The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-09-09
ANCIENT SALIC LAW.
IT PREVENTS WOMEN FROM BEING
QUEENS IN SOME COUNTRIES.

QUEENS IN SOME COUNTRIES.
No Other Law HasCaused So Much Blood
shed-Through This Code the Kingdom
of Hanover Lost It's Independence and
Was Absorbed by Prussia.
A relic of prehistoric barbarism, of
times when women were regarded as
soulless beings but one remove superior
to the brute creation, is that Salic law
which debars the fair sex from all rights
Of succession to most of the thrones Of
Europe. No one knows with any degree
Of certainty the origin Of this law, al
though many theories aud arguments
have been advanced regarding 1t, yet
there is 10 law that has been the cause
Of so much bloodshed and desolatlon
throughout the last 500 years.
Nearly all the historic wars that have
taken place in Europe since the days of
the first crusade may be attributed to
the existence Of this law, and even N
the present century sanguinary struggles
have taken place on its account. Great
Britain and Russia are the only two
countries where it has never secured any
foothold
Spain. Portugal and Holland nave
within the last 100 years erased the
law from their statute books, and have
benefited by the change, while since the
reign of Maria Theresa ard the seven
years. war it exists only in modified
form in Austria, and, perhaps, not at
all in the kingdom of Hungary.
But it is still in force in Denmark, in
Sweden, in Prussia and all the other
feGeral states of the German empire, as
we'll as in Belgium, Italy, Roumania,
Servia, Bulgaria and Greece, the ma
tional constitution Of which, being of a
more mushroom character and drawn
up by enlightened statesmen Of the pres
ent century, might reasonably be ex-
pected to be more up to date and free
from such narrow medieval prejudiceS
and doctrines.
1t is precisely in the three countries
which are now ruled by women-Eng-
land, Holland and Spain that the
greatest degree Of peace and prosperity
prevails. the three royal widows dis
playing far more common sense, en-
lightened Craftsmanship and political
sagacity than any Of their brother mon
archs.
Under the circumstances it must be a
matter Of regret that the Salic law
should debar a number Of beautiful,
charming and clever plincesses from
succeeding to thrones Thus there is
the pretty Princess Pauline of Wurttcm-
berg, the only child Of the present king
and young girl whom it is no exag-
gcration TO describe as the national idol.
Yet, Notwithstanding the fact that all
the affection of the people is centercd III
her, she is compelled by the Salic Law
to stand aside and to permit her fathers
crown to descend to q distant cousin,
born and bred not in Wurttenberg, bur
in Austria, and who, III addition to be-
ing regarded us q foreigner has the su-
preme disadvantage, in the eyes Of tho
Lutherans ard Protestants, constitut-
ing the vast majority of the nation, CT
being u Catholic.
Although King Oscar Of Norway is
one of the most enlightened and accom-
plished of man, endowed with a char
ader that can only be described as un-
blemished, he has not proved q success
full ruler.
The fact Is that the king, IN spite of
all his talents and his perfcctions, moral
and otherwise, is entirely wanting in
that personal magnetism, ard, il | may
be permitted to coin the expression, that
public tact which distinguished his
| homely, genial ard by no means so IN
tellectual brother, King Charles XIV.
The latter mad only one daughter,
Princess Louisa, who inherited his quail
tiles, and who, III spite OF her plannesS,
was Just as much the Idol Of both the
! Norwegians and Swcdcs as Princess
Pauline cf Wurttc,nberS Is at Stuttgart
Over six feet high. and far froEl being
endowed with intellect above the aver
age she possesses the best temper III the
world and an ineXnaustible fu.ld Of
merriment and good humor. and I. heart
! as big as her laugh. which has been
compared TO that Of q horse.
lad she been permitted to succeed
her fcther rs queen rc--cnt C. Sweden