n of her
chartered liberties. Of the Dutch, then, we can appropriately say, as
Lafayette once said of free America, "They are a lesson to oppressors,
an example to the oppressed, and a sanctuary for the rights of mankind."

We are here to-night to glorify the Dutch. Fortunately for us, to do
this we have not by the addition of so much as a jot or a tittle to
magnify history. The facts are sufficient to justify our boast and
fortify our pride. We need to detract nothing from other nationalities
that have contributed much to the formation of our modern national
conglomerate, although it is easily seen that the superior qualities of
other nations have had a large infusion of Dutch virtue. All that we
claim is that no nation under the heavens can make such an exhibit of
marvellous success against adverse circumstances as does Holland. From
the days when Julius Caesar mentions their bravery under the name of
Batavians, to the notable time when, voluntarily assuming the title of
reproach, they became "the beggars of the sea," and for nearly a century
fought for their chartered rights against the most powerful and
unscrupulous of foes, the Dutch have shown the most splendid of human
virtues in most conspicuous light. In doing this they have made a noble
name for themselves, and furnished the worthiest of examples for all the
nations of the earth. This is not the time nor the place to deal with
mere facts of history. Yet I take it that even this jolly assembly will
take pleasure in the mention of the deeds that have now become eternally
historic. Who that knows anything of the son of Charles V, who in 1555
made promises to Holland that he never meant to keep, and for years
after sought in every way to break; who that has ever read of this
fanatical, heartless, cruel, and despotic Philip II of Spain, or of that
wonderful, pure, magnanimous, noblest Dutchman of all, William of
Orange, or of that fickle and false Margaret of Parma, the wicked sister
in Holland, who lived to execute the will of a wicked brother in Spain,
or of those monsters at the head of Spanish armies, Alva, Requesens, and
Don Juan; who that has been fired by the sieges of Leyden and Haarlem,
by the assassinations concocted in the Council of Blood, by the patient,
faithful, undying patriotism of the Netherlanders in protesting for the
truth of God and the rights of man, will need any response to the toast
"a lesson to oppressors"? A little land, fighting for the