The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-03-28

Correspondence sf ne New Ysrk ob.svsr.
HoLLAED--AMsFRRDAM.


iwork Of man. II Is not only an embodi-
ment of the taste Of the past and the pres
ent, but material expression Of the great
points Of character Of the people who built
and who inhabit Il. Amsterdam aud Ven
Ice are singulariy alike and strangely un-
like. The one boasts itself as the queen
city Of the Adriatie, the other the queen
city Of the Zayder Zee. Each has been
the head Of great and free republic,
renowned for naval valor aud for CONNER
cial success. In each, water Is the great
highway which runs BY every mans door.
But here the likeness ends. Things physi-
cally the same In each, express different
mental qualities Of the people. Water in
Venice means poetry, romance and pleas
ure. In Amsterdam It means fact, reality
and work. In Venice it means gondolas,
Gags, music, fine ladies, fine dresses, ro-
mancing along in the shadows Of great pal
aces or under the beams ofthe silent, silvery
moon. In Amsterdam it means quays,
canal boats, loads Of grain and sugar, the
putting steamer, the song Of the hardy
sailor. Venice is city Of magnificent
palaces doomed to decay, slowly sinking
and sure 70 be engulphed in the waters
Amsterdam Is city Of docks and ware
houses, where the waters bear the loaded
ships Of every cline to every man's door I;
where men bar out the foods or control and
conduct them as slaves Of their own win.
The one isan effeminate, pleasure-loying
city, where the green mould Of decay Is
found on all her palaces and degeneracy Is
stamped on all her people; where the aim
Of life is adcrnment und enjoyment The
other is the active, rich, thriving city, ris.
ing in all the elements of progress; where
the whole popular mind is filled with great
ideas or labcring with great and far-reach
ing enterprises
Next TO London, Amsterdam Is tn,
money centre Of Europe. Immense capi
tai is gathered here. It is city of mer
chants and bankers. Her trade with the
Dutch East India Colonies is very large
and although 50 far removed from the At
lantic coast, her harbor is full Of shipping
and her docks, second only to those Of
London in magnitude, arc filed with pro.
ducts from all the world. There Is one
peculiarity which strikes the stranger. Il
is that business ID the one great idea which
engrosses the public mind, night and day.
Every merchant and banker has his count.
ing house in the basement and bis ware
house in the attic Of his dwelling. In the
finest streets, corresponding to our Fifth
avenue, every house has beam projecting
from the gable, for the purpose Of hosting
goods to the lofts. The merchants, bank-
en and brokers do not occupy Offices 10
any particular locality, but are scattered
over the whole city. The canals bring the
ship or barge to every mans door to I'M
burthen.
AT ! O'Clock the merchants, bankers and
brokers gather from all parts Of the city,
at the Exchange, which Is one Of the en-
est structures in Amsterdam. Here the
noise and excitement Of the large crowd
is worthy Of the Gold Room or Stock Ex-
change in Broad street, New York. You
will hear all kinds Of American securities
called among the brokers, who occupy one
corner Of the vast hall A class Of stocks
are sold here which could find no place on
the stock list In Wall street. heard
stocks Of mining and land companies Of
Denver, Colorado, California and Arizona
called out here. A vast amount Of worth
less stocks and bonds of American compa-
nies Of all kinds have been palmed of and
distributed among the people Of small
means all over Holland. Affer our war
they had unbounded faith in our Govern
ment securities, out Of which they had
made great deal Of money. They then
concluded that everything american was
good, and because they were cheap they
bought fabulous amounts Of trash. Now
the crash has come they are in turn utter
y Disguised with everything American,
and our national character and credit have
ssiIered greatly.
Any one who will compare Holland with
the United States, Amsterdam with New
York, win sec that more intimate CONNER
cial relations can be cultivated between
the two countries to mutual advantage.
Holland is full Of wealth, money cheap,
difficult to invest the country old and
finished; all the avenues to trade and ad-
vancement illed. The United States, on
the contrary, is in its infancy; great and
safe enterprises everywhere opeaing, de
nanding men and money, giving great re
ward 10 capital and 70 talent. Here Il The
theatre for the surplus men and money ol
Holland All that is needed is a proper
channel Of communication between th,
two countries.
The Hollanders need more reliabl.