The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-04-13

Dixie states Of Virginia, North Caro-
lima and Texas with impressive cere-
monies at the capitol on December rs.
1927. The above photograph shows
Gov. Ralph Brewster OF Maine (left),
President Coolidge (center), and Gen.
w. 3. Freeman Of Richmond (right),
honorary commander OF the United
Confederate Veterans. with some Of
the flags returned.
that the number would be less than TO-
900. How do gather that, or, rather.
how do they reach that estimate? They
reach 1t by taking the figures of the
pension commissioner, which show that
in round numbers $4,000 of the $4,000
living Union soldiers are now physical
ly incapacitated, requiring the constant
aid and attention of some other person
to care for them because of infirmity;
and of the remainder. the estimate is
made by those who have taken account
Of the attendance at the annual re-
unions OF the Grand Army OF the Re-
public and Of the United Confederate
Veterans.
He then referred to the scene,
shown In the picture above, as fol-
lows:
Out here this morning on the steps
OF the capitol we witnessed the return
of some captured Confederate fiags by
the people of the Northern state of
Maine to the people OF North Carolina
Those people up there In Maine. whom
the Southe:ners used to call the cold
blooded Yankees, are now warm, and
they come down here bearing their cap
tured flags to the North Carolinians.
and understand that IL North Caro-
lima did capture flags from the Maine
regiments she has already or is to re-
turn them to the state of Maine.
recall an incident little while
ago when the state OF New Jersey,
through its governor. returned some
Confederate flags to a Southern state
think It was North Carolina also
and here have a little editorial from
the new York Times. which says of
that action:
"The decision of the governor OF New
Jersey to return to North Carolina
flags OF that state captured by New
Jersey regiments during the Civil war
will be approved in the North as well
as In the South. Ever since the World
war brought the sons of Northern and
Southern veterans into close contact,
the last remaining vestige of regional
feeling has disappeared. The North
has taken Lee to heart as great
American. The South has recognized
the splendor OF Lincoln. As one mark
of the new spirit. many Confederate
flags taken by Northern troops and
Union flags taken by the Southerners
have been returned. In following this
custom New Jersey IL contributing her
share to the obliteration Of unpleasant
memorial"
do not think OF any better plea
that I might leave with you. my
friends. as q last remark on this sub
ject, than to quote some of the utter
ances by the splendid ones who have
represented US In high capacity In our
government In peace and In war.
recail-it may have been at Apo
mattox. do not know. but certainly
soon thereafter-when the great Gem
eral Grant uttered that immortal ex-
preston. Let US have peace" II was
only q little while after that that the
wonderful Lee said, I'VE are all one
now" II was not long after when
dear, old General Gordon said. THE
American people will forever remain
an unbroken brotherhood from sea to
sea-: and Il was not long after when
the princeiy Mckinley said. Let us
strew flowers alike on the graves OF
those who wore the Blue and those
who wore the Gray. for American
valor is the common heritage of the
nation"
Living here in Washington today is
a wonderful old soldier OF the Confed-
eracy. All, he knew what service was
and he knew what suffering was. He
was In the war for four and a half
years and the last part OF It he spent
In prison. His heart IL 20 full OF q de-
sire 20 accomplish q final wiping away
OF all thought OF bitterness between
the two peoples that he has written
poem which has been set to music un-