never questioned this, but redoubled our exertions to meet the wants
as they came by single rations issued upon application, until our
books show an issue up to June 1 of over 34,000 to the needy white
and colored on the mainland of the State, from Charleston to
Savannah. No applicant, unless detected in absolute imposition, and
this after having been repeatedly served with all he needed for the
time, has ever been declined. Our thirty thousand Sea Islanders have
received their weekly rations of food, they have been taught to
distribute their own clothing, making official report, and have done
it well. They are a well clothed people, and over 20,000 garments
have gone to the mainland. Thousands of little homes have been
rebuilt or repaired, and are occupied. Over 245 miles of ditches
have been made, reclaiming and improving many thousands of acres of
land; nearly five tons of garden seeds, producing all varieties of
vegetables in their well-fenced gardens of from a quarter of an acre
to one acre and more for each family, with 800 bushels of peas and
beans, have been provided. These seeds have been distributed on the
islands and to every applicant from the mainland; 1,000 bushels of
Irish potato seed, 400 bushels of which went to the mainland; 1,800
bushels of seed corn, 800 bushels of this distributed on the
mainland. Those provisions, together with a revival of the phosphate
industries, the fish in the rivers and their boats in repair, have
served to make the 30,000 Sea Islanders, whom we were asked to take
charge of nine months ago, a prosperous and self-helping people.
They know this and realize that they can take care of themselves,
and we cannot but regard any attempt at throwing them again upon the
charities of the outside world as demoralizing, misleading and fatal
to them, as a self-supporting and independent class of industrial
people, and a matter which should concern the State whose wards they
are.
* * * * *
CLARA BARTON.
_Charleston, S. C., June 24, 1894._
[Illustration: MISS BARTON'S ROOM.
_Sleeping apartments, on living floor, Charleston Red
Cross headquarters and warehouse._]
[Illustration: Copyright, 1898, by Clara Barton.
IN THE OLD SCHLOSS OF BADEN.
_A Group of the Fourth International Red Cross Conference
held at the Court of Carlsruhe, Baden, 1887._]
[Letterhead]
_February 26, 1895._
_Copy of Circular Letter Sent to Each Clergyman and Committeeman of
Our Sea Island Relief Work the Season After We Came Away from the
Islands._
Although the claims upon our time are more than we can meet by
working all the day and much of the night, the memory and the
interest of our faithful Sea Island friends with whom we worked last
year, through the months that followed the great storm, still claim
much of our thoughts.
Another planting season is approaching, and we are hoping that your
people have been doing the preparatory work of ditching for the
raising of good crops. If any have not begun this work, will you see
those who would take an active interest in the public good, like
yourself, and get them to start the work again at once, so that
there may be as great an advance over last year's improvements as
last year was over previous years.
Get the neighbors to join together and clean out the old ditches,
make all the new main ditches and canals that they can, and then
make the smaller ones to connect with them; this will help to give
them better health, less fever, larger crops and better ones.
We hope they will give particular attention to their gardens and
have even better ones this year than they did last, improving each
season by experience and by learning from one another, particularly
from those who have been most successful.
Dr. Hubbell has made a list of seeds profitable to plant, in two
groups, as follows:
FOR EARLY PLANTING.
Early purple-top strap-leaf turnip, early cabbage, lettuce, rutabaga
turnips.
In a hot-bed or in a protected place, where they can be covered at
night when it is cold, the cabbage plants and tomato plants should
be started at once, to be ready for transplanting when the ground is
warm.
FOR PLANTING WHEN THE TIME FOR FROST IS PAST.
Early Rose potatoes, onions (sets and seed), early turnip, blood
beet, early corn, English peas, snap or wax beans, bush Lima or
Sevier beans, early squash, okra, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers,
collards, late cabbage, taniers, and large sugar beet for stock.
(Some of these may be planted in the field.)
In the field (with corn or cotton) pumpkins and large squashes,
cantaloupes and watermelons may be planted.
The garden should be well fertilized and no weeds or grass allowed
to grow. The weeds take the nourishment from the plants, use up and
waste the fertilizers.
