Out of the ruins of the old divided republic--a selfish commercial body--there has risen, after a hundred years of experimenting and suffering, a new and honourable country--a single nation, not merely an indifferent confederacy of independent little sovereignties--a civic body managing its own household affairs without interference from abroad and without disastrous partisanship at home--a people who again dare to see visions beyond the direct interests of their daily bread, and who are given the fullest scope for the pursuit of prosperity and individual happiness under a government of their own choice and under the gracious leadership of her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina. _Brussels._ _Christmas, 1914._ THE END A COMPARISON OF THE FOUR CONSTITUTIONS OF HOLLAND CONSTITUTION OF 1798 CONSTITUTION OF 1801 The Representative Assembly: A Council of State (Executive The highest power in the State, Council, in Dutch: Staatsbewind) to which all other governmental consisting of twelve members. bodies are responsible. A Legislative Assembly. The Executive Council of five National Syndicate consisting directors. of three judicial officers to The Representative Assembly control all officials of the State has the right of legislation, State and all departments of the of making alliances and treaties, government. of declaring war, of discussing The Legislative Assembly accepting the yearly budget, discusses all laws proposed by the of appointing the directors of Council of State. It discusses and the Executive Council. It can gives its final approval to all grant pensions and has the right treaties (except certain articles of pardon, and will decide in of such treaties). It has to give all such questions which are not its approval to any declaration of explicitly provided for by the war. It discusses and approves the constitution. annual budget. The Executive Council must The Council of State see to the strict execution of (Staatsbewind) makes up the annual of all the laws of the budget and proposes new laws to Representative Assembly. It the Legislative Assembly. It sees makes up a yearly budget which to the execution of the laws which must be submitted to the the Legislative body has accepted. Representative Assembly. It has It declares war (after it has the right to appoint diplomatic obtained the approval of the and consular representatives. Legislative Assembly). It is the It negotiates treaties and highest power in all affairs of alliances, subject, however, to army and navy, and it has the approval of the Representative right of appointment of the body. principal state officers. The The Representative Assembly The Legislative Assembly