The Rise and Decline of the Netherlands: A Political and Economic History and a Study in Practical Statesmanship (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Rise and Decline of the Netherlands: A Political and Economic History and a Study in Practical Statesmanship

While former ages suffered from the dearth of records of the past, the present generation suffers almost equally from the abundance and the bulkiness of books Of history, and the vast majority of the larger existing histories, unfortunately, appeal rather to students Of history than to the general public. But while the number of histories which, for most practical pur poses, are of little value is very great, some most important and most instructive historical events have hitherto escaped description. Of these omitted historical events none seems more interesting and important to all anglo-saxon nations than the rise and decline of the Netherlands. In fact, it may be asserted that the story of the rise and decline of the Netherlands is Of greater practical importance to all English-speaking nations than is the history of anglo-saxondom itself. For all practical pur poses it matters little whether an Englishman is acquainted with the existence of Henry VIII. And George IV., but it is most important that every British voter Should be acquainted with the causes which led to the decline and the downfall Of the Dutch Commonwealth.

The history Of anglo-saxondom and of England shows how, from a small human seed, which Obscure adventurers from the North dropped on the East coast Of Great Britain among savages - a people, a nation, a State, a kingdom, an empire, a number of empires, a new kind of men, a new Spirit among men, a new civilisation, and a new civilisation-compelling force, arose which has re-formed and re-cast the world. The contemplation of the historical rise and growth, and Of the glorious career, of the anglo-saxon family Of nations affords ground no doubt for much satisfaction and for justifiable pride to us, and we may learn much from the wisdom and from the errors of our forefathers, from the successes and from the disasters which are recorded in the annals of our history. However, the contemplation of our great and glorious, though chequered, past will help us but little to understand and to forecast the future, and to treat the problems of the present with that knowledge, wisdom, and understanding which the study of history ought to supply.

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