There should be a good fence to keep the chickens out; then the
garden, with the chickens and their eggs, will furnish most of a
good living for a family until the regular crops can be harvested
and save from debt.
A good garden and a variety of crops are as necessary for the
prosperity of a farmer as they are for his health.
Every Sea Islander should plant now a few fig cuttings and a few
grape cuttings, and such fruit trees as he may be able to get;
peaches, pears, pecans. In a few years these plantings (if protected
from the goats, pigs and cattle) will give plentiful fruit through
the "dry season" (particularly the fig), and the grapes and other
fruit will be a luxury and profit in their season, besides keeping
the people in health.
With good ditches everywhere, with plenty of vegetables from the
gardens, figs and grapes, there should be almost no sickness on
those prosperous islands, and every one should be happy.
Regarding the other crops, as cotton, corn, rice, sweet potatoes,
peanuts and cow peas, the people should be encouraged to get and
save the best seed. Select from the earliest and best of their own
or their neighbor's raising. Fertilize as much as possible with
those fertilizers that they can get by their own labor, such as
marsh-grass, sea mud, stable compost, fish, oyster shell lime,
ashes, etc. (and some commercial fertilizer).
They should strive to raise the best of everything. The best yields
the most for the same labor, and brings the highest price, gives the
greatest satisfaction to him who grows it and him who buys it. That
means prosperity, which we wish for you all in largest measure.
Enjoin the people to keep out of debt, to "owe no man anything;"
this course will make the road of honesty and integrity easier and
shorten the way to plenty and prosperity; speak no evil of thy
neighbor, then all will work together happily in their public work
of ditches, bridges, roads, wells, etc., and live happy in their
homes.
The people should not forget the fact that water from wells not
thoroughly cleaned will breed fever and other sickness, and that
good pure water will in a large degree keep the fever off.
To encourage the general continuance of this work of improvement
your people so readily took up at our request and carried on of
yourselves to our gratification and to the astonishment of your
old-time neighbors, I will have copies of this letter sent to other
leading Sea Island citizens, thus all may be at work at the same
time and all will receive the benefits of your united labors by
lessened sickness and increased crops.
May the good Lord bless the efforts of a faithful people is the wish
of
Your friend,
CLARA BARTON,
_President of the American Red Cross_.
ARMENIA.
In November, 1895, the press commenced to warn us of a possible call for
the relief of the terrible sufferings of Armenia, which were engaging
the attention of the civilized world. These warnings were followed later
by a letter from Rev. Judson Smith, D.D., of Boston, secretary of the
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, referring his
suggestion back to Rev. Henry O. Dwight, D.D., of the American Board of
Foreign Missions at Constantinople. The American Red Cross was requested
by these representative gentlemen, to undertake the distribution of
relief funds among the sufferers of Armenia. Owing to the disturbed
condition of the country and of its strict laws, combined as they were
with existing racial and religious differences, it was found almost
impossible at the moment to distribute the relief needed. The faithful
but distressed resident missionaries were themselves helpless sufferers
to a great extent and practically prisoners in their own houses. These
had not always been spared to them in the wild excitement which reigned
for several months previous, otherwise they would have been the normal
channels for distributing aid. This written request from Dr. Smith was
nearly identical with a similar one from Mr. Spencer Trask, of New York,
who, with others, was about to form a National Armenian Relief
Committee, to be established in that city. Following their letters, both
of these gentlemen, Dr. Smith and Mr. Trask, came to Washington to
personally urge our compliance with the request that we accept the
charge of this distribution of relief funds. Accustomed to the trials,
responsibilities and hardships of field relief labor, this proposition
seemed something to be shrunk from rather than accepted and we naturally
hesitated. The idea, however, became public, and a general importunity
on the part of the people became prevalent. The necessity for immediate
action was urged; human beings were starving and could not be reached,
hundreds of towns and villages had not been heard from since the fire
and sword went over them, and no one else was so well prepared for the
work of field relief, it was said, as ourselves. It was urged that we
had a trained force of field workers, and as Turkey was one of the
signatory powers to the Red Cross Treaty of Geneva, having given its
adhesion as long ago as July, 1865, it must consequently be familiar
with its methods and humanitarian ideas. Thus it was hoped that she
would the more readily accept its presence than that of a more strange
body of workers. These are only a shadowing of the reasons urged on
behalf of our acceptance. Under this pressure, coupled with our strong
sympathies, the subject was taken into serious consideration with the
simple demand on our part of two positive assurances: First, we must be
assured by the committees that we were the choice of the people of the
entire country, that there was no opposition to us, and that there was
perfect unanimity between themselves; there must be nowhere any discord;
the task would be difficult enough under the best conditions. Second,
that they had the funds to distribute. Assured on both these points, our
promise was given that we would go and do our best to make the desired
distribution in the interior of Asia Minor.
