The herald., 1898-03-13

that are parties to 1t are Great Britain,
Germany, France, Belgium Russia, Aus
tria, Sweden, Norway. Turkey, Greece,
Spain, Italy Servia, Persia, the Roman
states, Switzerland, the United States,
Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Argen-
tine Japan and other governments to the
number of forty or more They have
bound themselves to regard all sick or
wounded persons in time of war as neutral
and to care for one another's disabled as
they do for their own. A sick or wounded
soldier. to whatever army he may belong.
into whatever hands he may fall, is a Ned
Cross subject; his nationality is merged in
the humanity of the treaty and he is ten
derly cared for. If cured he is sent to his
home as non-combata No days of suf-
fering. relieved only by death, can ensue,
even II his comrades have passed beyond
reach Of him, leaving him to the neglect
or cruelty of the enemy, as in the days
gone by. NO starvation, no death from
neglected disease, can happen within the
boundaries of treaty nation. The civil
arm of the Red Cross can extend through
the lines to reach the suffering, although
the lines be bristling with the engines of
war
One has but to recall the pitiable condi-
lions of the sick and wounded in the great
american war in order to appreciate what
the Red Cross might have done had it ex-
isted then. 1t is true that the Confederate
states could not have been a party to the
treaty, not being a recognized nation, but
the HE'D Cross societies of neutral nations
could not have been stayed from CARRYING
succor to Libby, Belle Isle and Anderson
willie prisons.
BY the terms Of the treaty the hospital
nag or every nation must be a red Greek
cross on white ground, and every per-
son, ambulance, or other part of the SER
vice must be so designated
The prime thought that inspired the pro
moters or the treaty was the unavoida BILE
insuniciency of the military hospital SER
vice. History during all time had demon-
strated the sad deficiency, but said these
noble men of the Geneva Society of Public
Utility. the great sympathy of the people
outside OF the military will supply means
ana nurses IN the most generous manner
and they will administer the relief in CO.
operation with the military, If we can Sc.
cure recognition and protection for them.
They interested the Officials of the Swiss
government, and, with General Dufour.
commander-in-chief of the Swiss army at
its mead, q committee was appointed Feb
ruary ., 1868, to forward the movement
That date marks the beginning of the Red
CROSS; although the great honor of con-
ceivins the ideas that eliminated in the
reaty OF 6eneva, In August 1864. belongs
TO Mr. Henry Dunant, who had been the nm
noPPy "AehcSS oI terrible and needless suf-
1ering by the wounded at the great battie
of solferino. June "a. 1859. ''' ''''''e
The labors of the committee resulted in
formal International conference in Oc-
& tober, 1868. and the final conventinr =,
August, 1854. So delicate and arduous was
the work before the delegates ~ those
Ereat nations In convention assemhIad fov
The purpose Of mitigating the severities ~
yar-men whose energies had preyiouslv
been given to the mutilating of men ana
Vie conquests of war-that a fortnicht ua .
consumed in their deliberations. But Il
,~as tho greatest fortnight's work ever
nhown The great nations of the earth
lad been conquered by humane idea
War had been robbed Of its most ba rba ron.
aspects. 1t had been solemnly agreed that
ienceforth one common flag should be the
symbol OF mercy. and. that wherever ~.
hoated. there should the fallen heroes flnd
friends and tenderness. there should thev
be secure against the further horrors Of
war.
The Red Cross flag has no Christian
meaning In the sense that many SUPPOSE
Z It y broader than Christianity itself. be-