The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-02-05

sudFO. we maze our way Dy our
selves and for ourselves, as did
those who conquered American for
our flag. THE citizen standing in
the doorway of his home, shall save
the republic" So wrote a later pen.
1t was not until long after the
discovery Of gold in California had
set us all to thinking that l was re-
minded of the strange story of the
old German, Won Rittenhofen, of
finding some pieces of gold while
on one Of his hunts for butterflies.
| followed out his vague directions
as best l might. We found gold
enough to make us rich without our
land. That claim is, staked legally.
Half of 1t awaits an owner who per-
haps will never come.
There are those who will accept
always the solemn reservations OF
politicians, who by word of mouth
or pen assert that this or that
party made our country, wrote its
history. Such as they might smile
If told that not even men, much
less politicians, have written ali
our story as nation; yet any who
smile at woman's influence In
American history do so in ignor-
ance of the truth. Mr.. Webster
and Lord Ashburton have credit for
determining our boundary on the
northeast-England called it Ash
hurton's capitulation to the Yankee.
Did you never hear the other Cos
sip? England laid all that to Ash
hurton's American wife! Look at
that poor, hot-tempered devil,
Yrujo, minister from Spain with us,
who saw his kings holdings on this
continent juggled from hand to
Land between us all. His wife was
daughter of Governor Mexican of
Pennsylvania yonder. If she had
no influence with her husband, so
much the worse for her. In impor-
tant times generation ago M.
Gent of France. as all know, was
the husband of the daughter of
Governor Clinton Of New York. Did
that hurt our chances with France?
My Lord Oswald of Great Britain,
who negotiated our treaty of peace
in 17S2-was not his worldly for
tune made by virtue of his amer
lean wife? All of us should re-
member that Mabois, Napoleon's
minister, who signed the great
treaty for him with us, married his
wife while he was mere charge
here in Washington; and she, too,
was an American. Erskine of Eng
land, when times were strained in
1908, and later-and our friend for
the most part-was not he also
husband of an American? 1t was
is John Calhoun said-our history,
like that of England and France.
like that of Rome and Troy, was
made in large part by women.
Of that strange woman, Helena,
Baroness Won Ritz, have never
definitely heard since then. But all
of us have heard of that great up
lift Of Central Europe, that ferment
of revolution. most noticeable in
Germany, in 1S4S. Out of that rev
dictionary spirit there came TO us
thousands and thousands of our
best population, the sturdiest and
the most liberty-loving citizens this
country ever had. They gave us
scores of generals in our late war.
and gave us at least one cabinet
officer. But whence came that
spirit of revolution in Europe? Why
does it live,> grow, increase. even
now? Why does it sound now,
close to the oldest thrones? Where
originated that germ of liberty
which did it's work so well? | am
at least one who believes that |
could guess something of it's source.
The revolution in Hungary failed
for the time Kossuth came to see
us with pleas that we might aid
Hungary. But republics forget. We
gave no aid to Hungary. was far
away and did not meet kOssuth. |
should have been glad to question
him. I did not forget Helena Won
Ritz, nor doubt that she worked out
in full that strange destiny for
which, indeed, she was born and
prepared, to which she devoted her
self, made clean by sacrifice. She
was not one to leave her work I'M
done. She, | know, passed on her
torch of principle.
Elisabeth and | speak often of
Helena Won Ritz. | remember her
still-brillant. beautiful, fascin-
ating. compelling, pathetic. tragic.
If it was asked of her, know that
she still paid it gladly-all that sac
rifice through which alone there
can be worked out the progress of
humanity, under that idea which
blindly we attempted to express in
our Declaration; that idea which at
times we may forget, but which
eventually must triumph for the
good of all the world. She helped
us make our map. Shall not that
for which she stood help us hold it?
At least, let me say, | have
thought this little story might be
set down; and. though some today
may smile at flags and principles,
| should like, if | may be allowed.
to close with the words of yet an
other man of those earlier times:
The old flag of the union was my
protector in infancy and the pride
and glory OF my ripper years; and,
by the grace of God, under its shad
ow | shall die" N. T.
F'inis.