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

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171, stand the Dutch better now than I did when I simply read about them. I I have enjoyed the speeches made, only I am a little embarrassed by the compliments paid bv my good friend, QMr. Beck,j and I think I undef. stand now why he apologized for what he was going to say. I-Ie knew he' was going to speak so well that he would have to apologize for it, or it would seem unfair to me. QLcmghte1'.j As I lis- tened to him, I could not help thinking of the excuse that a Chinese editor once gave for reject- ing a manuscript that some one sent in-it was probably from ' ' Pro Bono Publico, or-' ' Constant Reader, or Veritas, The editor sent it back, saying that he was unwillingito publish it because it was of so high an order of merit that it would set a standard of excellence that no one else' could approach, and that it would, therefore, cause a good deal of dissatisfaction in the country. QLcmgh- tem I am afraid that Mr. Beck has set such a high standard of oratory here that it will be very difficult for myself and for the speakers at future Holland Society dinners to rise to his standard. Another thing, I am embarrassed by the fact that both he and my friend Dr. Lorimer over here touched on politics. I do not like to have anyu- body touch on politics when I come last. Cflp- plausej I do not know how I am going to withstand the temptationto talk politics 11111635 I retaliate on Brother Lorimer, as he, a preachef, made a political speech, I, somewhat in p011'C1CS, may preach a sermon. CCries of B1'cwo! and applausej . I i My subject is Peace, and have been thinking about it, especially since the trip that I made T30

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170 my reticence might have suggested William the Silent. Qflpplause and great lcmghterj I accepted your invitation gladly, because I know by observation that one can learn much more by seeing things than by reading about them. I had read of the way the early Dutch lived here, and I wanted to come in order that I might have an object-lesson, for, of course, your banquet here is made as much as possible like the dinners that they had upon Manhattan in the early days. I can almost see those Dutch now, and I can hear them, or I thought I heard them when I heard the rattle of your wooden shoes upon the iloor. Clough- terj But, do you know, I have been wondering since I came if a part of the history of these early settlers had not been left untold. We all know that the English came one time and took posses- sion. Now, I have been among the English lately, and I cannot believe that they would do anything so impolite, at least those whom I met were not, I am sure, responsible for anything very bad. And this is the way I explain it: The Dutch were eating then, as you are eating now, they had a sumptuous repast, and the English, learning of it, were simply unable to withstand the temptation to take possession of the tables. I And if the Dutch who were at the tables felt as little like fighting as I do now, they did not make a very vigorous re- sistance. CLcmghter.j But as soon as they had time to digest their food and rest a little, they went and took back the tables from the English. I am satisfied that that accounts for the temporary cession of Manhattan Island. , 'fflpplausej I am glad to be here, glad to see you, and to learnxjust how they did in those days, for I think I under-

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172 the Netherlands. I am not going to speak here of the wonderful bravery of those people, a bravery exemplified all through their history, a bravery of which we had a recent illustration, when a handful of them down in South Africa made such a heroic fight for their existence. While they failed there, they brought blessings to liberty-loving people everywhere, for they made a war of conquest so expensive that no nation in the near future will attempt to take independence from a republic, however small. QApplamse.D . I have been thinking of the progress made by the inhabitants of the Netherlands, how they have rescued their lands from the seas and won their victory over Neptune. I was interested in the quaint cities there, with their hundreds of canals and their leaning buildings. I was interested in all that I saw, but I was impressed most by the fact that the Netherlands is to furnish the site for the Temple of Peace soon to be erected, Qapplausel that, on that soil, reddened by the blood of an Eighty Years' War, will rise the permanent home of the Arbitration Court. At The Hague I re- called the long struggle for freedom of conscience, for freedom of speech, and for constitutional gov- ernment, and rejoiced that at last the fragrant flower of peace had appeared upon the thorny stalk of war. I am glad that an American citizen has contributed the money that makes it possible for this building to be erected in a place so well fitted for it. QApplcmse.J And as I thought of little Holland-little among the nations and yet great in contests where mind and heart control-I recalled the words of the Prophet of old, who foretold an era of peace so universal and so profound that to