The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-09-28

hiOuc.
A syndicate letter was published IN
many of the leading papers, on Sunday
last. describing the marriage Of Amer
can girls, and American women (wid-
ows) to European husbands. In most
instances it is but too palapable that the
consideration, on the one part and the
other. was an exchange Of money for
title. This is sad commentary
ON the plea Of our American Republic
that merit is the base Of all our true
W orth. In the last thirty years (since
the civil war; one hundred and seven.
ty millions Of dollars have been paid
by American parents for the espousal
Of their daughters to European hus'
bands who had the titles Of nobility.
What title Of nobility is equal
10 that Of a free-born son Of this great
country Of ours, who, by native force
OF character, and exemplary morals
and assiduous industry. works his way
TO the front in the confidence OF lis
countrymen? None, none. whatever
These reflections have been sug-
gested by the letter referred to, des-
cribing the marriage Of American girls
10 European noblemen This letter
gives the names and family connec-
tions OF the American women
who, in the last twenty-five
years have married the scions OF
nobility in the old world. The aggre'
gate Of money they have taken from
the United States to Europe, in ex-
change Of democratic dollars for Eu-
ropean aristocracy. is the enormous
sum of one hundred and sixty six mil
lions Of dollars (sl66. 600 .OOO.)
During the Presidential canvass OF
1896 Mr.. A. j. Montague, the Attorney
General Of the State, delivered speech
In Lynchburg which the writer Of this
editorial happened to hear. He adj
verified TO this humiliating tendency OF
wealthy Northern men to sell their
daughters to worthless sprigs OF Euro
pean houses Of nobility-an exchange oil
money for It'll. 1t was a splendid out
burst Of spontaneous eloquence; the
most animated and spirited the writer
had ever heard before, or has heard
since. 1t is seldom that one hears
genuine orator. The imitators are al
innumerable as the sands on the sea
shore. Within the memory Of living
man there have been as many
orators in Virginia as in any othel
State of this country. and per
haps % many as in any other country
Henry A. Wise was the most notaoi
orator on the public hastings. who's
deliverances have come down to tn
present generation. His great speecI
In the canvass-the Kuow-Nothing can
vsss-of 1866 was one Of the most bril-
liant forensic efforts that ever irradi
sted the armament Of oratory. Nothin
like IL was ever head in Virginia tina
approached the scintillations OF job
Randolph, or the sublime rhetoric
Daniel Webster in his famous 'ocsoo'
Sun" speech from the porch OF the Oal
itol at Richmond, in the memorab
canvass Of 1910. Shall we have sue
orators in the futureS No elaborate
by the midnight lamp can produce trr
oratory. 1t must come unbidden; Il
outburss Of unprecedented fervor an
feeling. Where can the page Of histor.
ancient or modern, or the record
ooutemporaneous events afford then
for the sffulgent blaze Of indignant or
torv eoual to this Of the bargain ar
sals of American daughters to Il
titled sons Of European nobility? New
was this sordid and mercenary tran
worked up to higher pitch OF angl
indignation and scorn than by the po'
erful portrayal Of Mr. Montague in b
speech 10 Lynchturg in the canvass
1890. Ii Is great privilege to ne
such efforts. But the privilege is rar
because shs occasions and the oppors