Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-10-16
The Red Cross Of Geneya-What 1t Is

Editoy Sar:-An editorial reference to the
" Red Cross" in your paper of Tuesday induces
me to add few words TO your suggestive re-
marks. The treaty-fOr IT is a treaty-Ot the
red cross was signed at Geneva in August, 1864,
and then, or since then, has been signed by ali
the nations OF Europe. 1t provides that persons
employed in hospitals, ambulanceS, the medical
staff, the agents of organized charities, &C.,
SHALL in times OF war, be neutral and shall be
protected by flag bearing q red cross or a white
band worn on the left arm, on which is emDla-
Zoned the red cross. Under this treaty the peo-
pie all over Europe have organized relief socie-
ties somewhat similar to the sanitary and
christian commissions of our late war. But
war in Europe may break out at any moment,
and these societies must be always organized
ana ready for action. Hence they have taken a
permanent form, and do not dsband in time OF
peace. On the other hand it is found that they
are quite as important in times of peace as in
times OF war. 1t is then that they train their
nurses, collect their supplies, prepare their lints
and bandages, ana get in readiness for any sud
den call. But, more than this. they are a power
always ready for any sudden calamity. If
great IRE, or an earthquake on a sweeping pes
lllence occurs, the yOtarieS OF The red cross are
ready with supplies and nurses, and means OF
relief, the railroads give them free tranSporta-
ton, Their badge is everywhere recognized and
respected, and they are enabled to push for
ward their agents, at a moments warning, SO as
TO give SuccOr when Succor is mo st needed. 1t
was this agent that enabled Clara Barton to
administer such efficient aid to the cities deyaS-
tated by the war between France and Germany:
and last winter she spent several months here
i'll vain eGdeaVOr to get our government 10
join i'll this treaty. II the treaty had been
signed by our government 1t was her purpose to
organize similar relief societies in the United
states. and II IS easy to see what facility they
would have been in the calamities which have
since fallen on the Mississippi valley. II is
perhaps, not too much TO say that if the proper
lellef would have been pushed forward early in
the pestilence, with trained nurses and ample
supplies. lis rayageS would have been greatly
miIi%ated, perhaps entirely checked. It is to
be hoped. therefore. that Miss Barton Will not
cease her efforts and that our government will
tiOns. S. G. ARNOLD.
Mt. Pleasant, Oct. 16, 1878.
Mr.. ACKLEN S CARD.-The following is the
material portion of the card of Congressman
Acklen, of Louisiana, issued to his constituents
that state had decided that he ought to with
draw from the congressional canvass because of
his failure to explain away satisfactorily to
them a recent scandal with which his name is
connected:
1.-The political features Of the case are for you,
my constituents, to judge Of and after the cleo
ton shall ask that each parish in my district
appoint one of her citizens, making in all COM
mlttee OF twelve, to pass upon the social QueS-
tlOn III this case and render their verdict. Not
that my complete vindicatiOn by the gentlemen
OF the republican committee on this point is not
amply sufficient, but | prefer that you of my
district, who have SO hOnored me. should YOU
then deem so vile a Slander worthy of notice,
shall appoint the Judges in this case when
party considerations and political eXpediency
VIII be Oft OF the question. To you, my con-
stltuents, and TO you only. do owe my present
position. and TO you. and you only, will ] leave
a decision as TO my political course. My conf
dehce III your good common sense is as great as
That you have shown in me by your splendid
and continued support. and ] feel wei assured
that you are not to be affected by an Old eX-
plOded scandal, trfcked in new dress for the
occasion, sprung in the heat OF political cam
pagn, and hot from the hands Of notorious
blackmaiier.'
Mr.. GoRHAM AND THE PREsIDENT.-The Gin
cinnati Commercial publishes letter from Mr.
George {. GOrham, secretary OF the republican
congressional committee, addressed to q gentle
man OF that city, in which he says: 81 read the
Presidents speech carefully, and looked anx-
iously for some word expressing preference
for the democratic party. Finding no such eX-
preston, / have not caused the speech TO be
printed. If the President can yet be induced to
say that republican success in the Congressional
campaigns is desirable, with or without his rea-
sons, l will print 100000 copies and furnish
them gratuitously as supplements to every re-
publican paper In the land
THE FAILURES in the United states for the
last quarter including the rush to take advan-
tage OF the bankrupt law, were 2,S53 with $685.
0oo,ooo OF liabilities and for the nine months OF
1875 $685. with S19l 100000 OF liabilities. Dur
ing the same period OF 1871 there were 6,565
failures with $14l 100000 Of liabilities.
CONGRESSIONAL NOMINATIONS - Benjamin
Douglass Tep.l, Cd district, COnnecticut; B. w.
W. Ferdan Qep.), l4th district, New York.
4 SUIT FOR s26, ,OO0.-J. H. Burke, stock
holder of the Consolidated Virginia Mining
Company, has now brought suit in the Twenty
1bild District Court of California TO recover
from j. G. Flood, j. w. Mackey, j. G. Fair and
the Pacihc Mill and Mining Company S26, ,000,O 600,
alleged to have been wrOngfully diverted from
the stockholders of the Consolidated Virginia
Company by the defendants in the manipula-
tlon OF the ores and retention OF the tailingS OF
the company.
THE FAILURE OF HAAR & Co.. a gold and stock
mouse OF Wall Street,waS announced on the New
YORK stock exchange yesterday, as stated in
yesterdays STAR. The house is said to have
bought 81 0Oo,000 gold at the high prices on Mon
day, and TO have sold large amount Of stock
at The low prices on the saline day, expecting the
former TO advance still further and the latter to
continue to decline, in both of which anticipa-
tlOnS they were disappointed. In the parlance
OF stock operators they were ''lOng" of gold and
''short' OF stocks, and ''got caught" On both.
THE WASHINGTON STAR appeared In brand
new suit yesterday. The STAR Is an excellent
newspaper, and this evidence of its prosperity
for 1T has been less than year since it bought
the Old suft-shOws that its worth is properly
appreciated by the people among whom its lot
is caSt.-fA te1dndria Gazette.
eBCharleS II. Hartwell, conductor of the
freight train supposed to have caused the VOL
f8SfOn disaster has hppn arraiunod for NOR