The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-16

resolved that If she lived to return to her native land, the Red Cross princi- pies should at least become known there But she came home a suffering invalid and lowered for years between life and death. When at last nature rallied, she had to begin life anew, al- most like little child and acquire even the power to walk. The mind, however, was as clear and the heart as warm as ever. She went to Washing ton as soon as she was able and pre- sented the subject of the Geneva trea- ty to President Hayes. This was in 1877. Her efforts won no response from the Hayes administration; not until four years later, when another soldier, President Garfield, was in the chair, did she meet with any encouragement. The late Secretary Windom laid the subject before the cabinet The pres- dents Silent Partners" were cordially interested; Secretary of State Blaine wrote warm letters of approval, and in his first message to congress Garfield recommended our accession to the trea- ty. This was seventeen years after the first presentation of the subject to our government. But the end was not yet by reason of President Garfield's un- timely death. His successor incorpora- ted plea for the Geneva treaty in his first message to congress. The senate committee of foreign affairs (of whom were Senators Morgan, Edmunds and Lapham) received it favorably, and on the first day of March 1882, President Arthur had the happiness of signing the treaty.
 r T q L. fl and some additions to the original treaty as it exists in Europe were ne- cessary to adapt it to the needs of our country. In the old world, where war is a continual menace, the Red Cross has kept to it's first purpose-that of caring for the sick and wounded of bel 1igerent armies. The United States, though comparatively exempt from the dangers of war by reasons of geograph- ical and political situation, has other national calamities to contend with. Floods, fires, cyclones, pestilence come without warning, and to avert vast l suffering relief must be swift. In order | to accomplish the most good, complete provision must be always ready to meet any disaster caused by the unclaimed | elements. The first great disaster af- | ter the American Red Cross came into
 being Ia year before President Arthur had signed the treaty. was the forest 1 fires in Michigan. When the words | flashed over the wires that thousands, l fleeing for their lives from burning | buildings, were without food, Miss Bar | ton, president of the central society in | Washington, telegraphed the commit | tee in Milwaukee and Chicago to hasten l to the scene. In few hours they were
 en route; while she, and as many as-
 sistants as she thought necessary, at once set out, with carloads of nrovi- sion and all essentials
 Twelve great national calamities
 have already claimed the service of the
 American Red Cross. After the Michi- | gan fires came the Ohio and Mississip- | pi floods of 1882. Then the Mississippi
 cyclone; again the floods of 1884. the
 Virginia epidemic; the Texas drought,
 the Charleston earthquake; the Johns
 town flood; the cyclone and tidal wave l on the Sea Islands of South Carolina, 1 etc. And everybody knows the great
 work which the society accomplished
 among the Russian peasants in '91 and
 '92 and later among the persecuted Ar | menians. When the great floods in the
 Ohio and Mississippi valleys occurred
 and it was ascertained that wide
 spread suffering existed, Miss Barton
 sent a notice to the Associated Press | that she would go to the rescue. I'm
 mediate supplies and money by the l thousands poured in. Boats were char
 tered and loaded with every description
 of supplies, including forage for cattle. Down the long rivers they steamed | stopping at all the towns and villages | along the way where want was nown to
 prevail. Quickly the citizens were
 called together and a committee organ
 ized to distribute supplies; and then | the boat steamed on. The first intima-
 tion that the inhabitants had that re-
 lief was coming was when the boat
 with the magical r d Cross emblem
 upon it, drew up to their shores, and
 Miss Barton, with the same blazon on
 her arm, stepped over the gang plank | and began to assemble the stricken l people Truly, she must have seemed like an angel from a better world
 The vital idea of the Red Cross is not
 charity; it scorns the word, but help
 fulness, friendliness. It is a privilege to do for those in trouble, for in the | Good Samaritan sense, they are neigh
 hors. Human brotherhood is the Red
 Cross creed, and the religion of Jesus
 Christ, as embodied in the words Love
 one another" is it's animating princi- ple." FANNIE B. WARD.