Telegram-herald., 1890-10-18
ASTO THE RED CROSS
Clara Barton on the Sister sophie
Marriage
TIE CINCINNATI INSTITUTION.
The Red Crsss n q NatieRAi ana later
n&uonAl ofxant1stt0a atth
Which sister Sophis naa
10 Connection

WAsHiNGToN, Oct iT.-In view Of the
wide publication Of the story Of the
flight Of SISTER sophie from the so
called Red Cross Hospital .D Cincinnati,
and her subsequent marriage Ia Chl-
cage, a representative OF the United
Press called upon Clara Barton today
10 ascertain in what NAY Sister sophie
or the hospital from winch size escaped
was connected with the American Na-
tional Red Cross Association.
Miss Barton. IN reply 10 questions on
the subject, said: There Is not the
slightest possible connection between
the two. Until the occurrence of the
event 10 which YOU refer, the American
National Red Gross Association had no
knowledge OF the existence Of this Rcd
Cross SISTER, or of the existence or the
hospital from which sac .s said 10 have
escaped.
ii IS Barton, in the course of further
conversation, said: "Ihe Red Cross IS
an organization, national and lnterna-
UOnai, belonging 10 the governments Of
the world IT, sgu and name in this
country are The property oi the United
States, ana whatever parties or persons
make use OF either without the pernnS-
sion of the Government OF IT. accredit-
ed agents, do 80 IN sp.ie-ot ughtlul pos
session. To the best OF our knowledge
40 such permission IN THIS case has
asked or granted, and the methods OF
the Institution IN question, although
probably good IN themselves, are such
as 10 mlsead the public ~ rcgard to the
true nature of most important organi-
zation, giving the idea that the Red
Cross Is a religious ordcr, sectar.an and
prescribed.
"Thls representation, besides being
erroneous. is misleading and positively
harmful to the public. The rcd cross
exists for all nations, and for ali people;
IL knows no sect, 10 creed, no religion,
save the broadest humanity, bounded
only 10y tno limits of human suffering
and woe From the free republics OF
Switzerland. France and America 70
dcspot.c Russia; from liberal and en-
lghtcned England 10 Japan, yet cling
ing to its ldOls, and Turkey with It's
tltettIls lIOlil 'Eti many 4ftA. MAJ AN
Sweden on the north To the Congo states
of Africa, Sumatra, Java ana Borneo,
All find common ground under this
broadest of treaties and, hand IN hand.
are pledged 10 do all that ~ them lies
for mutual support and help IN the
hour of greatest need.
"Ihc enslgnla OF a red Greek cross
on white ground, officially created by
the governments of the world, met to-
gether IN convention, is the official sign
Of the medical and surgical depart
ment OF armles in all countries. Ii
marks and protects all relief, materHi
or 'personnclle,' from either govern
ments or people, designed for the alG
and use OF the victims OF the war. 1t
is the sign of the peoples relief for ma
tlonal necessities. There IS no other
military hospital flag in existence
among enlightened nations. The red
cross Is no more m 'order,' religious,
secret or otherwise, tn2n is war de-
partment or an express company; and
however or whercfTOm the title may
come, there are no sisters of the red
cross in America. Ii docs not take
cOgnizance OF olopenients nor essay to
regulate the legitimacy of MARI ages,
but presumes, from the character OF
the people in connection with II, that
they viii be likely to properly regulate
these matters for themselves