The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-24

Everything was managed In Amster-
dam by corporations. The idea of the
sscredness of corporate rights and privi-
leges was firmly planted IN the Dutch
mind. These numerous bodies were vlr-
tually self-elected. An oiigarchy ruled in
each department, The character of their
government is seen In the way the East
India Company managed their possessions
In the Eastern Archipelago. 10 secure
the monopoly of the spice trade they
caused all the Glove trees to be extlrpa-
ted, except in Amboyna, the seat of their
power, brlbing the surrouning princes to
enter. into league with them to destroy
their subjects property. At one time
they gained the exclusive command of the
pepper trade. Pepper was Immediately
raised to 81 a pound, 100 per cent, higher
than the Portuguese prices. 1t is sup
posed that they made profit of 800 per
cent. on this article alone. English set
tiers did not scruple to declare that in
1922 the Dutch authorities at Amboyna,
in their terror lest foreign intrigue should
oust them out of the nest they were rob-
bing, practiced tortures worthy OF Philip
IL and Alva. To prevent any criticism
from the jealousy Of the other Dutch
ports, the East India Company distributed
their stock among the principal towns of
the united provinces, in each OF which
was handsomely paid board OF directors
possessing share OF the patronage pro-
portloned 10 the stock they held. Am
sterdam kept the supreme direction, for
out Of these subordinate chambers board
OF II directors was chosen, who met for
six years at Amsterdam and two at Middle
liurS. Thus all the leading capitalists in
Holland were directly concerned in the
companys affairs. Instead of enrlchlng
their own country and the Asiatic world
by opening up great Oriental trade, the
Dutch East India Company thought only
of getting the highest possible prices by
the exclusion of all competition. Their
immense warehouses ut Amsterdam, their
imposing name, and the mystery ever at
tached TO the East led to an exaggerated
idea OF their importance. They worked a
trade that could easily have employed sew
eral millions with capital Of e542, 900.
In their most prosperous days, from 1914
TO 1880, the number Of their ships arriving
from India in the course OF the year did
not average more than IA. This style OF
dong trade explains the excessively heavy
dues that the Amsterdam authorities IN
pos I'd on every article of traffic. 1t Is as
serted that many things paid duty three or
four times over. Bread was taxed when
the corn came from the inill, and again
when the lOaves came from the oven.
There were taxes on butter, fish and
fruit, while the duties levied on meat,
salt, beer, wine and spirits was as high as
100 per cent. Rents paid tax Of % per
cent; In Fact, there was scarcely anything
that escaped taxation except that which
depleted the country OF its capital-the
speculatlons of Its merchants in the public
funds of other nations. For, owing TO the
Accommodations of capital anu the way tax
stions ate up profits, the AmsteI d AN mer-
chants put the greater part Of their sur
plus capital into foreign stocks. In fact,
the difficulty of finding an advantageous
return for money IN Holland Was 50 great
that Its capitalists. preferred to lend vast
sums " money to individuals IN foreign
countries, both regularly as loans at inter.
est and IN the shape OF goods advanced al
| long credit.