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Clara Barton: A Centenary Tribute to the World's Greatest Humanitarian: Founder of the American Red Cross Society, Author of the American Amendment to the International Red Cross Convention of Geneva, Founder of the National First Aid Association of America — John Shaqi

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Clara Barton: A Centenary Tribute to the World's Greatest Humanitarian: Founder of the American Red Cross Society, Author of the American Amendment to the International Red Cross Convention of Geneva, Founder of the National First Aid Association of America

Name: Clara Barton: A Centenary Tribute to the World's Greatest Humanitarian: Founder of the American Red Cross Society, Author of the American Amendment to the International Red Cross Convention of Geneva, Founder of the National First Aid Association of America
Author: Young, Charles Sumner

Young, Charles Sumner

Barton, Clara, 1821-1912

CLARA BARTON.

  It is a wise statesmanship which suggests that in time of peace we
  must prepare for war. It is no less a wise benevolence that makes
  preparation in the hour of peace for assuaging the ills that are sure
  to accompany war. CLARA BARTON..

  In no other country, as in ours, have the people so often risen from a
  state of unreadiness and accomplished such wonderful results—at _such
  a sacrifice_. CLARA BARTON.

  As friends of humanity, while there is still a possibility of war or a
  calamity, it behooves us to prepare. CLARA BARTON.


  The memories of pitiful Cuba would not leave us.

                                                           CLARA BARTON.

  To those who could not understand, Heaven came; to those who could,
  “Cuba Libre.” CLARA BARTON.

  Not with the booming of cannon; not with the shouts of victory, but
  with the singing of Christian hymns and the outstretched hand of
  help,—never before in the history of warfare was there triumphant
  entry such as this. WM. E. BARTON, D.D.

  Oh, the horrible, useless, tragic waste which no Peace Congress has
  yet been able to avert! O treacherous fate! That made the great woman
  of peace wait to see men of blood go before her to kill, to wound, to
  devastate. ALICE HUBBARD.


  Could it be possible that the commander would hold back his flagship
  and himself, and send forward, and _first_, a cargo of food on a plain
  ship, under direction of a woman? Did our commands, military or naval,
  hold men great enough of soul for such action? It must be true, for
  the spires of Santiago rise before us. How sadly the recollection of
  that pleasant memorable day has since recurred to me! CLARA BARTON.


            HORRIBLE DEED—LEADS AMERICAN NAVY—ANGEL OF MERCY

“Go to the starving Cubans!” She went. She had been entertained by
Captain Sigsbee and his officers on the Maine the evening before the
explosion. “Remember the Maine!” became the war cry.

War was declared. The Government wired: “Take no chances; get out of
Cuba.” She returned to Florida to await events. The blockade of Cuban
ports followed; the war was on. Let Clara Barton draw a picture of the
war scene:

“War has occurred four times in the United States in 120 years. Four
times men have armed and marched; and its women waited and wept. But we
cannot always hold our great Ship of State out of the storms and
breakers. She must meet and battle with them. Her timbers must creak in
the gale. The waves must dash over her decks; she must lie in the trough
of the sea. But the Stars and Stripes are above her. She is freighted
with the hopes of the world. God holds the helm; and she is coming into
port.”

[Illustration:

  WILLIAM T. SAMPSON

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Clara Barton: A Centenary Tribute to the World's Greatest Humanitarian: Founder of the American Red Cross Society, Author of the American Amendment to the International Red Cross Convention of Geneva, Founder of the National First Aid Association of America

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