The San Francisco call., 1895-12-31

now to be settled. We have not yet been
assured that funds are ready. We were
asked what funds we thought would be
needed. We referred the question back to
those who asked it, to the people of your
city, and asked how much they thought
we would need. They made the statement
which has doubtless already been made to
you. 1t is sufficient to say that the esti-
mate was theirs. We acceded 20 it and have
said from that time to this whenever we
received the unanimous request of the
people of the United States, backed by
this sum, we have no option left. The
Red Cross never asked for cent. We
have carried that organization now over
twelve years. We have carried it through
some sixteen or seventeen fields of relief,
or national disaster, fields too great for
local aid; and we have never yet said to
any living person that we wanted one dol
lar or one pound. Gentlemen, think it
may become me to say just here
that we never shall. We have always
taken the field; we have always
had of our supplies sufficient to do
some good work when we got there.
The people have understood when we went
on the work that we meant work, that we
meant help, that we meant relief, and they
who have desired to get their gifts and re
lief to that field, and those who were want
ing only some one to relieve and place it,
have asked US to take their funds, their
boxes, their barrels, or whatever they
had to send, and to do the best with it.
We have done so.
"In looking over it all can say is that
we have IN every case done the best we
knew. Whatever occurs, whatever may
happen, the Red Cross, in view of what it
is and what it has done. will sleep well
at the end" [Applause.]
Miss Barton then told how the Red
Cross came to be organized in this coun-
try. America did not become member
until thirty-two governments had joined.
She became a member in 1882. Turkey
joined in 1864. Turkey made but one con-
dition, that as her people had been educated
to fight the cross and would cause trouble
if that symbol were used, the Red Cres-
cent should be substituted in Turkey.
This was acceded to-, and to-day the
Turkish military hospital flag is red
crescent.
"The society has no knowledge that
Turkey has changed her attitude toward
the society,"" said Miss Barton. sThe Red
Cross knows no race, no creed, no
nationality; its care is humanity. 1t
would do for a wounded Turk as
quickly as a wounded Armenian, and this
| say without any intention of wounding
the sensibilities of any Armenian present.
1 went through the four years of civil
war here, and never once did [ knowingly
step over soldier in gray who needed
help to succor soldier in blue. | don't
say that l even think we can enter Turkey;
/ only hope so. l can knock at her door,
proffer aid, and believe that we will be
given permission to enter; that is ALL
Resolutions were adopted by the meet
ing providing for the appointment of a
committee of thirty to inaugurate plan
for obtaining subscriptions throughout
the city and the co operation of Governors,
city officials and citizens generally through
out New England when requested to aid
in the work. The chair appointed thirty
prominent business men as the committee,
with Jonathan A. Lane, who presented
the resolutio ms, as chairman.
G. Ell. Pullman, member of the Red
Cross Society, declared that if the Red
Cross went to Turkey on this mission to
Armenians it must be unhampered by any
conditions attached to the funds. The
society must have absolute control of
them. He said that 100000 had been in
the hands of the society.
Other addresses were made by Mr.. Lane,
Hon. Robert Treat Payne and Mrs Julia
Ward Howe in support of the movement to
raise funds fol the support OF Red Cross
work in Turkey. Mrs. Holmes address
was a most impassioned plea for civiliza
ton of Christendom to repress the Turk
and end the massacre of Armenlans.