Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-06-07

L
Yes" said Helena Won Ritz slowly.
1T is Oregon. 1t is bought and paid
for. 1t is yours!"
So now they all went over the docu-
| ment, signed by none less than Paken-
ham himself, minister plenipotentiary
| for Great Britain. That document eX-
| lists today somewhere in our archives,
| but 1 do not feel empowered to make
known it's full text. l would I had new
er need to set down, as | have, the cost
of it. These others never knew that
cost; and now they never can know.
for long years since both Calhoun and
| Doctor Ward have been dead and gone,
l turned aside as they examined the
document which within the next few
weeks was to become public property.
| The red waters which mended it-and
| which she smilingly explained at Cal
houn's demand-were, as | knew, not
less than red drops of blood.
In brief may say that this paper
stated that, in case the United States
| felt disposed to reopen discussions
which Mr.. Polk peremptorily had clos
ed, Great Britain might be able TO lis
| ten to a compromise on the line of the
| forty-ninth parallel, This compromise
had three times been offered her by di-
plomacy of United States under earlier
administrations. Great Britain stated
that in view of her deep and abiding
love Of peace and her deep and abiding
admiration for America, she would re-
sign her claim of all of oregon down
to the Columbia; and more, she would
accept the forty ninth parallel: pro-
vided she might have free navigation
rights upon the Columbia. In fact,
| this was precisely the memorandum
of agreement which eventually estab-
| lished the lines of the treaty as to Ore
gon between Great Britain and the
| United States.
Mr.. Calhoun is commonly credited
with having brought about this treaty.
and with having been author of its
terms So he was, but only in the sim
gular way which in these foregoing
| pages / have related. States have their
price Texas was bought by blood.
Oregon-ah, we who own it ought to
prize it, None of our territory is half
so full of romance, none of it is half
so clean, as our great and bodeful far
northwest, still young in it's days of
destiny.
I'VE should in time have had all Of
Oregon, perhaps" said Mr. Calhoun;
"at least, that is the talk of these
fierce politicians"
But for this fresh outbreak on the
southwest there would have been
| better chance" said Helena Won Ritz;
| but | think, as matters are today,
you would be wise to accept this COM
promise have seen your men march
ing, thousands of them, the grandest
sight of this century or any other.
They give full base for this compro-
mise. Given another year, and your
rifles and your plows would make your
claims still better. But this is to-
| day"
| Believe me, Mr. Calhoun" / broke
in, your signature must go on this"
How now? Why SO anxious, my
SOM"
Because it is right"
| Calhoun turned to Helena Won Ritz.
Has this been presented to Mr.. Bu-
chanan, our secretary of state?" he
asked.
| Certainly not. 1t has been shown to
| har.l In, Wo cbinp-
ton working-well, working in secret
to secure this document for you. l do
| this-well, | will be frank with YOU
do it for Mr.. Trist. He is my friend.
| wish to say to you that he has been
"a faithful"
| | saw her face whiten and her lips
shut tight. She swayed n little as she
stood Doctor Ward was at her side
and assisted her to couch. For the
| first time the splendid courage of He
lena Won Ritz seemed to fail her. She
sank back, white, unconscious.
It's these damned stays, john"
began Doctor Ward fiercely. "She has
tainted. Here, put her down, so. Well
bring her around in a minute Great
| Jove! | want her to hear us thank
her. It's splendid work she has done
for us But why?"
| When, presently, under the ministra-
tions of the old physician, Helena Won
Ritz recovered her consciousness, she
arose. fighting desperately to pull her
self together and get back her splendid
courage.
| Would you retire now, madam"
asked Mr.. Calhoun. Il have sent for
my daughter"
mo, no. 1t is nothing!" she said.
i Forgive me, it is only an old habit of
mine. See, am quite WELL"
Indeed. in a few moments she had
regained something of that magnih-
cent energy which was her heritage.
AS though nothing had happened. she
arose and walked swiftly across the
room. Her eyes were fixed upon the
great map which hung upon the walls
Ia strange map ii would seem to us
today. Across this she swept white
hand.
| | saw your men tlbSS lulS, SlIC o'''N'
pointing along the course of the great
| Oregon trail-whosc detailed path was
then unknown to our geOgraphers. Il
saw them go west along that road or
destiny. | told myself that by virtue
of their courage they had won this war.
Sometime there will come the great
war between your people and those
who rule them. The people still will
win"
She spread out her two hands top
and bottom of the map. "All. all. ought
to be yours.-from the lsthmus To the
ice, for the sake of the people of the
world. The people-hut in time they
will have their own"
We listened to her silently. cr"diting
her enthusiasm to her SEX, her race;
but what she said has remained in one
mind at least from that day to this.