New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
The Old Monarch Called "Bei-
aium's CaiigUla by
Ex-Atta che.

py,o- Teonold has managed in course Of his
,5si. 20 his capital 20 bring about reconstruc-
+ion of the Catholic Right Cabinet under the
nresidencv OF NJ. de Troos who has hitherto
been At the head Of the Department OF the IN
..rsor ant NJ. de Troos is far from being a
strong statesman. enjoys but little presuge
abroad or confidence at home. and the admins
,rs,ior denrived as II is now Of the leadership
~ its most powerful member Count Smet de
Nsevr. who has been al the head OF tho govern
yoent ever since 1899, is likely 10 be shortived-
The pretext which the count made for resigmns
the premiership was the defeat OF his ministry
on the question Of limiting the hours OF laoor IN
the mines. But the real cause has been the
Indignation OF II. Smet de NaeyT. and OF his
principal colleagues at the failure OF the hing 10
fulfil his pledges 70 the legislature, 20 his peo-
pie and 70 the world at large in connection with
the Congo Free State The count has more than
once faced parliamentary defeat by endeavoring
70 champion King Leopold's cause in the Congo
controversy. in the belief that he could depend
on his Inonarct's promises. But he discovered
a few weeks ago that ne had been mistaken IN
placing any dependence on the word OF his SOW
ereign that by undertaking in the latteTs name
obligations which ne was unable 10 fulfil he had
placed himself in q false light in the eyes OF the
nation and OF the foreign powers, and consequent
ly he insisted upon resigning. though not until
after an extremely stormy interview with King
Leopold. II his Cabinet was defeated by large
vote, # was because the impression prevailed
that IL was disposed 10 ihdorse the King in his
refusal 20 i've up TO his word in the Congo az
fair For the lower house Is indignant at the
manner in which King Leopold has behaved In
the matter. Count Smet de Haeyr has redeemed
himself IN SITS eyes by resigning, in token OF his
disapproval OF the attitude Of the crown. Cn-
der the circumstances the Chamber is not likely
TO have much use for his colleague, who has
been prompted by love OF Office 20 show himseif
less scrupulous "a this Congo controversy and
as the legislature Is strongly opposed 20 King
Leopold .in this affair. II may be depended on
speedily 70 overthrow the new Cabinet, which is
at the best only a sorry piece OF patchwork
That win leave the King face 10 face with a
parliament in which virtually all parties arc
united against him, especially this one par
tcular question. Until last year he was able
70 count upon the support OF his people in the
campaign waged upon him all over Europe and
fn America in connection with his shocking mis-
government OF the Congo Free State. True. he
has never been popular in Belgium. where the
scandals OF his private Iife and in particular his
unfortunate relations with his family have been
source OF humiliation 90 his subjects in the
eyes OF foreign nations. But the Belgians We're
keenly alive 20 All that he had done toward the
development Of the commerce and industry os
the kingdom. and were inclined 90 regard the
stories OF the appalling atrocities pe-petrated
IN his name and by his agents in cOngoland as
calumnies prompted by foreign jealousy and by
desire ca, the part 0f Germany, France and es-
pociaIIy England 20 annex the empire which Ne
had founded in Western ard Central Africa.
PEOPLE WAKING UP.
When. however. soma Of The most distinguished