SPEECH  OF
EX-JUDGE HOOPEE C. YAN VORST.
 

HE choice of the 10th of January
by the Committee who have had in
charge all the arrangements for this
social gathering of The Holland So¬
ciety was not intended to commem¬
orate any special event in Dutch
history. In fact, it would be difficult to choose
any day in the year which is not marked by some
important action or event mentioned in the Chron¬
icles of the eighty years' struggle for national life
and liberty which was carried on with such cour¬
age and sacrifice by the people of Holland and their
natural allies in their contests with Spain under
Philip the Second. And there are actions and events
which have transpired upon this "Western Continent
and in our State and City in the early days of our
history, during the settlement and occupation of the
Dutch, worthy of commemoration. But it so happens
that just three hundred and six years and six months
ago this very evening, and at this hour, that great
soldier and statesman, William, Prince of Orange,