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Description: The Red Cross - Interview with Miss Clara Barton
Date: October 19 1890Newspaper published in: Huntsville, AL
Source: Library
Page/Column: Page 1, Column 4
THE RED CROSS
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Something of the Society Bearing That Name
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Interview with Miss Clara Barton in Washington
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It is an International Organization Belonging to the Governments
Of the World—It Exists for All People—It Knows no Creed,
Save The Broadest Humanity—Protected by All Nations
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 18. – In view of the wide publication of the story of the flight of Sister Sophie from the so-called Red Cross hospital in Cincinnati, and her subsequent marriage in Chicago, a representative of the United Press called upon Miss Barton to ascertain in what way Sister Sophie or the hospital from which she escaped was connected with the American National Red Cross association. Miss Barton, in reply to questions on the subject, said:
“There is not the slightest possible connection of the event to which you refer. The American National Red Cross association had no knowledge of the existence of this ‘Red Cross sister,’ or of the existence of the hospital from which she is said to have escaped.”
Miss Barton during the course of further conversation said:
“The Red Cross is an organization , National and international, belonging to the governments of the world; its sign and name in this country are the property of the United States, and whatever parties or persons make use of either without the permission of the government or its accredited agents do so in spite of rightful possession. To the best of our knowledge no such permission in this case has been asked or granted, and the methods of the institution in question, although probably good in themselves, are such has to mislead the public in regard to the true nature of a most important organization, giving the idea that the Red Cross is a religious ‘order,’ sectarian and prescribed. This representation, besides being erroneous, is misleading and harmful to the public.
“The Red Cross is not more an ‘order’ religious, secret or otherwise, than is a war department or an express company, and however, or wherefrom the title may have come there are no ‘sisters of the Red Cross’ in America. It does not take cognizance of elections or assay to regulate the legitimacy of marriages, but presumes from the character of the people in connection with it, that they will be likely to properly regulate these matters for themselves.”