Page:American Historical Review vol. 6.djvu/703

 THE TRANSITION FROM DUTCH TO ENGLISH RULE IN NEW YORK A Study in Political Imitation In the development of political institutions, imitation plays a large part. What appears a successful or admirable political prin- ciple among one people, may be taken wholly or partially into the life of another race, and there under new conditions give rise to fur- ther political variations. The study of this process of imitation is always interesting, but, unfortunately, it has its dangers. No better illustration of the temptations which befall the student of political imitation could be given than the recent emphasis which has been placed upon the Dutch influence in American history. Broad and hasty generalizations have been made from analogies, in which the similarities may have been conscious or wholly accidental. Post hoc ergo propter hoc is the favorite argument of this class of thinkers. But if the question of the quantitative influence of Dutch upon American institutions is ever to be answered, it must be based upon something better than analogies. Fortunately we have an opportunity to study the two races side by side, in colonial New York ; and there, if anywhere, should we be able to compare the political practice of the two nations, and de- termine the results of the contact of one with the other. Here are seen first the Dutch ruling over subject English towns, and then the English assuming control over all New Netherland ; and in their mutual relations or political expressions, now so fully illumined by the publications of the New York state government, one can find illustrations of their political activity and ideals. An attempt has already been made ' to compare the political practice of the Dutch and English towns under the New Amster- dam jurisdiction. In 1664 the English obtained the Dutch terri- tories, and naturally this year, beginning the Anglicizing process, forms a logical view-point for a second glance at the Dutch and English institutions. On March 12, 1664, King Charles II. granted to his brother James, Duke of York and Albany, a part of Maine, all of Long Island, ' American Historical Review, VI. 1-18, supra. (693)