The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-12
BEGGARS AND BANDITTI.

70 | 'e4hOity Uut Ill us meulOIaDIc " DduultI
dispatch he unconsciously plagiarized one
!, the most striking episodes Of the revolutit
i OF the Netherlands, the stirring story of whi'
: has been admirably told by Mr.. Motley, OF
\ Of the great lights OF the Republican part
The similarity between the treatment of Il
g Dutch by that tanatical tyrant, Philip H. al
= his bloodthirsty representative, Alva, and Il
!. course adopted by Grant and carried out
his lieutenant, Sheridan, toward the peop
> Of Louisiana, are as nearly identical as even
can possibly be.
When in 1866 the bloody work of IL
Spanish tyrant was inaugurated in the Netl
erlands, and his inquisitors stalked abroa
:. boldly i'll the devoted provinces, carryin
persecution and death in their train, hume
GUS but partial instructions opposed thes
odious in.ruders. Every district and tow
became the scene Of frghtfnl executions G
tumultuous resistance. The converts to tn
new doctrine multiplied, as usual under tn
effects OF persecution. There was nowher
to bs seen,' says contemporary author
''the meanest mechanic who did not find
weapon to strike down the murderers of hi
compatriots. In few years, says anothe
historian, this SO lately hourishing ant
happy nation presented trightfnl picture
and in the midst Of European peace, pros
perity and civilization, the wickedness Of
one prince drew down on the country he
misgoverned more evils than it had suffered
for centuries from the worst effects OF its
foreign foes
1t was then that the celebrated " confeder-
alton or league" was formed, under the
leadership Of Alarnix de st. Aldegonde, fol-
lowed by numbers OF people belonging to
every class. and to every profession. Having
drawn up statement of their grievances,
they appointed three hundred delegates to
present their petition to the Council of Re-
gency, then sitting at Brussels and presided
over by the Duchess Of Parma, Philips half
sister.
This document inveighed bitterly against
tho tyranny Of heap Of strangers, who, in
fuenced only BY private avarice and ambi-
ton, were making use Of an affected zeal for
the Catholic religion to pursuade the King
into violation of his oaths" The signers
protested that, ''having due regard to their
duties as faithful vassals of his Majesty, and
il order not to be deprived of their estates
and their lives by those who, under preteAt
OF religion. wished to enrich themselves by
plumber and murder" they had bound them
selves to each other by holy covenant and
solemn oath.
This compromise or covenant, as Mot
ley describes it, was directed against the
foreign influence by which the Netherlands
were exclusively governed. "There is no
doubt, lie adds, g that the country was con-
trolled entirely by Spanish masters, and that
it was intended to reduce the ancient liberty
Of the Netherlands into subsection to a jnnta /
Of foreigners sitting at Madrid. Nothing more
legitimate could be imagined than a cousttu-
Eional resistance to such a policy just as in
our own time. and in this carpet Dagger ridden
State, nothing is more legitimate than a
eague to prevent "a juuta Of Foreigners
rom reducing us g into subsection.
When the respectful petition Of the leasaers
vas presented to the Regent and Council. one
# the Councillors. Meghen, was excessively
at the plan Of the Contederates,
which he pronounced "an insult to the Gov
a reasonable attempt to overawe the
duchess by a few wretched vagabondsr
He swore that "he would break every one
their heads, if the King would furnish him
18th couple Of hundred thousand forms"
he Prince OF Orange quietly rebuked this
,ucnlent language" says Motley, "by as
uring him that such process would {
e more difficult than he thought, and that i
9 would also find many men of great respect {
oility among the vagabonds +,
The contemptuous expression of Meghen, t
owever, was taken up by Berlaymont, an t
her adviser OF the Duchess, who uttered the 6
be, which was destined to become immortal >
I'd to give popular name to the Confed- n
acy. "What, madam he is reported to S
,ur Highness can entertain fears Of these
,ggars (yleur). "Great was the indigna- a
on of ALL says the historian We have h
st quoted, that the State Councillor should Il
I'VE dared to stigmatize 'beggars a
nd Of gentlemen with the best blood OF the +
nd in their veins. Brederode (the leaguers n
ief, on the contrary, smoothing their .
ger, assured them with good humor that y :"
thing could be more fortunate. They il
II US beggars said he let us accept the d
me. We will contend with the Inquisition,
t remain loyal to the King, even till com
He'd to wear the beggar's sack. b.
''He then beckoned to one of his pages,
10 brought him leathern wallet, such as - =,
S worn at that day by professional mendi- hi
nts together with a large wooden bowl, tt
lich also formed part Of their regular appur- y
lances. l'rederode Immediately hung the - -.
llet around his neck, filled the bowl with IL
ne, lifted it with both hands, and drained p'
at a 6rauUht 81 nny liv. fha hoouoru ~ D.