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

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Ilutch, 0 the es Of the mans reason f life is strong educa- od and s aliv- forma- nce has the de- n of all seemed Il3.fIlC Union ne func' Dutch no less .49 It is not through the strength of brute for-Ce that the real power of a people can be measured. Circumstances and conditions may defeat and humiliate brave men, but they fail utterly to destroy the principles at issue. Roman armies might patrol the world and every nation be Suppliant at the feet of the Cxsars, yet to the Greeks, after all, ca-me the honors of victory, for the 'conquerors were themselves conquered by the silent influence of Greek thought and culture which spread and extended from Athens to'Rome, to every province of the civilized world, until the triumph of Greece was complete. And so it is now and shall ever be. There is no defeat for principle and character 5 neither is there any price. True courage consists neither in the extent of physical endurance nor in the superiority of a brute force. It would seem that this lesson must already have been learned. Yet we are compelled to admit that the world must be taught again. and again that there is no courage that is not moral and no bravery that is not born of the soul. Let it be our hope that in the twentieth century the peoples of the earth shall not forget this lesson, and if they do not, we shall be satisfied to know that Dutch character -and courage have been among the most potent factors in contributing to a result so much desired. It is fitting, then, that in the first days of the new century the great na- tions of the earth have bestowed a signal h0I101' and merited recognition on the good people of Hol- land. At The Hague, the world Powers have agreed that there shall be established a Court of Interna- tional Arbitration where differences and disputes Of nations may be settled without the arbitfament 5 -s 3 'ii fd 'e l 'u 'S - ,P 1 5 r 4 5 5 5 3i ii 'l i si Q 8 'S l i l l il -v ll il i, Ii l il gl if i' vw., -pq W K K 1 I s . E . . . . v 2 z r r E Z I fr 1 F , i 1 ' F9 1 1. I 1 i . I i 'Z , 5 l 5 it i si

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48 the days of actual conflict and in and throughout the long seven years' War of the Revolution, the Dutch- men of New York could be relied upon at all times in Support of the forces struggling for independence. But neither the fathers who fought and labored against the despotism .of 'Spam nor even those who rendered such meritorious service in the eg. tablishment and preservation of our own Republic, could have dreamed that Dutch destiny would play so great a part in the subsequent history of the world. Yet there is now no one bold enough to dispute the statement, that every portion of man's activity is to-day benefited and uplifted by reason of its contactwith the influences of Dutch thought and character. ln no honorable pursuit of life is there lacking abundant evidence of this strong though silent power. In science, in art, in educa- tion, in everything that goes to make the good and true, the Hollander is felt more and more as a liv- ing, vital force. As in the early days of the forma- tion of our government, so the Dutch influence has ever been a safe and conserving factor in the de- velopment of our national life. In a union of all the peoples of the earth, it would not have seemed strange if some things more radical than we have yet known had been perpetrated in the name of freedom. l need not tell you that there have been-trying times in the history of our government and in the life of our people, when the salutary in- fluence of Dutch character has so far prevailed and dominated as to preserve the integrity of our Union and to restrain within proper limitations the func- tions of government. This victory of the Dutch has been noiseless and peaceful, but it is no ICSS pronounced and emphatic. i . 110i lllfoughpl It 15 p OWC ppafllle rea 3 and C lirouflstanliiavc md uunuutaurhe pnncirld dpslfllllt I the wi ight tlfoh reef mliantlltel 0 Gfg6ll5r- uerors l lou itll conq ' Hucn siletll ln by llc . earl culture uululfll Spf rl! P to Rall' ii eveluyol f untipttpe mmglnd Shi so . . leleat l0f Pfmclpii, una on new in the extent of Ph? superiority of a bmw this lesson mllful alfa ue are compelled 10 be taught again and ag that is not moral and n the soul. Let it be on century the peoples of this lesson, and if they to know that Dutch . been among the most H loeresult so much d up the lirst days of uons ol the earth ha and merited recognptio alll-AuTln-1-1 what there Shall agile' - be :tonal Arbitration lll nat' l , -lu' , ,G t ftp, jr -gk - X.

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50 Alread there has been selected and . Y , PUP- cglillreiizlsa building which shall be a ver1table Temple of Justice, because within its portals shall be decided the last appeals of sovereign nations.. Let us believe that this progress w1ll not prove 3 U mpian dream, but that in the early years of the new century may be realized the aspirations of the good and noble of all ages and of all peoples, End- ing a best expression in that Parliament of Man and Federation of the World Where Wars Shall exist as a memory and where the final decree shall be an enduring peace. PRESIDENT VAN DYKE : It ill becomes Dutchmen to forget Dutch Dames, and they never have. l, for my part, am not a Dutchman who wants to go home before the ladies do. Our next toast will be devoted to the fair sex. Without the women of Holland the men could have done mighty little. At the siege of Leiden the women were among the heroes, and in the war in South' Africa the farmers' wives have been found in the trenches, holding muskets and lighting for their country's liberty. i We have the honor to have with us to-night a gentleman of distinction in ,public life 5 a gentleman who has held a responsible and important position in this city. The first postal service on the Amer- ican continent was, I believe, established between the city of New York and Boston in the year 1673, and I am willing to wager any amount that New York gotumost of the letters and Boston most of the profit. The speaker who is now to address y0l1 held in this city the laborious and important ofhce rhf H' wr- 0IP0SlIl135d to Q16 M ,.fllreSP0 DMS nDUTCHd J ll malfllsa un! QU ,,1aCl0ll5 YO . mdizllng ll is my lair W the and 34 homllef W' V wi . ' fn,