Popular governments are not generally favorable to military expenditure, however necessary, and there are signs that England tends to drop behind.
It has already been seen that the Dutch Republic, even more than the English nation, drew its prosperity and its very life from the sea.
The character and policy of its government were far less favorable to a consistent support of sea power.

Composed of seven provinces, with the political name of the United Provinces, the actual distribution of power may be roughly described to Americans as an exaggerated example of States Rights.

Each of the maritime provinces had its own fleet and its own admiralty, with consequent jealousies.

This disorganizing tendency was partly counteracted by the great preponderance of the Province of Holland, which alone contributed five sixths of the fleet and fifty-eight per cent of the taxes, and consequently had a proportionate share in directing the national policy.

Although intensely patriotic, and capable of making the last sacrifices for freedom, the commercial spirit of the people penetrated the government, which indeed might be called a commercial aristocracy, and made it averse to war, and to the expenditures which are necessary in preparing for war.