, 1870-07-27
WEDNESDAY, JULY %, 1870
BELGIUM.

The t7:n,nrt41 treaty between France and
1,-7.>sis. n,tlcr which Belgium is to he
transferred to France, ii true, will be an
other change in ths eveniful history Of that
lt:,'t' kingdom. In the course OF time, it
E~> belonged to the Romans, to France, 10
Spain. 10 Holland, and to Austria, and it's
.-eelst Independence was but II narrow cs-
~. fr,o,:. the fate Of Poland It was orig
sally Ir.'l'le,l l'y Celtic and German tribes,
T." ,,,auans eventually becoming the mas
t,s:- Il. 1851, tie last OF the line Of Counts
+: F...s,..:s-s expired and the whole Neither
Ids passed into The possession Of the
:: -, l~,a.s:ul house OF Burgundy. When
,i.af,es III, Bold was killed. his daughter
,i,-. married Macmillan. the Emperor OF
q, ,1s.,.::* Their successor. Charles v. m
L,1v,i Tic rule ef the Netherlands
u, ,r>s:ia. aal- after his alnlication,
r:.!,r H. Il Spain became their ruler.
T!,:. et,:.:...,eed that memorable struggle
'.,Y,-:, Spanish pride aud despotism nad
::.s >,e,.:s:.::e a,ll perseverance Of the people
=: l..r 1.,'w Countries, ont of which Bel
.:;s:::. '~t:tsne rart and parcel Of Spain. and
H. u"s:h.n provinces (now Ho11and) be-
,A,r INDEPENDENT, In 1898 Philip settled
L. ';;:r,:. as f. ,lsw1r upon his daughter 1sa-
'.i!a- All! j, became an independent king
>;,,;n. She died leaving no children, and
>;.ai,. ress.,urd possession, and instituted
IL le.s aud bloody war which continued
t"r nearly century. Belgium was again
TIE victim Of the peace. Each settlement
,!;sroiled lar ot some Of her provinces.
Tie rrnvinces Of Artois Thionyille, Lille,
lLarlcfni- Oudenarle, and Conrtrai wore
:4hea from her and given to France, and
,heee agg1essious were renewed at q
subsequent period. In these wars
tla SeEe}dt- upon which Antwerp
stands and which Aows through
Nvlland. was closed to navigation,
uu'l the obstacles have not been all re-
,u"Eetl even to this time. By the peace Of
Utrecht in 17l:s. Belgium was given to
Austria Holland retaining several OF The
t"rsresses- including that of Luxembourg,
NY the French frontier. In 114+, during
the Austrian wnrs, Belgium again became
lar, Of France. but was subsequently re-
-;"r.d to Austria. In time the Austrian
::l. became unpopular, aad revolution
as'l,-l ly Holland, was successful, but afte
? few years Austria resumed her sway
Shortly after the French Revolution brok
OH, Belgium WIS conquered Hy the Frencl
e-&l reann.1sd to France Il renaine
lsast:euily part u France until the fa
"t Sapeleon. ind in the meanwhile IL
I""rle had become substantially French
The Congress Of Vienna united Belgium
Holland. md placed 10th under the Datc
'i'"ernluent The two peoples, howeye,
Lad hut little in COMMON. The Dutc
l'rs"siart merchants and the Delgin
Catholic agricultural and unnufacturin
populations could not agree. The eorst
,uti"n WIS framed hy Holland, and tn
Latter sought I" force the Dutch languag
';Ir"u tAe Ds1gians, who rsvolted- Th
E.lgiars were twice as humorous as th
Hrllan.lcrs. Belgium he'd small deb
Holland u rcsy large one. Discomfort an
disorder prsvniled, md the country vi
Eclt Ii sul,jectiou by the sword until,
l~.:o. minated by the revolution Of th
rear in France, the De}gisns n1so took
a11us, and iu October established pr
viaional government and declar
themselves independent Holland CO
tiE,.ed 10 claim the territory,
the Congress of Sations which met
London at the close Of the year, recogniz
the independence Of Belgium. hut requir
her TO :pssu,no y large portion Of the debt
Holland. The oi]ice Of King WIS offered
bon of Louis PHILIPPE of France, who
'.:inctl il. Subsequently, and while it u
,ir:4ted whether the balance Of power
tu. call for division Of Belgium after I
,llant,er Of Poland, Leopold of Saxe-(
burg. the widowed sou-in-law OF Geor
~. of England, accepted the throne- Il
land refused 10 acquicsce, hut French
my drive the Holland troops ont Of Bel
s;:r. Leopold soon after married the daul
,"rnf Louis Philippe, and the indcper
cace Of Belgium has rema ned undisput
since then.
Belgium has prospered since then in
i'ra.rhes Of industry. The country is
l*..tvct live, and her system of cheap G.
rrumeutai railways and telegraphs
proved grand success. The population
now neAz1y 6,tN@, 600. The local politics
the cou try hare been series Of strugg
l,etHecn the Liberal and Ultramontt
Catholics the questions at issue be
,'l"'n the Organization and management
tisr pull;c schools The people, howe.
t4se Of late years 60 generally sided u
t!.e Liberals. that the latter have succt
fully carried ont MI their plans, and b
;:..' complete control Of all branches Of
='sver1:ment. Antipathv to French aur
:s'iou, notwithstanding she similarity
,,a:!::riage and religion, hns become nat;
ii sentiment among the Belgians-