have it rather mixed up
in my mind which gentleman said it--but some one said that the New
Englanders were very unwilling to part from the English, who were
patronizing them with tea and stamps. Why, the liberty boys of New York
had made up their minds many months before the Declaration of
Independence. The Dutch, and notably the Scotch-Irish, had made up their
minds. As I say, up in Ulster County they circulated that Declaration of
Independence a year and three months before it was really signed
in Philadelphia. They knew what they meant. They said, "We shall never
be slaves." If you will excuse the fact that I did have a
great-grandfather--I am happy to say that my great-grandfather signed
that paper and he had a commission in the Continental Army, which I
possess, signed by John Hancock, and he was at Saratoga. He was in the
2d New York Line. The Dutch knew that what we wanted was to be a free
and independent people, even if our friends over there had not made up
their minds. The Dutch are satisfied with a very modest position in the
world--so that they have the goods and control its destinies. [Great
laughter.] Others may call it New York, if they like, or Manhattan, but
we call it Dutch.

Now this Society, gentlemen, has a great work before it; our President,
who is very much like the President of the French Republic, goes around
with a big ribbon, but he has no authority of any kind whatever. He
might have some at the Board of Trustees meeting, but that is such an
orderly set that there is no use for authority there, and as for the
dinner, Judge Van Hoesen and Mr. Van Schaick manage it very well. But
the President does not wish any authority, and glories in the great
honor, which it seems to him to be one that any one in this Society
might be proud of. We have, however, work to do, and in that your
President, by your grace, as a private member and as a trustee, hopes to
co-operate with you.

It is a strange thing that this great city of New York has allowed the
Puritans first to commemorate the virtues of their heroic race which we
all admire, and all love to speak of in terms of praise in our serious
moments. It is strange that Central Park is adorned by them with that
beautiful statue, while the Dutch have no monument. I well remember the
day that that silver-tongued orator, George William Curtis, made the
dedication address. But why is it that on this Hudson, which was first
ploughed by a Dutch keel, over whi