Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-20
WOMEN AGAINST WAR.
In American Securities Their Eng
fish Husbands Would Lose
S2OO,OOo,OOO.

New York, Jan. 9.-[Special. There
are in Englands heart, in London itself,
ten American women, true daughters of
the United States, who are working
quietly and nightly to prevent war be-
tween the two countries that are looking
at each other in a sinister way.
To them war means thousand times
as much as it does to other American
women. They are the two Duchesses OF
Marlborough, Lily and Consuela; Lady
Terence Blackwood, the Countess of Es-
sex. Lady Craven, formerly Bradley
Martin; Mrs. Joseph Chamberlain, Lady
Mary Paget, Lady Randolph Churchill.
the ViScountess Deerhurst-a great favor
tie in Victoria's court-and Mrs. Letter
Curzon These have untold power for
international arbitration.
Besides these women there are ten
more that bear English titles, but these
particular ten are so situated that they
are in the very midst of the greatest
powers that rule England today. Their
influence thrown upon the scale would
turn it whichever way they bent them
selves.
If war were declared upon England
today, Mr.. CurZon. England's under sec
rotary of foreign affairs, would lose I'M
mediately, through his wife, $15,OOOOO0
in American securities alone. This was
Miss Letters private fortune when she
married Mr.. Curzon last spring, and at
the first note of trouble her stock would
drop to $2,000,00O, and at more trouble,
to probably none at ALL This is q solid
and substantial reason why Mr.. Curzon
would not favor war and why Lady
Scardale, as Mrs. Curzon's title will
some day be, would work against such
a calamity.
1t is not to be supposed that any man
worthy the name of statesman would
allow his private interests to stand in
the way of his patriotism, but it is ditfi-
cult to see how a man in business cir
cles, as Mr.. Curzon is, and having great
interests at stake could think otherwise.
He sees the prosperity brought about by
the combined interests of the two cCun-
tries and he sees the wreck with these
interests separated Mrs. George Cur
zon, bride as she is, is more powerful to
prevent the war today than any other
living woman.
Her expected heir has a right 1o her
unimpaired fortune
Except Mrs. Joseph Chamberlain. One
has to except her when very great Eng
fish influence is under discussion. Her
husband is at the head, the very head,
of the Liberal Unionists, party as
powerful in England as our great po
litical parties are here. Mrs. Chamber
lain is very close i'll the heart of this
it's discussions. Her American mind and
brain can do more for America than all
the arbitration messages ever penned,
but in an incOnspicuOus way.
Mrs. Joseph Chamberlain could and
does help her country by her American
ism. She is the daughter of a states
man, and was for many years her
fathers secretary. She understands our
politics and our feelings. It is she who
can explain our peculiar inherited feel
ing for liberty as none others can. 1t
was President Monroe's fear that in fut-
ure England would surround us that
made him introduce that doctrine which
now makes all the trouble. Mrs. Cham
berlain understands this; and it is ru-
mored that these days she is closeted
long hours with English statesmen eX
planning, representing to them and IN
f1uencing them.
In this country women politicians are
called "strong-minded," but in England
they are much admired. Lady Randolph
Churchill here would occupy a position
not now held by any American woman
that of leader of society and lecturing
politician.
n is difficult to estimate the power
Lady Randolph Churchill would have in
preventing a conflict between the two
countries.
Her engagement, just announced, to
William Waldorf Astor would cement
the American bond.
steel. 1t is doubtful if she herself could
tell to which she is closest. Cousins,
friends, dear relatives and fortune over
here! Home, children and immediate
interests there! If there should come
hard ''war talk" Lady Randolph Church
i'll would set out lecturing, as she did
when she elected her husband in this
rtr n fnW a
would put things straight in short time.
She has a clear, concise, just way of
delivering them that robs them of the
term ''lectures!" She could show Eng
lishmen why and how we must keep
our coasts from danger, and she would be
convincing.
The little Countess of Craven has
very peculiar influence in England. She
is powerful with the Queen. Victoria
likes her. She keeps her at Windsor
and talks of making her lady-in-wait-
ing, an honor never as yet conferred upon
an American woman. The little count
ess has a sweet face and soft voice
She speaks loud enough to penetrate her
majesty's feeble hearing and she makes
things soft and comfortable to an old
lady's brain. A few tales of home, of
our feeling to England, of our English
families here, would make Victoria say
the word to Salisbury which would cause
him to think of arbitration very leniently.
Just in this way is Virginia Bonynge,
Viscountess Deerhurst, influential with
the Princess Christian, who is the
Queens private thinker. The viscount-
ess is petted by the Princess Christian
as one of her own daughters. The Wis
countess has made the princess many
beautiful presents and has informed her
of many things regarding this country
which she did not know. Both the
Queen and the princess have. way, of
gathering their information about a for
.eign power from private persons, and in
this way they keep themselves in the
wonderfully sympathetic touch which
Victoria has always maintained.
To Lady Mary Paget war would mean
something very serious. Lady Paget is
not rich woman, though her position in
London is second to none. Her husband
is lieutenant-colonel Of the Scots guards,
and is warrior who served in the
Ashantee war and in the expedition to
the Nile None has more gallant rec
ord than Col Paget But he is not a
rich man, and would doubtless have
come to America, like his brother, AL
meric Hugh Paget. Miss Whitney's hus-
band, had he not been placed in the