New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-25

ened National feeling through the North ana West
with the best results for the conduct OF the war anu
the future of the country. They grasped intu-
itvely the Importance Of cultivating the National
sentiment and by their organization they con-
tributcd most powerfully to the growth OF that
feeling.
The Importance of this must not be overlooked.
Had the system Of relief been allowed to establish
itself upon the State theory NOSE serious evils
would clearly have followed. Jcalousies, rival
res ouarrcls charges and counter-charges would
have been unav odablc and the natural outcome
would in all probability, have been condition OF
strained relations between the States OF the
North which could not have failed to be rejected
at the front and might have eliminated IN dvloed
counsels and confusion, leading to disaster, IN
face of the enemy. The clear sense OF the women
removed this danger. They refused to recognize
State lines in the relief movement The sanitary
| Commission wisely declared its purpose to re-
iect all offerings made from the point OF view OF
State separation. Day by day the National spirit
became stronger and soon there was no need for
precauti,ns on that score In looking back to
that period Of eAcitement, one can but marvel
at the oucIncss with which the women OF the
North nut aside everything that could interfere
with the success of their work; how they aban-
doned all controverted topics, Invested themselves
OF local jealousy and prejudice, and, yielding
prompt obedience to the men they had chosen as
leaders, entered upon the greatest and most ei-
! fectivc cooperative scheme that was ever I'M
dertaken Nothing in all this is more TO be adj
mircd than the modesiy and Judgment shown in
the division of the work. The mere fact that
men are better executives than women is not
| reason why the women should unanimously rccog-
nize and act upon it, In like circumstances, 1t is
extremely improbable that men could be capable
o. similar self-effacement and sub0rdlnatlon Men
arc by no means sure to decline work for the per-
Torrance of which they know themselves ipcom-
petent That is truth which does not require
to be insisted upon But women are less selfish
and more devoted. and the organization of the
Sanitary Commission demonstrated it very clearly
There was no contest. no friction. The men
were unhesitatingly called to the work for which
they were fitted The women were simply re-
solved upon doing the best they could for the
country, and they would have thought it I'M
patriotic to offer any opposition to what was OBJ
viously the most practical and promising mode
of giving aid and comfort TO those who were
fighting for the Union AT first the numerous
&" Women's kelief Associations had been en-
barrassed ty their imperfect knowledge Of the
conditions T. be confronted, and all outside relief
action was further regarded by the Government,
the military commanders and the medical au-
thorties with something very like actual dis
approval, as n sentimental, undisciplined and
spasmodc ebullition, which could only breed con-
fusion and could do no good. The theory that the
Government was alsuffcient to itself in fact long
surv\ cd the ;ost convincing proof that the sltua-
ton was too much for it. and even when it was
leaning most heavily upon the Sanitary Com
mission, it affected entire ability to do without
this aid The women, however, were quick TO
perceive that the Commission was the proper
vehicle for their energies, and they at once Put
themselves under its guidance. nat says Dr;;
Stille, was the creat source of the wonderful
supply organization of the Commission, and out
Of II, owing TO the Jealous, enlightened ana I'M
wearied labors of the societies, which were
represented in this the Washington Council,
flowed .trcam constant and abundant the vast
proportions Of which were only less remarkable
than thc perpetual relreShment it administered to
the SICK and weary of the Army"
Other councils Of women were held from time
to time, ard here again must be noted Vhe
praiscworthy harmony and the practical good
sense which marked ali their proceedings. They
always" says DR.. S+illc. resulted In perfectlng
the details Of the general organization, IN stlmu-
latng those engaged in work for the solder 10
renewed zeal and in confirming the loyalty OF
the women of the country to the principles and
methods OF the Commssl Seven thousand Aiu
Societies were organized during the war. and all
of them were active and fruitful The chiefs
Of the Commission-men like DR.. Bellows, Fred
erick Law Oimstead, f. n Knapp, ana Or ware
put ana kept the vast machinery IN order, per,
formed the delicate dlpioInauc duues, manaeeo
the finances and in short made the Application
Of the means successful The women on their
side kept the stream of supplies flowing unstnted-
ly, applied constant stimulants to the holders
of the purse, devised fresh attractions continually;
furnished the care and loving tenderness and broad
humanity which was tie life OF the Commission,
and maintained the generous sentiment OF the
North steadily; Not few, indeed, refused to
front took charge OF the nursing in hosp tiis,
engaged Jas in the Hospital Transport ScrVce)
in direct and personal mnstratlonS TO the SICK
,l.I md Il-rl
instances died at their posts, martyrs to duty
1t is natural and right that the distinguished
ability with which the Sanitary Commission was
conducted should reflect the utmost credit upon
the managers. Their work. too, WAS all in evidence,
and SO could not but be examined most closely.
But il should never be forgotten that, as Miss
Wormclcy observes in her Introduction TO these
letters, the Commission " was the outgrowth OF
q demand made by the women Of the country
and that as the men mustered for the battle
field, so the women mustered in churches. school
hou,es, and parlors, working before they well
knew at what to work, and calling cyorywhcrs
GT and Country al 1ag with
its fountains of compassion and kindness, INTO
the work. They sustained it with resolution
such as We are in the habit OF considering purely
masculine trait, and so firmly and persstently
that had the war lasted much longer they would
certainly have been equal to the strain. Would
it have been better had the Government been
able to do all the work of the Sanitary Commits
sion itselfp That is question not lightly 10 be
answered The Commission work could not
have been better done by any agency, in the first
place. In the second, was it not worth some
toll and snTerins TO ey olive so splendid an exam
pie Of the American Woman's virtues and capaci-
dark days must henccforth and forever " rise up
and call her blessed All future generations
must be the better for the inspiration of her noble
example To have missed this would surely
have been to miss much well worth the possession
OF any nation