Черный тюльпан
A Grateful People
CorneliusdeWitt,RuartdePulten,thatistosay,wardenofthedikes,ex-burgomasterofDort,hisnativetown,andmemberoftheAssemblyoftheStatesofHolland,wasforty-nineyearsofage,whentheDutchpeople,tiredoftheRepublicsuchasJohndeWitt,theGrandPensionaryofHolland,understoodit,atonceconceivedamostviolentaffectionfortheStadtholderate,whichhadbeenabolishedforeverinHollandbythe“PerpetualEdict”forcedbyJohndeWittupontheUnitedProvinces.
Asitrarelyhappensthatpublicopinion,initswhimsicalflights,doesnotidentifyaprinciplewithaman,thusthepeoplesawthepersonificationoftheRepublicinthetwosternfiguresofthebrothersDeWitt,thoseRomansofHolland,spurningtopandertothefanciesofthemob,andweddingthemselveswithunbendingfidelitytolibertywithoutlicentiousness,andprosperitywithoutthewasteofsuperfluity;ontheotherhand,theStadtholderaterecalledtothepopularmindthegraveandthoughtfulimageoftheyoungPrinceWilliamofOrange.
ThebrothersDeWitthumouredLouisXIV.,whosemoralinfluencewasfeltbythewholeofEurope,andthepressureofwhosematerialpowerHollandhadbeenmadetofeelinthatmarvellouscampaignontheRhine,which,inthespaceofthreemonths,hadlaidthepoweroftheUnitedProvincesprostrate.
LouisXIV.hadlongbeentheenemyoftheDutch,whoinsultedorridiculedhimtotheirhearts’content,althoughitmustbesaidthattheygenerallyusedFrenchrefugeesforthemouthpieceoftheirspite.TheirnationalprideheldhimupastheMithridatesoftheRepublic.
