The artist has depicted the ordinary attitude of a self-satisfied
burgher not only in Holland but in other countries also. “What does
it matter if we are annexed afterwards, so long as we remain neutral
now?” That is the sort of speech made by selfish merchants in some of
the neutral countries, especially those of Scandinavian origin. It is
really a variety of the old text: “Let us eat, drink, and be merry;
for to-morrow we die.” Why not, it is urged, make the best of present
facilities? As long as we are left alone we can pursue our ordinary
industrialism. We can heap up our percentages and profits. Our trade
is in a fairly flourishing condition, and we are making money. No
one knows what the future may bring; why, therefore, worry about it?
Besides, if the worst comes to the worst and Germany annexes us, are
we quite sure that we shall be in a much worse condition than we are
now? It will be to the interest of Berlin that we should carry on our
usual industrial occupations. Our present liberty will probably not be
interfered with, and a change of masters does not always mean ruin.
So argues the self-satisfied burgher. If life were no more than a mere
matter of getting enough to eat and drink and of having a balance at
the banker’s, his view of the case might pass muster. But a national
life depends on spiritual and ideal interests, just as a man’s life
“consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
Freedom is the only principle of growth, and freedom is the one thing
which German militarism desires to make impossible for all those whom
she gathers into her fold. The loss of liberty means the ruin of all
those ends for which a State exists. Even the material prosperity which
the self-satisfied burgher desires will be definitely sacrificed by a
submission to Teutonic autocracy.