With this ray of hope that something might be done, the pent-up
sympathies of the people burst forth. Public meetings were held,
addresses made, Armenian conditions estimated, horrors reproduced,
responsibilities placed, causes canvassed, and opinions expressed;
honest, humane, and entirely natural, precisely the course to rouse
public sentiment and indignation, if that were the only or the main
object in view. In consideration, however, of the relief effort, it was
of questionable wisdom perhaps, when it is borne in mind that we had yet
to ask the opening of a door hitherto closed against the world, when we
needed permission to enter, in order to reach the starving sufferers
with the relief that was planning for them. In the enthusiasm of the
hour, this fact seemed to be entirely lost sight of. It also seemed to
be forgotten that if this difficult and delicate task were to be
assigned to the Red Cross and its officers, that the making of their
mission or of themselves personally, prominent or laudatory features of
public gatherings where Ottoman officials or representatives were always
listeners, could not fail to render the post more difficult, and
prospects of success more doubtful.
The international and neutral character of the Red Cross, as a medium of
relief in mitigation of war or overwhelming calamity, appeared to be
overlooked or wholly misunderstood. It was not recognized that only by
abstaining from discordant opinions could we be in a position to
perform our work. By the obligations of the Geneva Treaty, all national
controversies, racial distinctions, and differences in creed must be
held in abeyance and only the needs of humanity considered. In this
spirit alone can the Red Cross meet its obligations as the
representative of the nations and governments of the world acting under
it. But American enthusiasm is boundless, and its expression limitless;
and the same breath that crushed the Ottoman Empire, scattered it to the
winds or sunk it in the lowest depths, elevated the Red Cross and its
proposed relief out of sight among the clouds. Precautionary
remonstrance from us was in vain, but it was not until after we had
publicly given our consent, made all arrangements and appointed our
aids, that the fruits of these ardent demonstrations became visible in a
pronunciamento through the Turkish Minister resident at Washington,
prohibiting the Red Cross from entering Turkey.
I found this decision on the part of the Bey and his government very
natural and politically justifiable--our own government and people would
probably have done the same or even more under similar conditions,
provided similar conditions could have existed among them. I was ready
to abide by the decision and remain at home. This, neither people nor
committees, would consent to. Of course our selected force of more than
a score of trained and experienced field workers, each a specialist,
must be given up. If any relief were now attempted it could only be
individual, with two or three officers from headquarters as
indispensable aids.
Previous to the announcement of the Turkish Minister prohibiting the Red
Cross from entering Turkey, the promise had been gained from us to leave
by the steamship "New York" on the twenty-second of January, and
notwithstanding the reply to a cablegram from the Department of State to
Constantinople, asking if the prohibition against the entrance of the
Red Cross was really official and from the government itself, or but
semi-official, had not been received, our promise was kept and we sailed
with this uncertainty resting over us.
The picture of that scene is still vivid in my memory. Crowded piers,
wild with hurrahs, white with parting salutes, hearts beating with
exultation and expectation--a little shorn band of five, prohibited,
unsustained either by government or other authority, destined to a port
five thousand miles away, from approach to which even the powers of the
world had shrunk. What was it expected to do or how to do it? Visions of
Don Quixote and his windmills loomed up, as I turned away and wondered.
