The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-01-30
The R ed Gross.

Miss Clara Barton, whose services
among oursoldiers and in The hospital duI:
ing lie late war have endeared her name
to the hearts Of thousands Of Our citizens
has Just issued a small pamphlet Oh the
! subject of establishing a Red Cross Society
! i'll this country: Miss Barton, who has
( been rightly called the Florence Nighten-
gale Of America, was. appointed By the
/ central Commission Of the Geneva Con
Fettsfon to the duty of urging on this Gov
erlttsie1lt the propriety Of forming in the
United States branch Of that great inter-
national humane association whose symbol
"a ed cross on white ground-has carried
stit.eor and help to so many scenes Of dis
tfess In her pamphlet she says s.:
S-4S4gstsezs III
FlEitt.sgent countries, acting under the Gene
/ 1v-sas f,nYention, carries on its work under
the sign offle Red Gross. Tie aim of
tl:ess societies is to asdeii6rate the condi-
ton Of wounded soldiers and sailors in
campaigns upon land OF sea, and to furnish
relief in cases Of great national calamity.
ltto societies had their rise III the conYict-
Ion ef certain philanthropic men that the
Official sanitary service in wars are usually
Insufficient, and that the charity of the peo-
pie. which at auel, times exhibits itself
'nusificently, should be organized for the
bess possible utilization An International
Public Convention was called at Geneva,
Switzerland, ii 1868, which, though it had
Fotsll official character, brought together
Representatives from a number of govern
mcnts. At this conference treaty was
drawn up, afterwards remodeled and i'm
proved, which twenty-five governments
have signed. The treaty provides for the
neutrality of all sanitary supplies, ambu-.
laf@es, surgeons, nurses and attendants,
and sick or wounded men, and their safe
tonSiuct, when they bear the sign of the or
ginizatfon. viz, the Red Gross. Although
the Convention was necessarily interna-
tional, the relief societies are entirely ma
tiolisl and independents; each one govern
lug itself and making its own laws, accord
ing TO =the genius Of its nationality and
needs. The sign Of the red cross was adopt /
ell because it was necessary for recogni-
zaIlte and safety, and for carrying out the
general provisions of the treaty, that a uni |
form badge should be agreed upon. The |
rel cross was chosen out of compliment to !
TIE swiss Republic, where the first con
Fcntion was held, and il which the Cen
Lrai Committee has its headquarters The
Swiss colors being 4 white cross on a red
ground, the badge chosen was these colors
.ese:sed.'
After giving a sketch Of what the organ
attion is, and its usefulness in time OF war,
he pamphlet continues -
His further a part of the ratsoa 4 a'stre Of
hess Observation-Disclosures to afford ready
ls:aor and assistance to sufferers in time of
latienaE or wide spread calamities, such as
}lagile, cholera. yellow fever, and the like,
devastating floods Or fires, railway disas-
era. mining catfstrophes, &c. The reatii-
less Of organizations like those of the Red
ross to extend help at the instant OF need
eiltIsrs the aid Of quadruple value and
Efficiency to that gathered together hastily
md irresp ponsibly, in the beWilaermeuta and
heck which always accompanies such ca
antilles. The trained nurses. and also the.
ttondants subject to the call Of the relief
ocieties, in such cases, would accompany
be supplies sent, and remain IN action as
orasgsas q. r.ss they We're needed. Organized in
very State, the relief societies of the Red
ross would be ready with money, nurses
nd supplies to go on call to the instant re-
let Of al who were overwhelmed bg any
{ those sudden calalnities which OCCASION
lls visit rs. u easeof yellow fever, there
eitszzs an organization il every State, the
Isarsas and attendants would be first chosen
fot.s the nearest societies, aid being aeeIi-
aatad would incur far less risk 10 life than
seat from distant localities
The tlesirability eI lha wing such i society
/ this country Is obvious and It to be
opsl thatIt viii behsarsily sustained BY
III people.