New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-06
A DUTCH HERITAGE
The City's New Flag Emblemat:
of It's Founder.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: On June "a the Netherland colon u
/ AZ once more over the City Hall. This taI
will be marked b. the raising Of the recently
adopted city flag, which. as IS Known. /. con
posed % the colors forming the STANDARD VI,
der which the United Provinces fought sc
and obtained their liberty.
The Mayor Of Amsterdam, III. capital e.
Holland. has been pleased TO present 70 Ns7
York City its first city flag. This ceremorl
VIII take place in connection with the 25on
anniversary Of the present form Of munieiF,
government reorganized by Richard NieoLi
/ In June, 1865.
The foundation OF the municipal govern
ment was laid by the Dutch when Governor
Stuyvesant and Council, acting upon the IL
struc.ions Of the West India Company a.
thorized the establishment OF "Burgerreeti
bureher rights according 70 the precedena
Of the Fa;herland.
The instruction which ordered Govern@
Stuyvesant 70 establish "Burgerrecht" in Ns'
Amsterdam is not generally understood
one of the city's charters. The conyenu',
elected in 1929 20 revise the then existing nv
nicipal charter, the so-called Stuye"',
ordinance, however, considered this gran. o.
municipal government as a charter, though q
limited scale.
This administration consisted OF Burgon't
ters, a "Schout" Sheriff and "Sehepenh
Town Councillors). who transacted all exess'
tive and financial business OF the city eorpe"
/ tion at the "Stadthuys" City Halp.
The burgher rights granted 10 the citizens y
/ New Amsterdam IN 1861 survived In NJ
York until 1915 However limited the in''
ence of the people on the government ma
seem TO have been under this arrsngemen.
Manhattan owes 70 this the foundation g.
Is prosperity. -.
On September 5, 1864, the Dutch fornay
surrendered New Amsterdam TO RlehH.
Nicolls, the representative OF the Duke :.
York. In June. 1865. he reorganized the eN
government. which previously consisted OF w
Dutch officials mentioned above into one e'~'
posed of Mayor. Sheriff and Aldermen
Thomas Willett was selected as the n''
Mayor by reason OF his long residence ID ~
Dutch colony and friendly relations. an".
Anthony. who had been "Schout' IN the ~
administration, remained in the same eap''''l
under the style OF Sheriff in the new. An0as
van Cortlandt. Cornelis van Ruyveh %, -.
James van Brugh The City Court "'N
was composed OF Schout. Burgomasten %
Schcpeneu, became the Mayors Court o. W
/ City of New York. with but few changes
On July 30, 1873, the Dutch recspture' w
! city with a feet commanded by the ismV-
admIrals Cornelis Evertsen and JACOB oi'.A,s
the Dutch flag was raised once more ana -
! Dutch city government re-estsblished. lHs
administration came 20 an end when the pa...
and English concluded peace at Weslmih's :,
on February II, 1874. and N conformity VI
the articles thereof the government was n'"'
ed over to the English.
IL is an interesting fact that the hols.s',
were the last people 10 capture New w.
F City. and as such flew their flag rs "Vie'0.,
At the time Of the American Revolution a.
/ British evacuated the city on November =
Il7S3.
So as founders and victors the Duten I''
flown their flag in this city as their O's.
has flown and mingled through een'ui.,
. furthcrng the ideals OF this great An'ei,,,
nation For these reasons 1t IS spprop''.I.,
that the colors Of this flag go 20 MAKE =,
new city flag, and stand as OF yore' IS ~
/ have always stood. for honor, duty, oro'n,,
hood. for love. truth and might; snd we :.
live and We will die while our flag snsH :"
ways Ay for God. liberty and right. go,
\ DESCENDANT OF A DUTCH MAi0~
/ New York, June ), 1915.