The Minneapolis journal., 1901-04-23
COLONIAL GOVERNMENTS
OF TODAY.
series under the supervision of Professor
Jonn H. Finley OF Princeton university.
x.-rHE DUTCH EAST INDIES
BY Harry Tuck Sherman, M. /. j., Of Ant
Werp.

by hsrry iuck Sherman, NJ !. j., OF Ant
werp.
Copyright 1901. by Victor f. Lawson.)
In the annals of successful colonization the
small Dutch nation ranks next to Great Brit
ain. With a population scarcely larger than
that OF the city of London she has planted
her standard in "a vast region sixty five times
greater than that Of her own little land Of
dikes and windmllls and has maintained her
sovereignty over S5,000OO0 people on the other
side Of the globe. Her task has been so
great, SO fraught with difficulties, that Dutch
colonization has become veritable science.
These colonies have always been admins
tered as Conquered possessions, their govern
ment has been autocRatic and the Inhabitants
have never had voice In the form or manner
of government to which they are subjected.
Such Is the real relationship between the
Dutch colonizers and those over whom they
rule. but the secret or this policy. so cunning
On the part of the Dutch, consists in covering
over this unpleasant truth SO successfully
that the natives believe themselves subject
only to their own natural chiefs, to their own
princes and their national Buddhism. In
brief, the Dutch ruler hides the mailed fist
beneath silken glove by abstaining from all
attempt at proselytism, moral or religious,
and by paying scrupulous respect to the
customs and rites of the natives. The system
Of rule is really one of absolute subjection, in
colonies. without consulting them, whatever
legislation it thinks the most In its own inter
est, while the colonies themselves are repre-
sented neither in parliament nor in the gov
ernment councils.
A Dual System of Government.
Contrary to the French, who have always
endeavored to force upon the natives whom
they govern, French manners and customs
and to make their presence and their author
ity felt, the Dutch have made their presence
as little perceptible and unoffending as possi-
Bile by establishing a dual administration.
There are, in fact, throughout the Dutch East
Indies, two distinct administrations, the one
European with the master hand, the other
composed OF native princes and based on the
native feudaiism. The natives being thus in
contact only with the second administration
power believe they are subject only to their
natural masters, never realizing for a moment
that their own princes are but humble sub
1ects Of the sovereign of the Netherlands. 1t
is, therefore, in the above dual system that
we find the true source of the colonial success
Of the Dutch.
The colonial government is divided into two
epartments-namely, the home government
and the local government; the latter being
subdivided into the European and native ad-
mtnistrations. At home the supreme colonial
power is vested in the sovereign, at the pres
ent moment Queen Wilhelmina, but the polti-
cal responsibility of her acts, as far as colo
NAL matters are concerned, is vested in the
minister of the colonies, the present minister
being J. T. Cremer, comparatively young
man and very able one. All royal DEGREES
relating to the colonies must be counter
signed by the minister of the colonies, who is
by virtue of his responsibility, at liberty to
refuse his signature 1t is the minister who
Is responsible to the states general as well
as to the sovereign, and the latter's admins
trative and executive power is wholly trans
ferred to the governor general Of the Dutch
East Indies, to whom all colonial subjects
owe the same respect and obedience as to
their sovereign. This high official is appoint
ed by the sovereign upon the recommendation
Of the cabinet, but the sovereign reserves the
right of calling upon him to resign when he
thinks such step necessary.
The governor general, as representative of
the crown, is practically an absolute monarch
1t is quite evident that such powers reaching
over population of S5. .0O0, ,OOO necessitates the
creation Of a great corps of functionaries to
assist in the administration. Beyond this