The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-29

both sides and, BY cultural and mental
motives.
II believe the importance OF the
mental element in politics habitually
is TO be uudcrestimated. Depending
upon the racial divergenccs Of differ
cnt nations, these mental viewpoints
may manifest themselves in various
directions and in varying degrees Of
intensity, In general, i is safe e say
that the peoples OF the Germanic
race are less swayed than others BY
momentary moods and BY the elusive
sentiments OF the imagination; rather
are they moved BY a certain placid,
historic continuity, a kind Of loyalty
to their own history Their develop
ment is not fitful and arbitrary but
calner and more direct. They re-
irai- from violating the traditions OF
the, history. Germans and Hollan-
ders, independently Of the racial re-
lationship Of their sentiments and
their characteristics, possess a COM
mon mental history. In spite OF
sentimental longings for the South.
the German artist ever remained
aware Of an abyss betwixt himself
and the Southern masters, an abyss
which even his sincerest admiration
and most answering devotion could
never completely bridge. There is
no such abyss between himself and
the Hollander. The atmosphere
which they brethe, and which per-
meates their very souls. is the same.
This may be OF no Importance in
politics, but it serves as an illustra-
ton Of q general unity Of sentiment
which evinces itself in every phase OF
life, and which reacts upon politics
by far more than materiahsuc asS
may be inclined to believe.
Upon each page Of German history
are inscribed the annals OF the Meth
erlands, commemorating the same
inouenchable thirst for freedom and
independence that inspired ourselves.
The mental activities of both nations
have in particular been closely allied
for centuries. The philosophy and
literature OF one country reacted
upon the other. The two nations
worked hand in hand.
Politically, the same conditions
prevailed. / will not refer to earlier
history, the assistance OF the German
States during the Spanish occupation,
which the Electors Of Brandenburg
rendered the Netherlands, during the
wars OF Louis XIV. The history Of
the last century also perpetuates a
similar unity OF political interests and
actions. The existance OF the new
kingdom Of the Netherlands dates
from the spring Of the year 1874
when the Prussian troops forced the
French to beat retreat from Hol-
land and Belgium. During the Con
gress OF Vienna, when the Cabinets o.
the four Powers which successfully
had combatted Napolean,- England
Austria, Prussia and Russia, planned
reorganization OF European affairs
which had been put into such sad dis
array by the French Emperor. These
four Powers determined to establish
the unified kingdom OF Holland, =
which was to include Belgium, IA
protective measure against pos
sibly recurring French desire Tor ter
ritorial aggrandizement; and II wa
then the Prussian king, acting in ac
cordance with England's ministers
who desired to make amends ior N
loss OF the two Dutch colonies 9
Ceylon and the Cape, by increasln
the territory OF the Netherlands 0
the Continent, served the best inter
ests OF the Netherlands because {
| the traditional friendship which ha
| existed always between the two n;
tions. In the year 1880, it was agai
the King Of Prussia who gave tn
French to understand that any a
tempt on their part to annex Belgiui
by taking advantage Of the Brusse
revolution, would result speedily
war with Prussia. Thus indepenc
ence was secured to the Belgian
lat that time the Powers made
treaty, declaring the Kingdom
Belgium, which had been separate
from the Netherlands, to be a ne
| trail state. The object Of this was
protect the little country from fallii
prey to the territorial covetousne
, OF some other nation, the case bell
E similar to the episode of 1915, VIII
J the Allied Powers deemed it adv
: able to strongly fortify the Weste
frontier Of the Netherlands.
q "In the sixties, when Bismark v
e hard at work on the unification
5, cArn,anu Nanniean LII repeated