Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-06-14

minister from Spain with us, who saw
his kings holdings on this continent
juggled from hand to hand between US
all. His wife was a daughter of Gov
ernor Mexican of Pennsylvania yonder.
If she had no influence with her hus-
band, so much the worse for her. In
important times a generation ago M.
Genet 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 Os-
wald, of Great Britain, who negotiated
our treaty of peace in 17S2-was not
his worldly fortune made by virtue Of
his American wife? All of us should
remember that Marbois, Napoleon's
minister, who signed the great treaty
for him with us, married his wife while
he was a mere charge here in WASH.
ington; and she, too, was an American.
Erskine, of England, 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
as 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, Bar
oness Won Ritz, | have never definitely
heard since then. But all of us have
heard Of that great uplft of Central
Europe, that ferment of revolution,
most noticeable in Germany, in 1S4S.
Out of that revolutionary 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 revolu-
ton 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 its work so we'll? |
am at least one who believes that
The revolution i'm 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
meet Kossuth. / should have been glad
to question him. l did not forget Hell
ena Won Ritz, nor doubt that she work.
ed out i'm full that strange destiny for
which, indeed, she was born and pre-
pared, to which she devoted herself,
made clean by sacrifice. She was not
one to leave her work undone. She,
know, passed on her torch Of principle.
Elisabeth and l speak often of Helc-
ma Won Ritz. | remember her still
brilliant, beautiful, fascinating, COM
pclling, pathetic, tragic. If it was ask
ed Of her, l know that she still paid il
gladly-all that sacrifice through which
alone there can he worked out the
progress of humanity, under that idea
which blindly we attempted to express
i'm our Declaration; that idea which at
times we may forget, but which even
tually 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 he set down;
and, though some today may smile at
flags and principles should like, if /
may he allowed, to close with the
words Of yet another man of those ear
lier 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 shadow
shall die" y. T.
THE END