Page:American Historical Review vol. 6.djvu/28

 1 8 A. E. McKinlcy by the outgoing magistrates of a double number of candidates from a ver)' small class of the citizens, and an election by the Director and Council of the requisite number from these candidates and from the old officers. In principle it was the same system as that which we have seen was established in the Dutch towns of New Nether- land. From the facts here given, the following conclusions may be drawn concerning the local government of New Netherland : (i) The Dutch settlements showed slight communal feeling ; were with difficulty concentrated into towns ; developed little political activity or interest ; and finally received (rather than demanded) a form of government which gave scant room for popular control. (2) The English settlements under the Dutch jurisdiction showed a common interest from the first ; received land-grants in common ; undertook political functions almost unconsciously ; demanded and usually re- ceived far greater privileges from the Director and Council than were given to the Dutch towns. (3) Although Director Kieft granted liberal charters to the English, Stuyvesant was opposed to this policy, and attempted to cut down the privileges which his pre- decessor had conceded. After the favoritism shown in the first few years to the English, the attitude of the New Amsterdam au- thorities changed, and under Stuyvesant there was a continuous op- position to popular government in Dutch and English towns. Albert E. McKinxey.