The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-02-07
An Honest Nation,

Why is it that the mention of Hol-
lander is so apt to raise ludicrous images
in the mind9 Diedrich Knickerbocker
and his veracious history of New York
are doubtless responsible for good
share of this tendency to laugh at the
"phlegmatic Dutch" But the reality of
their quaint ways and semi-equatic life
in their own queer little country is sutfi
GENTLY suggestive of mirth to account
for much of our amusement at their
expense.
Yet there is another side to the Dutch
character, much more worthy of our at
tention than the mirth- provoking side.
In many ways they deserve rather ad-
miration than ridicule, and might even
serve as models for the imitation of the
citizens of our great Republic. Let US
see in what respects.
Our Minister at The Hague not long
ago transmitted to the Department of
State report on the social and political
condition of the Dutch, in which he
states some facts in regard to their
methods of doing business which reject
the highest credit upon the national char
acter. For instance, he says there has
not been bank failure in Holland dur
ing the last forty years. This no doubt
is dull, humdrum way of managing
public trusts, but nevertheless it has its
advantages-especially to those whose
money is being managed. Again, in fire
insurance there has never been failure,
and although the rate of insurance
does not average more than one
hnlf nF n
appear to be any occasion for failure,
since the companies do thriving bust
ness, and realize from twelve to sixteen
per cent. per annum. There are people
on this side of the Atlantic who would be
glad if the managers of insurance and
other chartered companies here could be
inoculated with something of the spirit
which enables these honest Dutchmen to
return such satisfactory results. AS it is,
they will in many cases be fortunate if
they even get back their own again.
Railroads, too, are conducted in Holland
on economic principles which might APP
or daring speculator in other peoples
fortunes, but which permit very low
fares to the travelling public, and sub
stantial dividends to the stockholders.
And when, as rarely happens, railway
official proves dishonest, his dishonesty
is accounted a crime, and is punished
with intlexible severity. In fine, in all
branches of business, public and private,
good faith and honest thrift are re-
garded as worthy of honor, and the lack
of them as a disgrace. Four millions of
people, continues our Minister, live with
in an area of 10000 square miles, fact
without parallel in any other country
yet they appear to be happy, prosperous
and contented. The secret of their pros
perity, he not uDjustly concludes, lies in
the fact that the people live within their
income, and that the principles of in
dustry and honesty are so firmly estab-
lished that the violation of them is
looked upon as an offence against the
national character.
These homely virtues have little of the
flavor of "smartness" about them-that
smar.ness which has come to be regarded
in many minds as full equivalent for
every moral quality, and a condonement
of every crime in commercial and official
life. But, after all, such virtues yield
practiced by individuals or by nations.
The worst evils of the "hard times" of
to-day are the proper outcome of public
and private contempt of them; nor may
good times be expected to return until
their binding obligation upon all is
again clearly recoghized-and as well by
those who make our laws as by private
citizens in their intercourse with each
other.-Erdminer and Chronicle.