The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-26 00:00:00

The Late Fetes in Belgium.

The Nord of yesterday has the following remarks
upon the fetes which recently took place in Bel-
gium :

" The fetes which have just taken place in Brus-
sels will have a European recognition. They will
induce useful reflections, and strengthen still more
the bonds of sympathy and respect
which unite all
civilised nations with the Belgian people. If indeed
there is a spectacle deserving of envy, well calculated
to stimulate the noblest instincts, it is that afforded
every year by this fine little country of 'Belgium cele-
brating always with the same enthusiasm its inde-
pendence, its institutions, its King, its dynasty,
and spending in these pacific and thoroughly national
fetes what other nations see squandered in arma-
ments and war expenses. We who for ten years
have taken part as impartial though sympathetic
spectators in these noble jousts of patriotism, civic
virtue, and monarchical sentiments, never see with-
out ardent pleasure this example of pacific tasks,
remarkable prosperity, order and cairn, given annu-
ally to other nations by the freest nation in the
world. A country may therefore be free, very free,
even without revolution. It may exercise this
liberty without disorder, and preserve it intact
while remaining faithful to its King, its princes, and
its laws. This political and social problem, the
cause of so much criminal aberration among the
governed, of so much fatal error among the
governing, is solved, and solved to the advan -
tage of both. Is there, in fact, in Europe
at this moment a more prosperous or happier people
than the Belgian people, a sovereign more loved,
more respected than Leopold 11. ? This year especi-
ally the solemnity of which we are speaking has had
a special significance. In the first place, it succeeded
to a period of profound mourning for Belgium and
its royal house, and was the date consequently of a
new era. For the first time it no longer took place
under the auspices of the venerable sovereign for
whom the commemoration of this national indepen-
dence, of which he was the first and most useful sup-
port, wasin some measure apersonal fete. With what
sombre predictions, it will be remembered, had not the
hostile spirit of some, and the faltering of others, long
before surrounded this sad and yet inevitable even-
tuality. The personification, the support of Belgian
independence once dead, Belgium was no longer to
exist ; its neighbours would divide it, and the heir
to the throne no longer finding in the country the
sympathies that had sustained his father in moments
of difficulty, would look on powerless at this general
break up, induced by the discord of parties. We
shall not be accused of exaggerating one part of the
picture at the expense of the other. All those who
will read us in Belgium know whether, some tine
before the death of Leopold I. these sinister ru-
mours, propagated by malevolence, did not circu-
late as confused apprehensions among the public.
'What came of them is well known. The fatal
moment arrived. Instead of being invaded, Belgium
was saluted by all the nations of Europe, happy
to be able on this sad occasion, to express to her, as
well as to her new sovereign, their sentiments of
sincere sympathy. Left alone in presence of her
prince, and free from all other anxiety, Belgium
could then recognise in him all the qualities of
wisdom and political intelligence, so necessary even
to a constitutional monarch, that Leopold 11. had
acquired in the school of his predecessor, and which,
by a sentiment of filial deference, he had constantly
kept in the background during all his father's reign,
only allowing them to be divined by some few who
were intimate with him. Thus were people and
sovereign enabled in a single day to know and
esteem each other, and thus was concluded between
them that moral and solemn compact which de-
fies present snares, if any there are, and averts
the dangers of the future. The cause of this happy
change, the spring of this common movement, the
secret of this sudden consolidation of power, follow-
ing upon a period of anxious uncertainty, 'are all
contained in these words—national sentiment. No-
where, perhaps, and at no other period of the poli-
tical life of Belgium, was this sentiment so earnestly
manifested as at the death of Leopold 1., doubtless
because it had never felt itself so seriously menaced.
It was therefore on the occasion of the national fetes
that the Belgian people could for the first time since
the new reign express before Europe all their legi-
timate satisfaction and their joy. It was also the
first time since the new reign
that the neighbours of
Belgium had the opportunity of solemnly showing
their profound respect for its independence, and of
resolutely protesting against numerous and recent
imputations.

AUSTRIAN POLITENESS. -- When criticising na-
tional manners a foreigner must not generalise from the
politeness or rudeness which.he himself may receive, but
notice the behaviour of the natives to each other. Who-
ever watches the Austrians, without losing sight of this
precaution, will discover, firstly, that they are guided by a
positive code of civility, whose tacit prescriptions are as
accurately followed as if some Menu or Solon of manners
had written them on tables. The first Commandment for-
bids inequalities of politeness. There must be degrees in
intimacy, but there can I>e no degrees in the outer forms
of courtesy and homage. In conversation with au obscure
and uninteresting person the Austrian wAI take as much
pains to please as when great social or sentimental interests
aro at stake. The small coin of customary salutations, as
expressions of respect, obeisances, apologies for accidental
pressure in crowded rooms, and the like, is rigorously ex-
acted and always paid. When an introduction occurs the
parties concerned are willing to listen and look, instead of
betraying visible repugnance to the operation, or trying
to catch the eye of a friend across the room, or perhaps in
London fashion making a sudden wheel and marching off
before two phrases have been exchanged. The general
tone of manners, particularly with the men, is soft, and
might be called too silken by the admirers of the boisterous
and categorical method of our own rising generation.
There may even be noticed an occasional deficiency in what
Swift called "the art of making every reasonable person
in the company easy, and being easy ourselves." flow-
ever, seeing that what looks like timidity is often dulness
or arrogance, and that most Austrians are either Boeotian
or proud, it is curious that shy individuals should be so
comparatively rare.—" Good Society in Vienna," in the
Cornhill Magazine for November.
TRADES' REFORM DEMONSTRATION.—Last night
delegates from about 120 of the trades and friendly socie-
ties of the metropolis assembled at the Whittington Club,
Strand, for the purpose of deciding on the time and place
for holding the proposed trades' demonstration. Mr. Geo.
Potter occupied the chair, and having opened the business
of the meeting, the secretary of the Working Men's Asso-
ciation, under whose auspices the meeting is to be held,
read a report from the committee of that body detailing the
progress made in the movement, which showed that the
proposed demonstration had been taken up by the leading
trades of the metropolis. The following resolution was
adopted :—'• That the demonstration of the London trades
and friendly societies in favour of manhood suffrage and
the ballot take place on Monday, the 3d of December next,
and that the societies walk in procession to the place of
meeting." It was also resolved :—" That the demonstra-
tion take place in the Ashburnham Grounds, Cremorne."
A demonstration committee of 30 delegates was then ap-
pointed, and a finance committee of five delegates. Reso-
lutions were also agreed to inviting Mr. Beales and the
executive council of the League to attend the demonstra-
tion as a deputation from the League, and also inviting
deputations from the various trades' councils and leading
trades in the provinces. It was also resolved that Mr.
Bright, M.P., and the metropolitan members be invited to
attend the meeting.