
Virginia and the south to take the
statue back.
I'm sending us figures for the
national hall of fame | would advise
you.Y he said, mot to overlook your
Marshalls your Earlys, Lees. your
Monroes and your Henrys. Don't
violate a sentiment which you know to
exist and which exists today as 1t did
In the sixties. l ask you in the in
terest OF loyalty and harmony to say
to the people who have sent here this
! image to come and take 1t away. Ii
, may be dear to you. but II Is not dear
, to us. Take 1t and worship 1t II you
please, but do not intrude 1t upon tho
people who do not want 1t. Take him
, home-place him in the most sacred
, spot; give him the dearest place in
your local temples, but. for Gods
, sake, don't again start This spirit out
of which the terrible troubles OF the
J past arose"
/ Mr.. Hepburn here declared that he
had no personal feeling in the matter
and that 1t was not his intention to
| wave the bloody shirt
Il am" he said. "as far from doing
that as any man you ever dreamed of
I. but love my country too we'll to see
1t drifting on the shores Of discomfort
and personal strife
, Declaring that he would stand
4 against such legislation as was pro-
: posed ii his Is the only voice to be
g raised in opposition and that he would
vote against it IL no other senator
e did, he insisted that he did not desire
e to be interpreted as imputing dis
Y loyalty to any senator who might DIFF,
q fer with him.