The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-20

Walter Van Twiller remained for many years
In the colonies, and after the death OF PATRON
Klliasn Van Rensselaer,. Van Twillsr appears
- one OF the trustees or guardians OF his so6s
during their minority.
VI.
Netherisnd do not seem to have been distin-
be said Of all Of Thorn that they left their coun-
try for their countrys good. Tho origin Of
Peter Minuit Is 20 obscure that no ono has
been able to trace II with certainty. Van
Twiller. - We have seen. was clerk In .
counting room. who crossed the Atlantic for
the purpose OF feathering his nest, which he
did effectually: his successor. William Kieft,
had been declared bankrupt and labored
under charge OF misappropriating moneys
intended for ransoming Christian captivcs
from the Turks. It seems, however. from tho
data collected by Dr.. James ". Gerard. who
has contributed q chapter on Kieft's admin
istration. that the new Director had the con-
fdenoe OF the West India Company. and was
allowed larger measure Of authority than
had been conceded to his predecessors.
His council. for instance. instead Of compris-
ing i've persons. was narrowed TO one. namely.
John do Ia Montague. q French Protestant
refugee. who had been educated as physi-
clan. Inasmuoh. moreover. as In this Council
Kieft had two votes to La Montagne's one.
he was practically absolute. II is well known
that Kieft made many enemies In the colony,
that he was recalled, and on his voyage to
Holland In 1647 met with tragic fate. his
vessel having gone to pieces of the coast
Of Walos Reviewing the failure Of the
colony to acquire prosperity undor his
rule. DR.. Gerard says that the radical weak
ness OF Kieft's administration was It's divided
accountability. As Q political Governor he
owed allegiance to the States-General. while
- commercial director he was the represon.
tative Of company OF traders. Moreover.
both OF the authorities to whom he was re.
spcnsible at home paid but little attention to
New Netherland. The states-General wore
too much occupied In the establishment OF
their Independence to heed the affairs Of re-
mote and unimportant province, while the
company. looking upon the colony merely
as source OF gain, drew from It
all the profit attainabie. gave it only HtfuI
and grudeing support, and disregarded
it's true interests. Legitimate trade. for
instance. was kept down for years BY
restrictions in favor Of the compsny's
monopoly: consequently. the population was
mainly constituted Of the oompapys en-
ployees in the first instance. and afterward OF
rowing traders who sought to accumulate
money and then to leave a country where
there was but little promise for the future and
no adequate protection for property or life.
The system Of pstroonships wss also. cause
OF bsckwardness and weakness The PATRONS
were often absentees. and thoy were more
concerned In the success OF their own settle
ments than in the welfare and advancement OF
the province.
As regards Kiefts dealings with the Indians.
DR.. Gerard considers that these were char
aoterized by rigid regard for their posses
sorry rights. He Joins issue with the contem-
porary historians. who generally blame tho
Director for the various contests and wars
with the natives In which the Dutch be-
came engaged. His opinion is that, but
for the energy displayed by Kieft in
such crises. tho colony would probably
have been annihilated The indisoriminate
slaughter perpetrated at times BY the leaders
OF expeditions was. as the records show. not in
consequence Of the Directors orders. but In
violation OF them. The Directors federation
toward sootArianism and his humanity toward
refugees arc also pointed out as commendable
features OF his administration. On the whole.
his rule. although disastrous. cannot DO pro-
nounced dishonorable.
The last OF tho Dutch Dircctors-G General OF
New Nethorland. Petor stuyvesant. succeeded
William kioft In lG4!. and continued to GOV
ern the colony until In 1854 IT passed into the
possession OF the English. II 10 to Mr. bcrthold
Fernow that We arc indebted for careful ac-
count OF this interesting period. The new
Director brought to his post higher qualiHca-
ttons than any OF his predecessors. The son
OF clergyman. no had acquired military and
administrative experience. and bad recently
been Governor OF the island Of Puracoa. Nick
named stih-aeckad Peter" by those who
could not mako use OF him; h" was aacord-