A week at sea, to be met at midnight at Southampton, by messenger down
from London, to say that the prohibition was sustained, the Red Cross
was forbidden, but that such persons as our minister, Mr. Terrell, would
appoint, would be received. Here was another delicate uncertainty which
could not be committed to Ottoman telegraph, and Dr. Hubbell was
dispatched alone to Constantinople (while we waited in London) to learn
from Mr. Terrell his attitude toward ourselves and our mission. Under
favorable responses we proceeded, and reached Constantinople on February
15; met a most cordial reception from all our own government officials,
and located _pro tem._ at Pera Palace Hotel; it being so recently after
the Stamboul massacres that no less public place was deemed safe.
The following day we received in a body the members of the Missionary
Board in Constantinople, including its treasurer, W.W. Peet, Esq., and
Dr. Washburn, president of Robert College, and here commenced that
friendly intercourse which continued without interruption, strengthening
as the days wore on through the half year that followed, till moistened
eyes and warm hand-grasp at parting told more plainly than words how
fraught with confidence that intercourse had been. If one would look for
peers of this accomplished Christian body of our countrymen, they would
only be found in the noble band of women, who, as wives, mothers and
teachers, aid their labors and share their hardships, privations and
dangers. I shall always feel it a privilege and an honor to have been
called, even in a small way, to assist the efforts of this chosen body
of our countrymen and women, whose faithful and devoted lives are made
sacred to the service of God and their fellow men.
The first step was to procure an introduction to the government which
had in one sense refused me; and accompanied by Minister Terrell and his
premier interpreter, Gargiulo, perhaps the longest serving and one of
the most experienced diplomatic officers in Constantinople, I called by
appointment upon Tewfik Pasha, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs
or Minister of State. To those conversant with the personages connected
with Turkish affairs, I need not say that Tewfik Pasha is probably the
foremost man of the government; a manly man, with a kind, fine face, and
genial, polished manners. Educated abroad, with advanced views on
general subjects, he impresses one as a man who would sanction no wrong
it was in his power to avert.
We were received at the Department of State in an uninterrupted
interview lasting over an hour. As this was the main interview and the
base of all our work, it is perhaps proper that I give it somewhat in
detail. Mr. Terrell's introduction was most appropriate and well
expressed, bearing with strong emphasis upon the suffering condition of
the people of the interior in consequence of the massacres, and the
great sympathy of the people of America, their intense desire to help
them, the heartfelt interest in their missionaries whose burdens were
greater than they ought to bear, and the desire to aid them, and that
for all these reasons we had been asked to come; that our objects were
purely humanitarian, having neither political, racial, nor religious
bearing; that as the head of the organization thus represented I _could_
have no other ideas, and it was the privilege of putting these ideas
into practice and the protection required meanwhile that the people of
America, through him and through me, were asking.
The Pasha listened most attentively to the speech of Mr. Terrell,
thanked him, and replied that this was well understood; that they knew
the Red Cross and its president, and, turning to me, repeated: "We know
you, Miss Barton; have long known you and your work. We would like to
hear your plans for relief and what you desire."
I proceeded to state them, bearing fully upon the fact that the
condition to which the people of the interior of Asia Minor had been
reduced by recent events had aroused the sympathy of the entire American
people until they asked, almost to the extent of a demand, that
assistance from them should be allowed to go directly to these
sufferers, hundreds of whom had friends and relatives in America--a fact
which naturally strengthened both the interest and the demand; that it
was at the request of our people, _en masse_, that I and a few
assistants had come; that our object would be to use the funds ourselves
among the people needing them wherever they were found, in helping them
to resume their former positions and avocations, thus relieving them
from continued distress, the State from the burden of providing for
them, and other nations and people from a torrent of sympathy which was
both, hard to endure and unwholesome in its effects; that I had brought
skilled agents, practical and experienced farmers whose first efforts
would be to get the people back to their deserted fields and provide
them with farming implements and material wherewith to put in summer
crops and thus enable them to feed themselves. These would embrace
plows, hoes, spades, seed-corn, wheat, and later, sickles, scythes,
etc., for harvesting, with which to save the miles of autumn grain which
we had heard of as growing on the great plains already in the ground
before the trouble; also to provide for them such cattle and other
animals as it would be possible to purchase or to get back; that if some
such thing were not done before another winter, unless we had been
greatly misinformed, the suffering there would shock the entire
civilized world. None of us knew from personal observations, as yet, the
full need of assistance, but had reason to believe it very great. That
if my agents were permitted to go, such need as they found they would be
prompt to relieve. On the other hand, if they did not find the need
existing there, none would leave the field so gladly as they. There
would be no respecting of persons; humanity alone would be their guide.
