Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-01-10

The Red Gross.
origin Of this Benefcent Society In the
Geneva Convention Of IsOf---Its w ,rk
and yTpthOds

Origin Of this Benehcent Society I'm the
Geneva Convention Of IS8f---Its w rk
and Methods.
Forty governments are now united by
the acceptance of the articles of the treaty
of Geneva This includes all the nations
of Europe, Venezuela, and four other
South American states, Japan, Persia, and
various other far-away countries. 1t is 81
years since the treaty was signed, in Gene
va, Switzerland, by the II nations first
coming into the alliance. Nine articles
were adopted. These bind the contracting
nations to hold all hospitals in war neu-
trail, as well as all surgeons, chapains,
nurses and attendants. The materials
needed in hospitals shall not be subject to
capture, and all sick and wounded are to
be cared for without regard to nationality.
One article provided for the flag. Out of
courtesy to Switzerland, the home of Hen
ri Dunant, to whose humane spirit and
arduous labors this organization was large
" due, the flag of his country was adopted
as the flag of mercy. The Swiss national
flag is white Greek cross ON a red ground.
The badge adopted by the treaty of Gene
va was a red Greek cross on a white ground.
Hence the naWe now so widely known as
the "Red cross"
Every nation belonging to this bond has
its own independent national branch; but
all are compacted together in the interna-
tional society which has its headquarters
in Geneva These national organizations
all adopt few fundamental principles to
secure unity Of action. The first is that
there shall be in each country but one CEN
trail society. Another is that succor shall
be extended to foe as well as friend, when
needful Still another is that societies
whose countries are at peace may send re-
lief to beligerent armies without being
considered to violate any principle of neu-
trality to which their government may be
pledged"
Twenty-Five nations belonged TO the Red
Cross before this country consented to join
it. 1t took II years of effort on the part
of Miss Barton to convince this govern
ment of the advantages that such a society
might bring in peace as well as war. The
advantages of the former have been seen
in pestilence, flood, fire and famine, within
the last II years. When Clara Barton and
her staff have planted the Red Cross
standard in the places of desolation, the
nation has breathed more freely, and there
has been no lack of money TO meet the
needs, though the hed cross never SOllcltS
funds; it only distributes. Among the
labors of the last few years have been the
relief afforded in the Florida fever cpl
demic, the Johnstown food, the Russian
famine (ls9l-92), and the tidal wave of the
Sea Islands.
Among the European nations the wars
of the last 30 years have called for great
exertions and large expenditures. During
the war Of 1866, in Prussia alone 81 900,
600 was expended by the Red Cross, and
in Germany 50, 100000. During the Fran
co-Prussian war not only Germany and
France contributed bountifully, but other
states of Europe, at peace at that time, gave
! literally. England alone contributed 81,
| 100000. In all more than Sl4, 100000 was
expended, and more than one hundred
thousand wounded were cared for.
The United States, without dissenting
voice, now bids Clara Barton unfurl hel
standard in Turkey; but this time it must
be the Red Crescent, not the Red Cross.
When Turkey adopted the treaty, it wa:
with the distinct understanding that heI
symbol should be the crescent, and not the
cross. Bearing that flag, for once convert
ed into a sign of blessing, not of bale, she
will go forth to bring comfort and healing
to the stricken people of Armenia.