The Holland Society of New York - Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 25 text:

iinfr wr 9 - i i f SYMPATHY WITH THE SOUTH AFRI- CAN REPUBLICS. N the suggestion of several Trustees, a special meeting of the Trustees was held at the Society's room, September 19, I899, to consider the propriety of' calling a special meeting of the Society to expre-ssa sympathy with the South African Republic in its controversy with Great Britain. It was unanimously voted to request the Presi- dent to call such meeting on October 2d, and the- President with Judges Van Hoesen and Van Wyck were appointed a Committee to draft resolu- tions to be presented at the meeting. The Secretary was requested to make arrange- ments for the place of meeting. SPECIAL MEETING OAF THE SOCIETY. A special meeting of the Holland Society was held at Delmonico s, on Monday evening, October 2, 1899, President Tunis G. Bergen in the chair. About two hundred members had notilied the Secretary of their intention to be present. I

Page 27 text:

ty to read E had ch h id by ii, in Wyck, uax, John S Van ,, Van Sfore, as rciety of f0Fdance titutionj 1' zd, at l Forty. Jression African Iain for thirty attend, d their i public. i than dus. i bred i lood 3 Pfe- f 3 sent the first of the Anglo-Saxons. In the Low Lands were nurtured the ancient Angles and Sax- ons who gave strength to England and add greater power to the United States. , l Then, as Americans, as Anglo-Saxons, and with the blood of the old Dutch Republic in our veins, sons of sires who have fought for the principle of self-government in Europe and America, we assemble to-night. There is a quarrel between two of our friends. A great empire is threatening a little republic in South Africa, nay, threatening two such little re- publics, with one of whom it never has had a quarrel. Englishmen and Boers are getting angry. Rifles are being loaded and swords drawn. I What should we Americans of this Society do? Shall we give any expression to our feelings at this crisis? Should we be silent? ' Without a desire to disturb the good under- standing between Great Britain and the United States, but for the sake of that good understanding, should we not appeal to the better nature of Eng- land, to the conscience of the British people, to that love of freedom and self-government which has formed the brightest pages in English history, to refrain from this cruel ,and unnecessary war, to restrain the attempt of some to extinguish the name of a little republic, even two little republics, and sweep them from the face of the earth? Judge George M. Van Hoesen, on behalf of the Committee appointed by the Trustees, presented the following resolutions: . Resolveai That the Holland Society of New York, composed exclusively of descendants of Dutch burghers resident in the colony of New Netherland before 1675, sympathizing deeply