The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-05
"wANTED-Ax ELIGIBLE PRINCE"
A Young Queen win Marry Only the
man She Likes.


man She Likes.
From the London Saturday Review.
Young as she is Queen Wilhelmina of
the Netherlands is intelligent. and. as she
belongs to an honest stock, at any rate on
the mothers side, she does not mean TO
open the door to scandal by marrying a
man who from the very outset is distaste-
full TO her. Prince Bernhard of Sake Wei
mar is plain and unprepossessing. To Dor
row the pharse Of Nine. de Stael to Cur
ran, che carries a mans privilege of be-
ing ugly a little too far" In addition to
this, he is reported 10 be shy and retiring,
although likewise reported to be exceed
ingly amiable and good-natured. But the
young princess will have none of him. She
reminds one of the somewhat recalcitrant
widow in Vicomte Joseph de Segurs His
torie dune Epingle"-with whom we would
not otherwise compare her. The would
be husband was an honest, but not partc-
ularly fascinating man, Il have not the
time to respect YOU" said the eoquette;
matters would be simpltied if you could
manage to please me; we should get along
more quickly" In vain the sutton pleaded
his sterling qualities. yes, yes, that is all
very WELL" she replied; land, frankly, l
am exceedingly sorry for you; but hon
esty without gracefuness and unaccom-
panied by a spice of the devil is only fit
for home consumption, for use in the fam
lily circle" This is how matters stand,
and but for the fact of the princess eX-
treme youth there would seem TO be
deadlock seeing that eligible princes, to
mate with her are by no means plenti-
full. Her future consort must decidedly
be a Protestant prince. Holland has suf
fered too much in the past from Catholic
persecution ever to risk the union of her
sovereign with a member of that faith.
The choice, then, is practically limited to
German, Danish, Swedish or English
princes. But will the German emperor
who must decidedly be reckoned with at
this juncture-be prepared to let a prince
of any of these nations step in?
In the next war, whether it be remote
or near navies will probably play part
such as they have not played since the
end of the last century, and it needs no
politician to see the value of Holland,
with her seaboard, under such conditions.
In virtue of this same value will France
and England, but especially the former.
submit to see a German prince, perhaps
a member of the mediatized houses, be-
come the natural and irremovable advis-
er of the young sovereign? Thus far the
questions that cannot fail to present
themselves to the minds of those rulers
and nations who are bound to take con-
tngencieS INTO consideration. But there
Is another aspect of the affair which must
not TO be overwhelmingly. that ever
since 1902 the Kings of Prussia have borne
the title of Prince of Orange. which is
rightfuny theirs by ineal Inheritance from
Princess Louise, the last heiress of the
house of Orange after the death of VII
liam III Of England, without issue. This
inheritance, therefore, constitutes at the
same time a claim to the Dutch throne.
which until now has been held in abey-
ance, but which might be advanced in the
event of Wilhelmina's dying either single
or married. but childless. The matter is
a very complicated one that cannot be
treated in a few lines; but one thing Is
celtain-the claim though held in abey-
ance. has not been abandoned. At Will
lam Is death, nine years ago, the semi
official organs Of the German government
took care to remind the world OF it,
Queen Wilhelmna is fully aware of this.
and. though she declines the first prince
chosen for her, we must remember "uu'il
a plus dun ane qui s'appelle Martin. ."
The next day meet with better luck But
ii is significant of the end of the nine
teenth century that royal maidens claim
equality with their humblest sisters in
the disposal of themselves for better for
worse, until death do them part from
their spouses. What Europe wants at
present Is IAN eligible prince"