Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-19

letters of approval. and in his first
message to Congress Garfield recon-
mended our accession to the treaty.
This was seventeen years inter the
first presentation of the subject to our
government But the end was not yet,
by reason OF President Gariicld's UNI
timely death. His successor incorporated
a plea for the Geneva treaty In his
first message to Congress. The Senate
committee on foreign affairs tof whom
were Senators Morgan, Edmunds and
Lnphaml, received Il favorably. and on
the first day of March, 1882, President
Arthur had the happiness of signing
the treaty.
1t was found that a modification of
and some additions to the original
treaty as II exists In Europe We're
necessary to ADAPT 1t to the needs OF
our country. In the Old World. where
war is II continual menace. the Red
Cross has kept to Its first purpose
that of caring for the sick and wound
ed of belligerent armies. The United
states. though comparatively exempt
from the dangers OF war by reasons
OF geographical and political situation,
has other national calamities to con-
tend with. Floods, fires. cyclones,
pestilenccs come without warning, and
to avert vast 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 after the
American Red Cross came into being
Ga year before President Arthur had
signed the treaty., was the forest fires
In Michigan. When the words flashed
over the wires that thousands. fleeing
for their lives from burning buildings.
were without food. Miss Barton. pres
ident Of the central society in Wash
ington, telegraphed the committee in
Milwaukee and Chicago, to hasten to
the scene. In n few hours they were
en- route. while she, and as many as
sistants as she thought necessary. at
once set out, with carloads OF pro-
visions and all essentials.
Twelve great national calamities
have already claimed the service of
the American Red Cross. After the
Michigan fires came the Ohio and
mississippi Hoods, of 1882. Then the
mississippi cyclone; again the Hoods
of 1854; the Virginia epidemic; the
Texas drought, the Charleston earth
quake; the Johnstown flood; the cy-
clone and tidal wave on the Sea
Islands OF South Carolina, etc. And
everybody knows the great work
which the society accomplished among
the Russian peasants In 81 and '92
and later among the prosecuted Ar
menians. When the great Hoods in
the Ohio and Mississippi valleys oc-
CURED and 1t was ascertained that
widespread suffering existed, Miss
Barton sent notice to the Associated
Press that she would go to the rescue.
Immediately supplies and money by
the thousands poured In. Boats We're
chartered and loaded with every de-
scription 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 known to prevail. Quickly the
citizens were called together and a
committee organized to distribute sup
plies; and then the boat steamed on.
The first intlmation that the inhab-
itants had that relief was coming was
when the boat with the magical Red
Cross emblem upon It, drew .up to
their shores, and Miss Barton, with
the same ba2on on her arm, stepped
over the gang-plank and began to as
semble the stricken people. Truly. she
must have seemed like an angel from
II better world.
The vital idea OF the Red Cross Is
not charity-it scorns the word, but
helpfulness. friendliness. II is a privi-
lege to do for those in trouble, for in
the good Samaritan sense. they are
neighbors. Human brotherhood Is
the Red Cross creed, and the religion
of Jesus Christ, as embodied in the
words. Love one another" Is its ami
mating principle.
FANNIE b. WARD.