The herald., 1894-12-19


laid before the International committee.
which ably seconded Miss Barton's ei-
forts. By that committee it was sub
mitted to the other treaty countries I;
and finally unanimous sanction was
given. The change, or addition to the
original intention, became known as the
American Amendment" What this
amendment has meant to the sufferers
by fire, flood, pestilence, cyclones and
other great calamities in our own coun-
try, during the past dozen years. need
not be repeated here. There is scarcely
section OF the country that has not
made its acknowledgment in tears OF
gratitude.
Upon adopting the treaty of the Ge-
neva convention, each nation is required
to at once instruct its army in the phi
lanthropic and humane objects, and the
provisions OF the treaty.
Japan gave its adhesion to the treaty
of Geneva in 1886. In 1889, at the third
reunion of the Japanese Red Gross as
sociation, mis- majesty. the emperor, was
rendered and accepted the presidency.
In accepting, the emperor spoke as fol-
lows: ~ am more than honored by
this distinguished assembly in receiving
and accepting this honorable position.
1t will give me great pleasure to be an
active worker in an active association"
The fullest protection of the emblem
OF the red cross was given by an inns
perial decree, forbidding it's use for any
purpose except by the army and the
Red Cross association.
There can be little wonder. then. that
the association is doing such noble and
efficient work during the present hostil.
tiles; nor that the Japanese minister OF
war promulgated, on the 22d OF Sep.
tember last. a notice to the army and to
the inhabitants, recalling to their minds
thelr obligations and duties in behalf of
the cause of duty and mercy to the suf-
fering, sick and wounded, whether Of
their own army or that of their enemy.
A very close relationship exists be-
tween the American and Japanese 1850.
citation. A delegation of citizens of
Toxic waited on Miss Clara Barton,
president OF the American National Red
Cross, in 1886. and requested OF her in
formation and forms as to the organiZa-
tion of and methods employed by the
American committee; and it i5 most
probable that, should the exigenoies of
the present war tax the Japanese asso.
citation beyond its capacity, the Ameri.
can committee would be among the first
to be applied to for assistance; and no
other national committee would be more
generous or prompt in its response.
The spirit of the Geneva treaty in
sists that Immediately q soldier is
wounded or becomes disabled by sick
ness, he is no longer q belligerent, but
becomes from that moment q neutral,
subject for the merciful care of those
employed in administering relief under
the treaty hence Japan, by instructing
her army to show the same degree of
tender mercy to a wounded, sick or even
dead Chinese soldier that they W ould 20
their own. is simply carrying out with
the most commendabe faithiulnsss the
obligations she took upon herself when
her solemn signature and seal were
given to the Geneva convention because
this is not more nor less than every other
treaty nation has pledged itself to do.
This is what the Red Cross means: and
no better object lesson could be given to
those who would know what the Red
Gross is, than that now being shown
by the treatment OF Japan toward her
own and her enemy's sick and wounded.
As the sole object OF this paragraph is
correct Information for the people, per-
hape some points may be reached by
comparison between the Red Cross OF
Japan and our own. Both are consti-
tuted under the same treaty, bound by
the same laws. and, in case of war,
would take similar courses. Each has
it's national committee or body as its ac-
tive head; that of Japan is located at
Toxic, consisting of many OF its mobiles
who have elected their emperor as its
president or head. (The empress be-
comes the patroneas, as Empress
Augusta was patroness OF the Rod Cross
OF Germany, 70 the time of her death,
and the present empress took her place
The emperor, ae head of this civil asso-
citation, acts in con junction with his
minister of war, who promulgates the
requirements OF the treaty officially to
the military. The strict obedience o t
the military to these general orders,
common to and in no way differing from
each Of the other 40 treaty nations, is
the origin and only reason for all the
notable and commendable charity of
Japan so widely spoken of today. 1t is the
result, not 30 much of the "exceptionable
humanity, progress and advancement of
Japan las OF the protection of the Red
Gross, the cooperation of her military
with it, and the strict discipline of her
troops in regard to it. Japan is not only
in perfect accord with the letter and
spirit OF the Red Gross, but her splendid
work in this war challenges the admra-
ton of the world. His majesty, the
emperor, at once grasped the vi.al prin>
ciple which 10 the foundation of the Red
Cross-the protection of it's insignia
and having enacted laws prohibiting it's
use by any one unauthorized by the Red
Cross society or the war department, is
enabled to carry out the wise and bene-
ficent provisions of the Geneva conven-
tion unhampered.
The American National Red Gross is
located at Washington; its presidency
declined in favor of Miss Clara Barton,
"as a just recognition of her valuable
services in having brought the Red
Cross into this country and carried the
treaty through congress- and the Ameri-
can amendment through the foreign
ratifying powers"
Our American National Red Cross,
under its amendment. has rendered
relief in great disasters in civil lie OF
the last IL years. 1t now remains to be
seen how we'll our government and peo-
Pile would perform their part in recogni-
ton, protection and discipline in case of
war, to give America as commendsble q
reputation for advancement, progress
and humanity, as Japan 40 enviably
wears today.
PASSION OF CLEANLINESS.