The Washington herald., 1908-03-15
LEOPOLD NOT LIKED
Belgian Ruler One of the
Most Unpopular of Kings.
ESTRANGED HIS SUBJECTS
Starting Reign Under Brightest Au-
spices, HIS Record as AutOerat,
Father. and Man, Have Made Him
n Royal Oufcast-FOr Twenty Years
He Was Adored by His Subjects.

Brussels, March 1.-THE Belgian people
have during the last few years witnessed
with sadness and concern the ever
declining popularity OF their King.
For the first twenty years OF his reign
/ Qs65-IsS5) Leopold II was adored BY his
people. His magnificent stature. his long
and Characteristic beard. whenever seen
in public. were always greeted with the
most loyal cheers and the most respect
ful demonstrations
In the King the welfare OF the country
and the welfare OF the dynasty centered.
and 50 deeply even that no one al that
time could separate the welfare OF the
kingdom from that Of the royal family.
/ In the first years Of his reign. Leopold
II well merited this popularity. He took
immense interest in the MANAGEMENT Of
public affairs; he respected the constitu-
ton, and was the real sovereign Of his
people. Even as a crown prince he had
given signs OF his ability 20 conduct the
business or the kingdom He had. for In
stance, noticed the vast possibilities OF
the harbor OF Antwerp. and had wisely
drawn the attention OF Belgian traders 20
these possibilities.
His popularity lasted as Ions as he re-
mained only King Of the BeIgisns.
A Natural Autocrat.
But in ISIS Leopold II also became SOW
ereign Of the Congo Free State. and this
union Of two crowns on one head has
brought incalculable harm TO Belgium. In
a man Of the temperament OF King Leo
pold, natural autocrauc tendencies were
quickly encouraged by the fact OF his be-
ing the absolute master Of some sooOo,C00
people in Africa Slowly. but surely. the
constitutional monarch OF Belgium played
second fiddle TO the absolute monarch OF
/ the Congo State.
His Viii was uncontrolled and almighty
in Africa. Il CALLED him 70 realize that II
was not so IN Belgium. and he began 10
act as If il were
| The unpopularity aroused in Belgium
by the attempts 10 play the autocrat were
immensely increased by thedomestic scan
dals that soon came TO the public knOwl-
edge. A king-st least a constitutional
/ king-has no private life, and King Leo
I pold has always shown a curious desire
10 let the whole world know the irregu-
/ larit.es OF his life
/ His conduct 10 his wife was deplorable.
and a series of sights and insults eUlmI-
mated in his introducing TO the Queen at
a court woman OF quite notorious repu-.
tation The Queen left the royal residence
and went 10 a villa al spa. where she
died a few years afterward, in lslI, alone
/ ana abandoned
Record as Father Bad.
/ AS a father. the Kings record Is as bad
as his record as 8 husband. he has three
daughters. Princess Louise. divorced wife
Of Prince Philip Of Saxe-Coburg; Princess
I Stephanie. now Countess Lonyay. and
/ Princess Clementine.
/ To the first he has acted with the most
extraordinary. lack Of affection. Quite re-
/ Gently he refused 10 redeem the Jewels.
which had been bequeathed by the Queen
I 10 her eldest daughter, and which the
creditors Of Princess Louise had sold at
auction. The King characteristically pre-
/ ferred scandal 10 a disbursement Of a few
I thousand francs
His Second Daughter.
As to his second daughter, he forbade
/ her 70 marry Count LonyGy, and when
she came 10 Spa 10 pray before the coffin
Of her mother. the King had her expelled
7 from the castle and ordered out of the
town. This public affront has never been
forgotten in Belgium. and one might say
that Il has been from that day that King
Leopold's popularity altogether disap-
/ peared.
His relations with Princess Ciementiae
have been nearly as bad L is perhaps
not generally known that ne prevented
her from marrying a prince whom she
has loved for years. Prince Victor Ma
poleon, The Bonapartist pretender 10 the
French throne.
Leopold II is now in his seyenty-third
year. and his irresponsible life. which
supplies humor 10 French journalists and
writer Of Paris reviews, IS source OF
shame and humiliation 10 the BeIgians.
They are not proud 10 be ruled by a
King who is hated By his children and
who left his wife 20 die in neglect.
They fear that he may attempt 10 ar
range for one OF the sons born in his
comparatively recent nlorganatic mar
Tiage 10 succeed him on the throne, and
they resent the fact that their sovereign
is so rarely in his own country.
Rules Belgium from Paris.
He governs Belgium from Paris and
the Riviera, merely paying flying visits to
Brussels. and leaving again for France
as quickly as possible He treats the Bel
gian Parliament as if he were an auto
erat, and has little, II any, regard for
the constitution.
Lastly. Belgium bushes for the Congo.
The martyrGom of the unhappy Congo
natives has made Leopold a millionaire.
but it has wrought incaleulable moral
harm TO the Belgium people and 10 the
prestige Of their country.
It cannot be said too enlphaticaIy that
Belgium IS not responsible for the Congo.
and that in this question sovereign and
people are in entire disagreement. despite
the money he has spent lavishly 20 secure
support he has corrupted, with the
Congo gold. much that was good and pure
in Belgium. he has bought the con-
sciences of officials and others. He has
in Belgium. played the role Of sultan or
shah.
It is a curious instance Of the evil effect
OF M-gOtten gains that the gold dragged
from the Congo natives should be a vast
organ OF Generalization in Europe.
In III Health.
King Leopold is in i'll health, and he Is
spending the evening of his days estrang-
ed from his children and from many OF
his most loyal and most distinguished
servants.
Numberless influential Belgians in every
walk Of life. politicians, artisans. busi-
ness people, soldiers, have abandoned him