The army and navy embodied the power of the government in the Spanish war, but the Red Cross in a large degree represented the affectionate regard of the American people, for those who went out to defend the flag of the Union, and their great desire to mitigate in every possible way the sufferings resulting from exposure, disease and conflict, as well as to relieve distress wherever it existed.
Courage and charity go hand in hand, and when the smoke of battle has rolled away, and the tattoo and reveille are memories of the past; when the white tents of the camps are folded; the equipment of war is exchanged for the implements of peace the appreciation of the citizen soldier for the Red Cross will grow in volume as he sits by his fireside and tells how its ministries gave relief and aid to his comrades and himself in the camp, the hospital, at Siboney, Santiago, Porto Rico and elsewhere, and how it extended succor even to his enemies when the conflict ceased.
The Red Cross of peace will outlive the Red Flag of war, even as charity shall survive the force of arms. Let us hope that the former ensign may soon float by the side of the flags of all the nations and peoples of the world, as an evidence of the advance of civilization, and the universal desire that there be no more war; that men everywhere are ready to extend a helping hand to all who suffer from disaster or disease. When this glad day comes war will be no more. Arbitration will be the supreme power.
And may I say, in closing, that no one during the past quarter of a century has in a larger degree aided in the cultivation of peace and good will among men and the promotion of a spirit of fraternity among the peoples of the earth than the president of the American National Red Cross, who, during the Spanish war, has rendered such valuable and indefatigable service in the cause of humanity.
ON SAN JUAN HILL, SANTIAGO.
CAMP THOMAS.
The agent first appointed for Chickamauga Park, was Dr. Charles R. Gill. Shortly afterwards, however, Dr. Gill expressed a desire to go to Cuba, and he was relieved, Mr. E.C. Smith being placed in charge of this field, which proved eventually to be one of the most important stations of the Red Cross. As the demands of the camp increased, Mr. A.M. Smith was sent to assist his brother in the work. Their services have been eminently satisfactory to all concerned, and many voluntary expressions of appreciation have been received. All requisitions for assistance were promptly filled by the Executive Committee in New York, and in addition to the large amount of supplies sent, about $16,000 in cash were expended at the camp. Mr. Smith, in his report on the work done at this camp, says:
The headquarters of the American National Red Cross, at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Ga., was located alongside the historic Brotherton House, which was in the thickest of the fight in 1863. No array of mere numerals written to express dollars, or tables of figures standing for quantities, could in comprehensive sense tell the story of Red Cross work at Chickamauga, in 1898. The record is written indelibly in the hearts of thousands of soldiers who were stricken with disease on this battlefield, and the story has been told at quiet home firesides in every State of the Union.