Evening star., 1897-04-01
F OR H u M AN | TY
The Red Cross to Relieve the Suffer-
ing in Cuba.
CONFERENCE With GENERAL SICKLES
What He Says About the Necessity
of the Work.
DUTY OF A NJ E r C A n S


movement Is being started in this city
for the purpose of sending the Society of
the Red Cross to Cuba to relieve the suf
ferings of the sick and wounded on both
sides Of the conflict.
1t is proposed to make this movement
distinctly American. and to appeal to the
people of the United States. in the name
of humanity. to do something TO get rid of
the barbarouS mode of warfare that is
being carried on in Cuba. The Society of
the Red Cross never appeals to the public
for money. 1t simply responds to invita-
tions to go here or there when funds for
the relief of the distressed are supplied
has been raised ard placed i'll the hands of
Miss Clara Barton, president of the 60
ciety of the Red Cross.
Miss Barton has naturally long had he1
eyes on the Island of Cuba as place need
ing the work Of her society. She has even
gone so far as TO ask the Spanish minister
Senor de LONE. whether the Spanish gov
ernment would place any objection in the
way of the Society of the Red Cross if it
should desire TO operate in Cuba. Senor de
LONE stated TO Miss Barton that no obs.a-
Gle would be placed in the way o: the SC.
ciety in its work of humanity In view of
the fact that Spain was one of tn, coun-
tries which signed the treaty of Geneva on
September Il, 1854. which is the treaty un-
der which the society operates all over the
world. 1t is regarded as obligatory upon
that country to welcome the society within
itS borders whenever its assistance would
aid humanity. 1t is not regarded as pos
sible that Spain should quibDIe over the
name 1t might give to the conflict sCing on
IN m & Cuoa- Whether that contest. with
y11ny ny, iii.
other. is technically war or an insur-
rectlon makes no difference as the Society
OF the Red Cross is organized not only to
reheSe the suffering brought about by war,
but by any national calamity
IhlS movement was inaugurated yester-
day afternoon, when Miss Clara Barton,
oy invitation, came into the city from
Glen Echo, where she has her home and
where the headquarters CT the society are
located, 10 talk over with Gen SickIes
who is stopping at the Arlington Hotel.
the proposition for sending relief to the
Cubans through her society. Miss Barton
expressed the readiness of the society 10
go to Cuba, but impressed
upon Gen. Sickles the fact that before
anything can be done Il goodly sum of
money must be provided. The conference
Miss Barton and Gen. Sickles
lasted for about an hour. at the end of
which time Gen. Sickles was thoroughly
favorable to the idea of making an attempt
at once to raise the desired funds. Speak
ing to Star reporter regarding this pro-
ject, Gen. Sickles said:
What Gen. Sickics Says
Something should be done at once to
bring an end to the barbarous methods of
warfare that are now being carried on in
Cuba The idea of butcheriag women and
children, and of firing upon hospitals where
the sick and wounded are being cared
for, should not be tolerated by a Chris
iian nation. This country should see that
these methods are discontinued in Cuba.
The Spanish government was forced to
1eslSt from such methods in its last Cuban
war by the positive stand taken by the
| nited States. Gen. Grant simply said
that the war i'll Cuba would have to be
carried on IN some other method. or the
United States would interfere and he
told me to so inform the Spanish govern
ment. That is just what we should Go
again.
best be rendered by the Society of the Red
Cross, to the sick and wounded on both
sides of the contest, should be offered at
once. 1t is 10 be seen whether this coun-
try will come forward with subscriptions
for fund to be placed in the hands Of
the society. That society is conducted on
perfect business principles. Miss Barton
IS wonderful manager. Only & per cent
Of the fund subscribed for the relief OF the
Armenians was used in administration.
Indeed, ii may be said that not one penny
of the $4,000 subscribed for that pur-
pose by the American people was used in
the expense account, all of it being given
to the ArmenianS in the form of relief.
The expenses of that expedition were
borne by the society's own funds, s17. 900
having been sent direct to Miss Barton for
he of her society. Neither Miss Bar
ton any of the prominent members of
her society receive any salary. Every cent
that is expended by that society goes TO
provide medicines. provisions and attend
ants upon the sick and wounded. So you
see. our means for carrying relief to the
in Cuba are perfect We only
have 10 proceed to raise 100000, and /
hope that the people of this country will
be stirred to action
1T is to be seen whether humanity is
not TO be placed as high as religion in the
IS stimation of the American people 1t has
been said that the expedition to Turkey
was inspired by religious sympathy rather
than ny mere feelings of humanity. The
Presbyterian missionaries there were suf-
fering and relief was sent to them. 1t is to
be seen whether We will not as readily go
TO country where Catholics are fighting
Catholics. The lethargy shown In this
Country toward the horrible condition ex-
istins in Cuba is simply astounding The
Protestant denominations have made no
effort to send relief. and the Catholic Dish
cps have been silent, fearing, | suppose.
that they might offend Catholic friends in
Spain II is simply deplorable.''
Speaking Of the methods Of warfare ;jir-
sued by himself during the civil war, and
comparing them to the barbarous methods
ROW pursued in Cuba. General Sickies said:
The first battle | fought during the war
was at Fair Oaks. After it was over there
were hundreds of wounded. / ordered that
every confederate on the field should be
taken TO the hospitals and cared for exactly
as were my own men. Some of the men at
first rebelied at this idea. | told them they
ocght TO be ashamed of themselves and
taat they did not know but that III the
next engagement they might be in the no
Sition Of the confederates and would be
very glad TO have the same treatment
TO give the wounded on the enc
nys side. After little they entered into
the idea OF treating the confederate wound
ed as we treated our own. and they carried
these men from the field as tenderly as
they carried any Of their comrades. They
were given every attention and fared cx-
actly as did my own men. The idea Of in
juring hospital the people in il never
occurred to me. When | approached any
confederate hospital. instead of doing any
thing to injure ii, always sent 10 innuire