The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-04-28
HISTORY.
WASHINGTON ESTEEMED BY THE
DUTCH.
Important Part Taken by the Repub-
lie of Holland in Assisting America
to Establish Her Independence
Relics Of Washington.

Wy die, Us a L uAe, "SAA. POOL1u c1 " Ddt
France, Russia and some other foreign
countries have done for America in
her early and later struggles, but we
see and hear but little said Of that lit
tie Dutch republic, Holland, and the
active and important part she took in
aiding America in esta ablishing her in
dependence, and how largely we are
indebted to that republic for favors.
SYM Iathy and aid.
The following cont ibution to the
Sunday School Times, by William Ell
liot GrifHths, D. D., who recently Wis
tied Holland as a student of American
history, can but be read with interest
by all Americans, and the information
given can but put Americans in closer
sympathy with Holland and give them
more lively appreciation Of the friend
ly relations existing and services rem
dered during our struggle for Indepen-
dence. Mr.. Griffiths says:
"One noble trait Of Washington was
his ability and willingness to recog-
nize the services Of all who had taken
part in securing the independence of
the United States. Among the first
Of our friends across the Atlantic was
the little Dutch republic. The Dutch
people were very promp not only to
MD the Americans, but also to recog
nize the sovereignty and independence
Of the sister republic in America. The
first salute fred by a foreign magis-
trate to the flag Of the United States
was by the Dutch governor, Johannes
de Graeff, on Nov. 16, 1776. Even
before the stars had been joined to the
stripes as the symbol Of our national
sovereignty, it was saluted with Dutch
powder and cannon. Dispatched by
the continental congress, the brig An
drea Dorea, sailing from Philadelphia
with the news of the Declaration Of
Independence bore, like all the other
vessels of the infant American navy,
the flag Of red and blue stripes.
what the precise origin of this flag
was we do not here discuss; but this
we know, that for centuries exactly
the same flag, red and blue stripes,
was the flag of the navy Of the United
States of the Netherlands. There were
thirteen stripes in the flag of the An
drea Dorea, and it was saluted with
eleven guns, and the officers and men
were handsomely treated both by the
Dutch governor and the Dutchmen.
''Throughout the Revolutionary war,
until destroyed by Admiral Rodney,
St. Ellstatius was the one port Of the
world that supplied most of the pow
der, arms, clothing, medicine, and 9th
er necessaries for the continental army:
When Great Britain tried to hire
troops in Holland to fight against the
Americans, the Dutch indignantly re-
fused to furnish a single soldier On
the contrary, a shower Of pamphlets
was published, showing that our de-
claration Of independence was only the
logical following of the Dutchmen's
declaration of independence against
Spain, in 1881, and that the American
colonies were doing exactly what the
Dutch provinces had done when they
revolted from the king Of Spain. The
cultivation of public opinion in favor
of the approval and recognition of the
United States Of America was begun
by the Dutch themselves, who, living
in state and municipal republics in
federal union, and as students of his
tory, were warmly interested in the
success Of the American experiment in
self-gOvernment.
Among the first of those who began
to write in favor Of America justifying
her course from precedents in ancient
history and in the action of the little
protestant Dutch republic, was Profes-
sor Jean Luzac, of Leyden University
His newspaper published in French,
was entitled Nouveles Extra ordin-
aire de Divers Endroits. It contained
news from various countries and
sources, especially official documents
and trustworthy information. Being
published in the language Of diplomacy
it was read all over Europe, and even
at the capitals of eastern princes and
potentates. Its high tone, intellectual
strength and moral purity, made it an
authority Of the first order in Europe;
where the press for the invention of
printing had been remarkably free and
untrammeled, its judgments were ac-
cepted everywhere as being truthful
and trustworthy to a degree unknown
in the newspapers printed in monarch
ical countries, where the press was
muzzled. From the first, Prof. Luzac
employed his pen in the defense of the
United States of America, and was
very influential in naolding public opin-
ion in behalf of the new republic.
'Etenne Luzac, son of Jean. was
born at Franel1er, and after studying
theology and helping his brother at
school, became editor of the Leyden
Gazette, Jean Luzac brother Of Etienne
friend and correspondent Of Washing
ton, was great student and admired
for his learning. After four years of
Life as an advocate at The Hague, Jean
returned to Leyden in 1772, and in
Its became proprietor of the paper
the name Of which he changed for an
other which shadowed forth it's cos
mopolitan reputation. His dignity and
ability quickly gave it an European
circulation.
Besides the marks of favor which
were shown to him by kings and no.
bles, Professor Luzac gained many
friends in the United States. Among
his correspondents whose letters I had
the pleasure Of reading in London. in
the bookstore of his grand nephew, Mr..
G. G. Luzac, opposite the British mu-
scum, where Thomas Jefferson, John
Adams, Washington and other famous
Americans. . T..--
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