Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-06
Heir Of the House of Stuart,

Dr. Charles C. starbuck in the Boston Advertiser
There is historical blunder which ever and
anon comes up, and which, though Of no prac-
teal Significance, yet cannot be without an I'M
eglnative influence on Anglo-Saxons. 1t re-
spects the question-Who is the representative
OF the Stuarts? The statement is often made
that 1t is the King of Italy, but this is q mis-
take Its latest appearance Is in the very in
terestlng article ON Queen Margaret in the
louut S GDlpGHiOn for November s, which
says that but for the law excluding Roman
Catholic lines, King Humbert and Queen Mar
garet would now be King aud Queen of England.
III Is worth noting that even the eminent his
torlan. Mr.. Freeman, has casually fallen into
the same error In an incidental allusion, know
ing that, by female succession. the Stuart rep
resentaton had passed into the house OF SAVOY,
and not having CHANGED TO note that by female
succession 1t had passed out of the house Of
Savoy.
When by the death of Henry Stuart, Cardinal
YORK, IN 1907, the house of Stuart and with il
all the heirs of James III, became extinct. then
as his elder sister, Mary, had no grandchildren.
the Stuart representation devolved on King
Victor Emmanuel 1 of Sardinia as the heir of
James younger sister. Henrietta, Duchess OF
Orleans. Victor Emmanuels heir for the
throne OF Sardinia, as he had no sons was his
brother Charles Felix, but for the Stuart repre-
sentation, which of course followed the English
rule, 1t was his eldest daughter Mary Beatrice
Her heir was her eldest son. Francis v the
last Duke Of Modena, whom Disraeli. in ''Endy-
mion, represents actually receiving the
homage of some English idiots as their true
sovereign. At his death without issue in 1875
the Stuart claims (now Of course purely ideap
passed to his next brother Ferdinand's only
child, the Archduchess Maria Theresa, wife OF
Prince Lewis of Bayaria, who is thus the repre-
sentative OF the Stuarts, the Tudors and the
Plantagenets. The eldest of this lady's four or
hve sons bears the sign of his famous descent
In his name of Prince Rupert" Thus the
ideal claims of the ancient English ROYALTY,
having passed from the house Of Savoy into
the Modeuese branch of the house of Hapsburg-
Lorraine. will in the next generation be settled
IN the house of Wittelsbach and ascend the
throne OF Bavaria, supposing that monarchy to
be then in existence.
On the death of Charles Felix, in 1881, the
Sardinian crown passed to the branch of Savoy
Carignano. which parted from the elder line
generation before Henrietta Stuart was born
Ming Humbert. therefore, and his cousin and
vile. Queen Margaret. not only not the rep
resentatives of the Stua-ts, but, as pointed out
in Chambers Encyclopaedia, they are not de-
scendants of the Stuarts.
Queen Victoria is guilty of singular absurd
lily IN one OF her books when she proudly
calls herself, with true royal and feminine tory
Ism, the representative Of the Stuarts." Her
house was chosen for the very reason that its
elevation signalized the national rejection of
the Stuarts. The act of settlement shows that
she is not only not the representative of
Charles L. but is not even the representative of
his sister Elizabeth until all the posterity of
Elizabeth's sons shall be extinct. for the act
passes over the sons and over the eldest daugh-
ter, the Abbess of Maubisson. and fixes on the
younger daughter, Sophia, as being Protes-
tant- The present dynasty, therefore. reigns
by no antiquated right of descent, but by a
true act Of national election. Victoria is not
the representative Of the Stuarts, but which is
an infinitely higher dignity, she is, BIZ a free
act of national choice, the representative of
the majesty of mighty England. And perhaps
the now decaying British monarchy would do
well to close its long and bestained. but vet IL
iustrious, history with this long and illustrious
and virtuous reign.
/ may remark that the present representative
OF Elizabeth Stuart, Queen Victorias ances-
tress, Is said to be, curiousiy enough, the
Count of Paris