Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-28

4 SENTATIVE BAILEY, BISHOP HURST AND orHERi
/ SUGGESTION TO CHARTER VESSEL
A project that will reflect great credit upor
the enterprise and the generosity OF the people
OF Washington was given a favorable impuls,
at the mass meeting Of citizens held yesterda,
afternoon at the Congregational Church Tn,
meeting was called in the interests Of the Russian
famine sufferers, and the widespread sympathy
that is felt for the people Of that stricken coun
| try was shown by the large attendance. Their,
was hardly a vacant seat in that great audito
| rum. Although the rain was falling peopl,
brsved the discomforts of the weather, anG
leaving their comfortable homes, came ou
| through the cold, wet streets to show by theil
presence that the tales of want and distress
coming from that far distant country had not
fallen on unheeding ears and indifferent hearts
in this capital city. The eloquent speakers OF
the occasion did not indulge in mere glittering
generalities, but advocated practical plan for
relief. 1t was suggested in letter written by
Miss Clara Barton, the president Of the he'd
Cross Association, and was nothing less than
that the people Of Washington should raise a
fund to charter a vessel in which should be
conveyed to the shores Of Russia the stores OF
grain and other supplies which are being sent
to New York consigned to the Red Cross Asso-
citation.
THE OBJECT OF THE MEETING STATED.
Mr.. Z. Fl. Warner presided. and with him on
the platform were seated the speakers. The
familiar hymn, From Greenland's Icy Noun
tains. was evolved from the organ by Prof.
Bischof. PRAYER was offered by Rev. Frank
Sewall. and then Mr.. Warner spoke briefly but
pointedly of the objects of the meeting. He
said that they had come together to discuss this
matter as citizens, members of a common COM
munlty. 1t was in that sense sort OF family
gathering. He read letter from Rev. DR.. Nc
Kim, the rector of Epiphany Church, regrettlng
that he was unable TO attend the meeting. The
reverend gentleman spoke of his sympathy with
the purposes of the gathering. and said
that on recent Sunday he had
asked his congregation for an offering
for the Russian sufferers. and s4OO was contrib
uted. Mr.. Warner said that there were great
many .others who would like to have been
present, but were detained from various
causes. He then. as he said, furnished a text
for the meeting, practical suggestion, which
was referred to by all the speakers. 1t was that
the city of Washington should furnish vessel
to convey food to Russia. 1t was thought that
a suitable vessel could be procured for 80, 600.
Mr.. Warner read letter from Miss Clara Bar
ton, the national president Of the association,
making this suggestion.
MRS. sPENCER's REMARKS.
He then introduced Mrs. Sara A. Spencer.
the secretary of TIT: Red Cross Auxiliary of this
District Mrs. Spencer said that the work of
raising funds in this city for the relief of the
Russian sufferers had been only commenced
about a. month ago. Something over LOCO had
been raised, which would maintain many
starving Russians for month, SO simple Was
their mode of life. She spoke strongly and
effectively in behalf of Washington city ship,
and in a concise way enumerated the reasons
which made prompt action necessary. The
distress was so general that the Russian gov
eminent could not bear the entire burden Of
relief, as some had seemed to think was the
proper course. while the other remedy pro-
posed. emigration, was open to many objections.
A prominent Jew, in talking on this subject re-
Gently. told the speaker that there was enough
Of unasslmllated people in this country. He
believed that the best plan for the Russian
Jews. for example, was to stay In the country
of their birth.
MISS CLARA BARTON.
The next speaker. Miss Clara Barton, national
president of the Red Cross, said that she was
always glad to follow Mrs. Spencer on such &C.
casiOns for then there was but little left that
was necessary for her to say. She was not 60
ing to make an address. Whatever eloquence
she possessed she put into her work. What was
needed Just now was to know what to do and
how to do it. 1t seemed to her that the prob
lem of how to do it. as presented to the people
Of Washington. was to charter q ship, had
~
chartered for &c. 900. Ii the vessel is secured
the Red Cross stands ready to furnish tine cargo.
The great state of Iowa had been making con-
tributions OF grain which would have been at
the seaboard before this had it not been for
the delays arising from bad roads. Contribu-
lions had come in from Illinois and from
other localities. SO that all that was needed now
was tine vessel to transport the supplies to
Russia This was the opportunity now pre-
sented to Washington. Miss Barton paid a
graceful tribute to the pubic spirit and gener-
Gus interest OF the people of this city.
Before introducing the next speaker the
chairman read a poem entitled Russia and
the United States" written by Rev. DR.. Cuth-
bert
SENATOR PERKINS SPEECH.
As a man who during his residence here as a
member of the House had become identified
with the people Of the city, and who after his
term had ended had about concluded to make
his home here, only his own state wanted him
and SO placed him in the Senate, Mr.. Warner
called upon Senator Perkins the ne 1t speaker
He said the Senator needed no introduction to
| Washington audience. Senator Perkins re-
marks were concise and to the point He said
| that he understood why a kind Providence had
filed the granaries of the country full to over
flowing Since the doors of this opportunity had
been opened for the relief of suffering. Some
thought that Congress ought to take charge OF
| this work, while others we're of the opinion
that 1t ought to be done by the people. Al
any rate an opportunity was now presented OF
going into this work as individuals. He spoke
of the great destltntlon In a population OF 70,
0OO.0 900 of people caused by the failure Of the
crops. He thought that the effort ought to be
made to send out such a vessel from the CAPITA
city of the country. 1t should be known as 9
contribution from this city. and he said thai
the fund needed could be secured by gathering
| together the mites from individuals.
REPRESENTATIVE EAILEY.
The next speaker, Representative Bailey O
Texas. made an exceedingly graceful and eff
| fective speech. He spoke of the self-sacri
| fcing labor of those who take the lead in sucl
movements as this and said that, while he wa
IN the heartiest sympathy with the objects o
the meeting, yet one of the leading motive
that had brought HIM there was to come il
| contact with people who were mosed by tn,
| holy impulses of charity. In sentences tina
were framed with such elegance as to give t,
his speech the melody of blank verse, he spok,
| of charity, the chefest in the trinity of Chris
| tian virtues and which 80 largely represented
| the spirit of Christianity. He expressed tn,
| conviction that such a vessel sent from our cap
| ital to the shores of foreign country would d,
| more to bind the spirit of aggression and brin,
! the world together in Christian amity than al
| the nayies OF the world.
Commissioner Douglass occupied a seat OF
the platform, but Mr.. Warner explained that
speech could not be expected from him, as hi
voice had failed As Mr.. Warner explained
cold does not hesitate to lay Its hands on evel
| the head of our District government
| REV. DR.. COREY.
Rev. DIR. Corey, who was in the audience, wa