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

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147+ , and thelf 10st Belgium in 1830, for the operation of the Dutch tariff Was- onerous to the Belgians. The .Powers declined to interfere, for they thought it Wiser that the new State should be recognized than that 'War should devastate the land. ' ffhus in our day the intensity of the business spirit may carry us too far, and in our anxiety to develop national riches and attain to unrivalled commercial supremacy may lead us to adopt methods and policies which ultimately may react against us and may impair our prosperity at home and our prestige abroad. For the sake of any conceivable' gain to take advantage of our own citizens or to ignore the rights of the Weakest friendly nation, is at once indefensible and peril- ous. Adam Smith inquires Whether a trading government is not the Worst of all? I am not sure that it is, and I am sure that it is 'not as bad as military or even ecclesiastical rule. But, nevertheless, it needs to be constantly Watched and preserved from excesses. Trade is jealous of its sovereignty, is sensitive to criticism, and in the consciousness of its value to society is in danger of ignoring' all other values. When manhood protests against this recurring indifference, it is often criticised as stupid and as blind to the importance of material prosperity. But the criticism misses the point of the protest. It is not a protest against money honestly accu- mulated, or against industry reasonably and equitably fostered by the state, or against com- merce honorably extended. It is only an appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober, a remon-- strance that the trade-spirit is not superior to all laws human and divine-and that to insure its

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146 out from their homes and voted. Even in the fourteenth century the imperial authority Was only nominal. It would seem from their annals that they Were chiefly employed in building towns and navies. Their children, and those Whom their children have influenced, are very much like them. Some of the peculiarities of New Am- sterdam havef survived in New York. In the times of Stuyvesant many Worthy burghers were averse to paying taxes-and it is so still--and de- licious controversies Were carried on as to how the town could be run Without some of them bearing their part. In one debate With certain citizens regarding Christmas observances, the stalwart director suggested the dubious morality of look- ing through one's fingers, a habit successive New York oliicials have had when their fingers were not more profitably employed. CLaughte1' and ap- plcmsej It is also recorded that fines were imposed on the Schepens for late attendance on the public councils, but, tmfortunately, these penalties failed to cure the habit, and hence to-day the average New Yorker is never on time-unless it is for an office. QLaughte1'.D But in this he is equalled if not surpassed by the Ohioan. laughter cmd applcmsexj The first revenue for the Dutch mu- nicipality Was derived from the liquor traffic, and excise questions have continued to torment our citizens ever since. CApplause.j i These Hollanders were great traders, and, ac- cording, to their light, were restrictive commer- cialists. Their coolness toward England was engendered largely by revenue differences, they objected to the Scotch having access along the Hudson for the purpose of traffic with the interior:

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I I 1 , , 1 1 i i 1 x 1 I 1 4 a yn E1 I if l w 1 4 I 5 4 ,'!.. .. ..a. ,.,,,,..,,,,,, r 148 triumph it is not at liberty to disregard the sanctity of the Sabbath and rob the people of their day of rest, or free by speculative schemes to ex- ploit the mass for the benefit of the few, or by means which entail moral degradation and promote lawlessness and the excesses of working men's unions to create a condition of things as danger- ous to wealth as to virtue. fAppZause.D It is well at 'such a time as this to recall the Revolution era. The contrast between thosedays and our own is impressive. There is no reason to assume that refinement, culture, and .splendor are fatal to the vigor and perpetuity of freedom. In the course of human affairs changes in many re- spects are unavoidable. Customs, fashions, modes of administration may change, and liberty sur- vive and flourish. For she is no hot-house plant, no weak exotic ready to perish when the seasons blow hot or cold. 'The eternal years of God are hers. Bent by the blast she may be, scorched by the heat of excessive prosperity-but when all the little actors of the hour have passed on she will renew her youth. Still, we should remember that her perpetuity is grounded in the ethical. For as I study the past I am convinced that there is no liberty without justice and no real justice apart from liberty. I-Iow can justice be expected at thebar of tyranny, and how can liberty endure if the Sceptre of justicefails to enforce equal law and equal right? Here justice has reared its de- fences around liberty. Barriers sufficiently strong to guard her against destructive inroads have been reared by constitutional law, We need 'no new 80Ve1'11II1ent and hardly any new safeguards. We have enough, if they are only respected, and if,