HOLLAND AMONG THE NATIONS.*
The true greatness of a nation is not measured by the vastness
of its territory, or by the multitude of its people, or by the profusion
of its exports and imports; but by the extent to which it has con-
tributed to the life and thought and progress of the world. A man's
greatness is not estimated by the size of his body or of his purse;
not by his family connections or social position, however high these
may be. He may bulk large in public estimation to-day, but to-
morrow he will be forgotten like a dream, and his very servants may
secure a higher position and a name lasting possibly a little longer.
A man's greatness is estimated by his influence, not over the votes
and empty cheers of a changing and passing crowd, but by his abid-
ing, inspiring influence in their bidden thoughts, upon their ways of
thinking, and consequently of acting. That is why the Wycliffes,
Shakespeares, Miltons, Newtons, Wesleys, and Gladstones of English
history live, and will live, in everlasting memory, while lesser men
are remembered only through them, and the crowd of demagogues,
pretenders, and self-seekers are named, if ever named, only to
"point a moral, or adorn a tale."
So with nations. A great nation is not one which, like Russia,
has an enormous territory ; or, like China, has an enormous popula-
tion. It is the nation which gives mankind new modes of thought,
new ideals of life, new hopes, new aspirations; which lifts the world
out of the rut, and sets it goin.g on a cleaner and brighter road.
It is by such a test that I propose to value Holland this even-
ing; and if what I say surprises some of you, I beg that you will
bear in mind that I shall say nothing for which there is not ample
evidence, even if you look for that evidence in English writings
alone. Indeed, most of the facts I propose to place before you are
but the commonplaces of history, which any one of you can-and I--------------------------------------------------------------------------
* A Lecture by Mr. L. E. Blazé at the D. B. U. Hall, 26 November, 1926.
R. G. Anthonisz, Esq., I.S.O., President of the Union, in the Chair.
