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The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

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Chapter 6<br />

“<strong>The</strong> Council <strong>of</strong> Blood”<br />

<strong>The</strong> dealings <strong>of</strong> Spain with Holland and <strong>the</strong><br />

Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands are dyed in stains <strong>of</strong> deepest crimson.<br />

This chapter in <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> Spain is a tragedy <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> most dreadful type. During <strong>the</strong> few short years<br />

in which this dependency <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spanish crown<br />

struggled for freedom, crimes, monumental in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

proportions and unnumbered for <strong>the</strong>ir multitude<br />

stand registered against <strong>the</strong> government and<br />

warfare <strong>of</strong> Spain.<br />

Of all <strong>the</strong> people <strong>of</strong> Europe, none were more<br />

brave than <strong>the</strong> Hollanders. To an unparalleled<br />

degree <strong>the</strong>y were tenacious <strong>of</strong> liberty, both in<br />

things civil and in things religious. From time to<br />

time during <strong>the</strong>ir history <strong>the</strong>y had wrested valuable<br />

charters <strong>of</strong> freedom from <strong>the</strong>ir masters. <strong>The</strong>se had<br />

been won at great cost <strong>of</strong> blood and treasure, and at<br />

all times <strong>the</strong>ir owners showed a disposition to cling<br />

to <strong>the</strong>m firmly. From <strong>the</strong> earliest days <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

history, sovereignty had resided in <strong>the</strong> great<br />

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