New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-09
THE ORANGE FETES.
A ROYAL IDYL WITH A DUTCH BACK.
GROUND QUEEN WILHELMINA'S
STS-REMBRANDTS AND
A POET-LAUREATE.
London. August n

maments and rational peace with which Eng.
laid and Europe are filed. Queen Wilhelnina
completes her eighteenth year to-day and bv
the laws OF the Netherlands is invested with ,ul,
rights OF sovereignty. The Queen Regent Issued
yesterday her final proclamation announcing IN.
close Of the Regency, thanking her subjects for
their love and fidelity, and ending with tina
pous hope that the country may become great
in everything in which a small nation can be
great" The accession Of the young Queen ia
heralded to-day throughout her domlnons a,
home and abroad. and special services are held
not only in the Reformed but In all churche,
in Holland. Mother and daughter are attend.
ing one Of these services in the Great Church
at The Hague and listening TO sermon BY
the Court Preacher. Early in the evening the
young Queen holds her first Ministerial Council
in her palace. and signs a decree comforting
honors and decorations upon her mothers most
useful supporters In this quiet way opens tho
reign Of almost the last descendant Of the his.
torlc house Of Nassau-Orange.
Loyalty to that house is the golden THREAD
which binds together all the best and nobIe,t
chapters OF Dutch history. and consequently
the Orange colors will be the consistent and
logical tone OF the approaching fortnight
OF festivity The royal family traces its
decent from Count Waram In the eey.
became prominent and was at once dvld.
cd into two branches, the older identified with
Germany and the younger transplanted to the
Netherlands. BY a series Of marriages with
heresses the Netherland Nassaus increased
their estates and authority BY OF these
matches the barony OF Breda was secured and
by another a rich province in the south OF
France. The most important Of these royal
| bnt H..
crown Of England to orange Prince. But
while the Nassau-Orangs house has been con-
spicuous for centuries for It's business talents,
sagacity in commercial investments and good
sense in making suitable marriages. these are
not its main claims upon Dutch affection and
loyalty II has been associated from the times
OF the dukes of Guedres and William the Silent
with the cause Of Dutch independence and civil
and religious liberty. The leaders OF the heroic
struggles against tyranny and oppression have
been the patriotic Stockholders and Kings OF
this famous line. whose memories are rever-
enced by the Dutch people. The exhibition Of
Nassau.Orange relics will naturally be one Of
the most popular features OF the approaching
fates.
Holland. Ike Denmark. Is little country at
a time when ne utility OF small and weak ma
TORS in the world is cyn!cay questioned. IN
Ike Denmark II has an outlying empire OF
populous and valuable colonies. and II has an
extensive commerce conducted with all coun-
tries The young Queen has more colonial SUBJ
jects under her sway than any other European
sovereign except the Queen OF England. THESE
subjects must he we'll governed. since they sell
dom 1se in revolt against their colonial gov
errors Wherever Dutch colonsts and traders
have gone there has been firm. II not always
Mar tp.
dependence was won under the House ~ Orange
Spain had a world wide empire. That empire
has been lost through misgovernment and folx
but the despised provinces OF the NetherlandA
although surrounded by powerful and envious
States have retained ard enlarged ths!r
colonial empire.
The Dutch peoole have fine talent for
/ centring their attention upon their own anairs
and keeping out OF everything which does not
concern them This trait has been their best
resource IN avoiding complications with larger
and more powerful countries. Since the sepa-
ration Of Belgium from Holland the Dutch have
had a quiet unevsntful national history. with
out single dramatic passage. Only once IN
the course Of the last sixty years have they
been startled by a revelation OF European IN
trgue. This was early in 1870. when the 'rea'!
Of partition proposed by Benedett ana taken INTO
consideration by Bismarck was Tade puo'e'
This was the specious scheme FOR Incorporating
Belgium with France ard Holland with Prussia
without the consent Of either ~ the smaller king
doms and in defiance Of European treaty law
Germany and France fought their due. without
purchasing peace by agreeing upon so dshon-
orable a bargain; but the Dutch received
warning which they have never forgotten. IAsy
have persisted in holding Germany responsible
for what was in reality an audacious intrigue
/ % Napoleon Ill They have continued 10 us
trust Berlin diplomacy and 10 forecast suspF
clotlslv Interior German designs for the acqu'
sition Of Holland with its colonial possessions
These considerations have had weight IN ae'
termining the character Of the reveIs WIG" a''
10 accompany the young Queens accession "
sovereignty l. Will be a Dutch festival! appear
ing 10 home traits and local pride The Quee"
Will take her place among the masses OF he' o""
home-loving population and receive tribute lro'"
her loyal coloulsts. Ii Will he popular ie'e'
with historical costume pageants repFesehU"s
the heroic periods Of association with Inc Na
sau-Orange line. with the most notable eAio'
/ tions Of Rembrandts ever held. with a simple
! and almost republican ceremony OF lhausua
/ tion and with a series Of varied town SHOWS III
Amsterdam and The Hague Tor the entertain
! ment of the people. There will he few 'e'e
/ monial scenes in the palaces. Wealth ana hoo.'
| lineage will not be singled out for class PRIV
leges The Queen Will hold court among ne'
own subjects and convince them by ner UNA
fected simplicity and homely ways thar """'
she may be young In years. she is old-fashione.
and patriotic in feens-a characteristic Du'."
sovereign. with glamour Of romance 'as' ~
her girlish inexperience and exceptional p'''
ton. 49,
There will be royal guests during the te'eS' ~
the Nassau Orange family Is connected WV"
some OF the important houses or the Coh''he"
Among these relatives who will be present o..
the Prince and Princess Waldeck Pyr'hoh'' "
] .l,.. he's Af AOan!,