National Republican., 1883-02-19
THE RED CROSS.
Meeting OF tho Organization Saturday
Nlght-An Address 60 the People.

Meeting OF the Organization Saturday
Night-An Address 20 the People.
The society Of tho Red Cross Of the Geneva
convention is an international organization
which was conceived in charity and brought
forth in philanthropy. In June, 1859, Henry
Dunant, q Swiss gentleman, was travelling in
Italy, and was in the neighborhood of Sol
ferino on the day Of the great battle. Blessed
with charitable nature he volunteered TO act
as n nurse for several days after the battle, and
being greatly struck with the deficient means
of caring for the wounded and the sick he was
led TO consider whether there were any
means by which this superadded suffering in
time of war might be obviated. Monsieur
Durant in 1862 published the Souvenir de
Solferino," in which he described the battle
field and hospital scenes, and put forth
numerous arguments in behalf of PROPOSE
tion of founding in every country permanent
societies for the relief of the wounded. This
work created great sensation, and led to the
international congress of Geneva of 1864, and
the adoption by twelve governments--namely,
France, Belgium, Italy, Sweden and Nor
way, Baden, Prussia, Wurtemberg Portugal,
Switzerland, Netherlands. Spain, and Den
marck-of the nine articles of the treaty Of
Geneva.
| As is well known, the treaty of Geneva
provides that all wounded or sick soldiers and
| SURGEONS, nuTSSS anu nOsplIhl AJlcnuNnIS snail
be deemed neutralfn time of war, and cared
for by the opposing force, should they fall
into its hands, until they shall be returned TO
their own side Other governments quickly
acceded to the articles of the treaty, and the
Red Cross was shortly floating from the am
balances and hospitals of Great Britain,
| Bavaria, Russia Roumania, San Salvador,
| Servia, Chill, Peru, Greece, Mecklenburg-
| Schwerin, Turkey, Hcsse Darmstadt, Austria,
Saxony, the Pontfcal states, Persia, Mon
tenogro, Bolivia, the Argentine Confedera-
tion. On March l, 1882, President Arthur
signed the treaty. 1t was unanimously rati-
! fled by the senate March 16, and on July 20
proclaimed to the people by the Presi-
dent. The adoption of the treaty
| by this country was due the efforts of the
noble Clara Barton. This broad-mindcd
and charitable woman, imbued with that ag-
gressive philanthropy which, as rare as it is
beautiful, seeks where it may be beneficial
instead of passivoly awaiting appeals put
forth every effort to give the Stars and Stripes
n companion emblem in the Red Cross, and
she had the pleasure, after years of endeayor,
| of attaining success.
Before the adoption of the treaty by the
United States a meeting was held in this
city May 81, 1881, which resulted in the
| formation of the American association of the
Red Cross, with the object of securing the
adoption of the treaty, and to organize q
system of reliefand apply the same to mitiga-
ting the suiferings caused by war, pestilence,
famine, and other calamities; to inaugurate
practical measures for such relief, and to CO.
operate with all other national societies for the
furtherance of the objects of mercy and charity.
President Garfield nominated Miss Clara Bar
ton as president of the association, and since
| its organization numerous branch societies
have been formed in other cities, and new
ones are being formed with great rapidity.
Numbers of persons made destitute by the
oh frotn HVna fugfuu yN,Ns de
clothed and fed by the Red Cross societies,
and thousands of dollars have been collected
and spent for the relief of the sufferers by
these calamities. The officers of the Ameri-
can association, which is the fountain head
of all the branch organizations, are as follows |:
President, Miss Clara Barton; first vice, presi-
dent Judge William Lawrence; second vice
the District Of Columbia, DR.. A Y. p. Garnett;
George Rennan; counsel, Gen. r.. b. Mussey; execu-
| tive board Miss Barton, Judge Lawrence, Com
MIS- Rc6arS j. non fGm Hr Waiter f p Pbps
Mr.. William II. Sliney, Mrs. s. A. Martha Garfield,
| and Mrs f. B. Taylor.
The board of consultation in time of war
consists of the president, the members of the
cabinet, the judge advocate and surgeon gem
erals, the general Of the army, and tho execu-
tive officers of the national board of health.
A meeting Of the association was held Satur-
day evening at the residence of Mr.. A. s. Sol
onions, No. 1905 X street. Owing to the in
tensely disagreeable condition of the weather
there was but small attendance. There
were present Miss Barton, Gen. Mussey, Judge
Lawrence, Mr.. Phillips, Mr.. Kennan, Miss
Worthington, and others. Miss Barton pre-
| sided.
Upon motion of Mr. Solomons yearly con-
tribution of $3 was levied upon all members
of the American association, and resolution
was adopted providing that any person con-
| fri ha hon
orary member of the association, but without
the privilege of voting at any of its meetings.
Mr.. Solomons also announced that the 81 900
appropriated by congress last year for the
purpose of providing for the publication of
the proceedings of the association, would be
available after July 1, not expiring with the
fiscal year. Miss Barton read numerous ex-
tracts from the manuscript of her forthcom.
ing yearly report upon the progress and sue
cess of the American Red Cross societies The
extracts showed that the societies were being
formed in many cities, and that the member
ship was composed wholly Of the influential
and the wealthy. The report was ordered to
be printed.
After the routine business before the meet
ing had been transacted, Miss Barton laid be-
fore the meeting kilograms from the presidents
Of the Red Cross societies of New Orleans,
Rochester, Vicksburg, Syracuse, and Memphis,
announcing the readiness of their organiza-
tions for service in behalf Of the sufferers by
the western floods.
Mr.. Solomons thought an appeal for substan-
tial aid should be issued TO the people, and
this opinion meeting the favorable views of
the other members, the following appeal was
drawn up to be sent out by the Associated
Press
TO The People: The present devastating floods in
the west are of an extent that rise to a national
calamity, and the American Association of the
Red Cross recognizes the occasion as one demand
ing its action. It, therefore, appeals 70 the public
for contributions TO relieve the suffering In the
Ohio and the Mississippi valleys, and promises to
see to the efficient distribution of all that may be
intTused TO its care. Contributions may be sent
TO the following named trustees of the association
Hon. Charles j. Folger, secretary Of the treasury
Hon. Robert Il. Lincoln, secretary of war, and
Hon. George b. Loring, commissioner Of agrloul-
ture.
By order of the association:
CLARA BARTON, President.
WALTER p. PHILLIPS, Secretary