The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-27
CLARA BARTON AND THE RED CROSS.
Something About the National Society Whose
Home Will BE in Indiana.

Washington Post
Ii Is widely known that the American
Red Cross has received from one of its ma
tional members and officers. DR.. j. Gard
ner. of Bedford. Ind. the unreservod proffer
of muniGcent gift OF land in that State.
The letter of acceptance from Miss Clara
Barton. now published. Is worthy the spirit
and tone of this munifcent transaction. 1t
seems q lifting time TO say few things
relative to tie American Red Cross. it's
founder and its administration; the more
so that the American woman at the head
of IL. and whom we all delight to honor"
has pathetically. yet with dignity. made q
reference that may not be overlooked.
Speaking of making home and recog.
Dized abiding place through all genera
tions" for the American National Red
Cross Miss Barton adds: II or this have
striyen for yeare, mainly misunderstood,
often misiuterpreted." Then she says to
her conductor. DR.. Gardner, 1T 10 through
your clear Intuition and humane Thought
that the clouds have been swept away and
my hopes have been realized"
Ii must be said, however. for the Ameri-
can people, that by them Clara Barton has
never been either misunderstood" or
''misntcrpreted." She has had their CON-
pete trust. reverence, aud reg ard In unfail-
ice she has given since the flames Of civil
war lit the land.
Individuals may have misapprehended,
but they never have given public express
sion thereto. The press has always sus-
tanned the Red Cross and 1t always Will.
There 10 difficulty, however. In present.
ing in concrete form the national feeling.
In ali OF the other forty nations bound as
one by the sacred beneiicence embodied In
the International Red Cross there are CEN
fraI sh nn,n Of IN Itp W. III. flf "a
approval or disapproval OF the state. En-
peTors, kings, queens and princes direct
this expression. and 1t Is made. France can
directly recognize her benefaotors through
republic though 1t be. Switzer-
land. In her sturdy democratic SIM
pllcity. maintains the Official seat OF the
"Comite Internationale." In the United
States We generaiize our recognition by
formally rstifying tae Red Cross compact
or treaty OF Geneva" Then we leave it's
maintenance TO the Rreat-hearted woman
and citizen who. as Dr. Gardner says, has
often been known by those near To her Ito
rob- herself of personal income" TO carry
out the work OF an abiding and all
absorb bling charity"
We fail TO protect its sacred symbol by
proper Legislation. We leave to private
effort The rounding here of u Red Cross
mansion and to such admirable benefi-
cence as DR.. Gardner manifests, and which
he has probably not yet exhausted. the
establishment OF so remarkable an illustra-
ton OF the higher growth and blending of
human interests ard foresight that
shown In his gift to the American National
Red Cross. whose purposes are thus modest
~ and briefly summed up by its own an
n0uncement
Incorporated under the laws of the District of
Columbia. Oct J.. 1881. For the relief of suffer
Ing ny war, pestience, famine, flood, fires, and
other calamities of sufficient magnitude to be
deemed national III extent. The organization
acts under the Geneva treaty. the provisions for
which were made in international convention at
Geneva. Switzerland, Aug. %, 1864. and since
signed 10y nearly all civilized nations. including
the United states, which gave its adhesion by
Congress OF Berne. June o. 1882. Proclaimed
by President Arthur July 26, 1892.
When great calamities have fallen upon
the land. like the yellow fever aflliction,
the forest fires of the Northwest, the de-
structive river Inundations of the South
and West. the dread of famine among our
pioneers. or such hOrrors as that at Johns
town, the American Rcd Cross, with its
president has led. cared for and fed the
suffering while striving to reorganlze the
shattered communities.
1t Is q characteristic of Clara Barton's
brain and heart that she does not rest con-
tent with charity merely. as that word is
commonly understood. She aims to servo
those who suffer ana are In need, not
By their own failures or weaknesses. by
rebuilding the sources and forces Of
self support and active life. Strasboure.
Metz. Paris. during the Franco Prussian
war, and Johnstown. in nearer years. tell
in simple majesty the comprehensive pur.
pose of the american plaD." just as the
Geneva treaty" tells SO clearly in it's in
ternatonal aims of war succor the gener-
Gus. wide Drained capacity that first pro-
jected upon the world the intern ntion q,
enlargement of our own work III the soni-
tary and Christian commission labors of
1e61-65.
The Red Cross. as q function of war, has
Its honored symbol upon the arms and
vehicles OF all our medical and surgical
corps. naval and military, regular and
national guard. In tins wise the United
States has given wider recognition to
the Geneva treaty than any other nation.
We hive made it our own in q double
sense. 0y State and national legislation
and action. We neod now TO protect it's
symbol end 10 give direct recognition to
its administration. DR.. Gardner's gitt ad-
ministered as it will be by Clara Barton
and her associates, counselors ard agents,
will do the rest.
GHOSTS IN PALACE.