That patriotic magazine “Home and Country” for February, 1893, has an
article from Mrs. Ormsby’s pen, in which that lady gives an account
of how she carried the White Flag to Rome. We quote a part of the
article:—
PEACE CONGRESSES AND THE PEACE FLAG.
As an accredited delegate of the Universal Peace Union, founded by
the Quakers, or Friends, twenty-six years ago, also as a substitute
for the Rev. Edward Everett Hale, D.D., of Boston, Massachusetts,
and Mr. William O. McDowell, of Newark, New Jersey, in representing
the Pan-Republic Congress and Woman’s Freedom League, it was my good
fortune to carry the flag of peace to Rome.
It was not until the day of my departure I learned that alone and
unattended I was to cross the ocean and the Continent with this
treble duty intrusted to me. With the New Orleans matter then
unsettled, and the diplomatic relations between Italy and America
inharmonious because of what to the Italian people seemed an utter
indifference on the part of our government officials in regard to
the massacre of Italian subjects, it was no easy task to present the
flag of our country to a peace congress at Rome. But the influences
that emanated from friendly discussions at this gathering, the fact
that many of its members were also members of the Italian parliament,
and the influence exerted by letters sent to the American press,—all
were, in my estimation, most efficient aids in speedily and amicably
adjusting the much-deplored New Orleans tragedy. The starry flag was
never so precious to me as when it was consigned to my care until it
should grace our congress in Rome.
This particular flag was made by American women from American silk
wrought by the Woman’s Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania women arranged it: ever from its earliest history this
State has proved the power of justice to obtain peace.
After a perilous journey, having encountered a storm at sea, and
having been compelled to ride alone all night in a closed compartment
while crossing the Continent, I reached the Eternal City on the
morning that congress was to convene.
Here at Italy’s capital had gathered a corps of philosophers,
scientists, artists, statesmen, authors, and journalists, to advance
the cause of peace and prevent bloodshed. They came from different
points of the compass, from every form of government, with a variety
of aspirations, judgments, and tastes, but with, one common purpose.
[Illustration: THE ELECTRICAL BUILDING.]
This remarkable assemblage of three hundred delegates, representing
eighty-eight different peace societies, and speaking seventeen
different languages, had gathered on the historic spot from which
went forth the edict that “All the world should be taxed.” In
full view of the ruins of the Forum and the hill of the Cæsars we
proceeded to discuss the one common sentiment,—“Peace on earth, and
good will to men.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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