"We have," I added, "brought only ourselves, no correspondent has
accompanied us, and we shall have none, and shall not go home to write a
book on Turkey. We are not here for that. Nothing shall be done in any
concealed manner. All dispatches which we send will go openly through
your own telegraph, and I should be glad if all that we shall write
could be seen by your government. I cannot, of course, say what its
character will be, but can vouch for its truth, fairness and integrity,
and for the conduct of every leading man who shall be sent. I shall
never counsel nor permit a sly or underhand action with your government,
and you will pardon me, Pasha, if I say that I shall expect the same
treatment in return--such as I give I shall expect to receive."
Almost without a breath he replied--"And you shall have it. We honor
your position and your wishes will be respected. Such aid and protection
as we are able to, we shall render."
I then asked if it were necessary for me to see other officials. "No,"
he replied, "I speak for my government;" and with cordial good wishes,
our interview closed.
I never spoke personally with this gentleman again; all further business
being officially transacted through the officers of our Legation. Yet I
can truly say, as I have said of my first meeting with our matchless
band of missionary workers, that here commenced an acquaintance which
proved invaluable, and here were given pledges of mutual faith of which
not a word was ever broken or invalidated on either side, and to which I
owe what we were able to do through all Asia Minor. It is to the strong
escorts ordered from the Sublime Porte for our expeditions and men, that
I owe the fact that they all came back to me, and that I bring them home
to you, tired and worn, but saved and useful still.
Dr. Hubbell, and the leaders of the five expeditions tell us that they
were never, even for a portion of a day, without an escort for
protection, and this at the expense of the Turkish Government, and that
without this protection they must not and could not have proceeded.
[Illustration: RED CROSS HEADQUARTERS, CONSTANTINOPLE.]
[Illustration: VIEW FROM RED CROSS HEADQUARTERS, CONSTANTINOPLE.]
[Illustration: TURKISH CEMETERY.]
This interview with Tewfik Pasha was equal to a permit. Both Minister
Terrell and myself cabled it to America as such. Dr. Hubbell, as general
field agent, commenced at once to fit himself for a passage by the Black
Sea, through Sivas to Harpoot. He had engaged a dragoman and assistants,
and with Ernest Mason, who went with us as Oriental linguist, was
prepared to ship next day, when at Sélamlik I was officially waited upon
by a court chamberlain who informed me that although greatly regretting
it, they were compelled to ask me to delay my expedition, in order to
give the government time to translate and read some of the immense
quantities of newspaper matter which was being thrown in upon them from
America, and which from its context appeared to be official,
representing all our State governors as engaged in a general move
against Turkey, and that the chief seat of operations was the National
Capitol. The Chamberlain tried by motions to show me that there were
bushels of papers, and that it was impossible for them to translate them
at once; that if they prove to be official as appeared by the great
names connected with them, it was imperative that the government
consider them; but if it proved to be mere newspaper talk it was of no
consequence, and I was begged to delay until they could investigate.
Having received some specimens myself, I did not wonder at this request,
I only wondered at the kindly courtesy with which it was made. I will
take the liberty of inserting one of the clippings which I had received
as a sample of what Turkey had to consider. This is only one among
scores, which had led me to consider how, with these representations, we
were ever to get any further:
PRO-ARMENIAN ALLIANCE.
ITS WORK TO BE EXTENDED TO THE REMOTEST SECTIONS OF THE UNITED
STATES--GOVERNORS OF STATES WILL AID.
[Special dispatch to the Sunday _Herald_.]
WASHINGTON, D.C., _February 8, 1896_.