Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-06-08

-
the year 1854, after thirteen years of bloody war,
finally abjured their allegiance to Phillip, and pro-
claimed themselves free and independent Republic.
The war continued for o few years with but little
assistance from any other nation. On the 10th of
July, 1854, that great and good man, William the
"silsnt" Prince Of Orange was slain BY an assassin
hired by Phillip the IL, and his family were re.
warded for the infamous service by having the es
tates of the patriot bestowed on them. Not in the
least dismayed, the States Immediately chose his
second son, Maurice to succeed his beloved "fath-
or, William" and he soon proved himself worthy
Of his noble lineage
Their independence was now acknowledged by
Queen Elizabeth of England, and few years later
by Henry the ", of France the greatest and best
Prince that ever filed the throne of that country.
Elizabeth now placed herself 1t the head Of the
Protestant interests and took the States under her
protection, sending them considerable body of
excellent troops commanded by the Earl of Leices
ter, assisted by Sir Phillip Sidney, of the most
gallant accomplished and humane men that has
ever done honor to the English name This SO in
censed the proud and bigoted Phillip-who was
certainly not great man-that he determined up
no less undertaking than the conquest of Eng
land itself He fitted out at great expense of time
and money one Of the most powerful naval arma
ments ever set aaoat He also fitted out feet of
transports to convey $4,000 men to England. To
man these fleets he was compelled to recall many
of his best troops from the Netherlands, as we'll as
his great General, the Prince of Parma, who then
governed such of the provinces still acknowl-
edged his authority. Parma was certainly the
greatest commander then living. Alva was dead,
but his fame had been rivaled by that of Parma
1t is unnecessary to recount the further history
of this great armament which the Spaniard AFRO
gantly styled I" the invincble armada" Every child
is familiar with its history Suffice it to say that
it was almost totally destroyed by the English ad-
mira ord IL Al.
German ocean. These events occurred in the year
1888, and from that time the independence of the
States was fixed fact The power of Spain was
gone forever. She still indeed retained vast pos
sessions, but the whole mass became torpid and
teless and her people seemed sunk in hopeless de-
cay But the English did not close the war with
the destruction of the armada. They attacked
their enemy in turn, and their great naval comman-
ders Raleigh, Drake and others, in connection with
the Dutch, destroyed the Spanish commerce. and
almost annlhated the Spanish navy, while the
celebrated earl of Essex captured the important
Spanish port of Cadiz. For while too, they had
the assistance of the heroic Henry the " of France
Alter few years of vigorous hostilities the war
became languid, and fingered till the year 1909,
when peace was concluded, Spain treated with the
States as dc tacto independent, and was prevented
from acknowledging them such de jure by pride
and punctillio. She therefore reserved the right to
pursue their conquest after the lapse oftweve years.
or in other words concluded truce with them for
that length Of time. This was in fact the end of
the war for the independence of the Dutch Republic.
It was now as firmly fixed as that of any country in
Europe, and was acknowledged by almost every
potentate in Christendom except Phillip the III Of
SPAN, who had now succeeded his father Phillio
the Ii In the sovereignty of that country.
During this truce tho republic attained to a de.
gree OF power which it never afterwards surpassed
even before this time, in 1902, they had establish.
Cd their East India company. The commerce of
Spain, Portugal and the remainder of the Neither.
lands fell into their hands, and in this way thew be-
came during this perodthe first commercial State and
the first maritime power in the world With about
an hundred vessels Of war, they babe defiance to
every rival while France and England reioiced in
the humiliation of the dreaded monarchy Of Spain.
Their East India company conquered islands ard
kngdoms in asia, and with about two hundred
SHIPS they carried on trade with China and japan.
lhey alone supplied Europe with the productions |
Vi tne opce Islands. The gold, the pearls, the
precious jewels of tho east all passed through !
their hands. During this period too thew had
planted colonies in the West Indies and on the !
continent OF America. Talk about such peonle |
not being Independent! 1t is all nonsense The |
war Tor Dutch independence then did not last sohtv
years IN taet, but only forty years.
nos'iiities were recommended in the year 1921. |
ou' were merged into the thirty years war in Ger.
many. Ihat war had been commenced year or |
wv Two oelore oy the Evangelical Union" formed by
sne ifotestans OF their empire in defence of their
re'igious Liberties against the Catholic League"
snu the Emperor Ferdinand the II, near kinsman |
Oh tne h'ng OF Spain. The States. England, Den. |
mark and Sweden allied themselves to the protest.
al. P''hces OF Germany in defence of the reformed
.ei.s'oh. Spain allied herself to the Emperor in |
ueience OF the House of Austria. France governed
nehelieu allied herself to the Protestant powers
T lDI .ne purpose Of humbng the House of Austria.
mus 1t will be seen that the objects of the war |
were partly religious and partly political In the
war the greatest statesman and the greatest war.
lor M the age Cardinal Richelieu Of France and I
uustavus Adolphus, King Of Sweden. were united to
humble the heads of the two branches of the House
OF austria, the Emperor and the King ofSpain. It |
~ neealess to give any of the details of this war
lns etates suffered but little by it. No part of It
Go ~s %usat on their territory. Their commerce
during its entire period. At length it was termi.
nsted 6y the treaties of Munster and Westnbsl;. =;
G lo.o Inc later secured religious federation in
3efmany, and became q Fundamental law of tho
M.npre. In the former the independence Of the
t Un,sea states OF Holland finally acknowledged
~ ~ epain. 1t had been however, delayed so long
wsr n seemed solemn moskery. In reality the
!@eto independence of the States bv Snain in tho
treaty OF 1909. Technically i: ceased by the ac.
encouragement of their it dependence de lure bv
,pad IN the treaty Of Munster in 1913 Really It
n." ,ufsy years: Technically it lasted eighty
~ nave written the foregoing, Mr. Editor, more for
.e instruction and edification Of your readers than
to convict Gov Vance of error but not so with the
remainder of this communication,
~, After giving his history of the Dutch in his
wlkeseoro' speech the Governor says: "There
was Ts scotland which resisted the attempt of the
nngsn 70 sueJugate her for four hundred years,
~ sna n'a,y overcame her enemies and forced them
to accept her King, James the vi as James the 7
of England" 80 'A"ieS 'ue
-: man after reading the foregoing extract NAV
vel ASK did the Governor ever read the history
England or does he suppose that his hearers never
S Soa wlll not review the history Of England and
nGes1ana during the four hundred years in which
- Huemeecy :Si Us that the former was trying
W tne latter but will disnosa of the Last