The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-03-04
Leopold--An Agent Of Democracy.

+ Leopold, King Of the Belgians. ac-
cording to a dispatch from Brusselst is
showing signs OF mental collapse
Paresis has fastened It's grip upon the
old roue and Raynauds gangrene has
attacked his heels. Amputation may
be resorted to. but II will serve ut best
only to retard the march Of the nala-
dy. A criticabsituation confron,s the
Chamber of Deputies, and the need of
King to wear a crown and to take
part In the affairs of his country is
kesnly felt.
Leopold's career has been con-
spicuous example Of the evils of a
governmental system under which
there is life tenure for the executive
head. and the King Of the Belgians
has been useful to the world only
insofar as his peccadillocs have serv-
ed to impress UPON society the folly
Of . people submitting to being gov
erned by a degenerate with O Swine
right as his sole qualification for Of
nee. Sg%
A little while ago former Amerl-
car woman, who had rented the
Chateau Of LArmoy to Leopold. kick
ed her royal tenant out because OF tho
dissraccful life he led with a former
barmaid, now che baroness vaus han.
The place. during the tenancy Of
Leopold and his low-born mistress,
whose manners are said to be worse
than her morals. was compared by,
the BELGIAN press to the faMously in.
famous Pare aux Cerfs, which Nine.
du Barry had organized for Louis
XIV. and. according TO the co, respon-
dents of, the American press. the
Baroness created as much scanda, by
hsf hshts With her chefs and her
chaufreurs az by her affair with his
Christiah majesty Leopold. The
precious pair have now acquired tho
Chateau dc Baiaincourt. described as
- miniature Versailles" the park OF
. : = - 4 Il
500 acres q notable example Of
Rfnch landscape gardehihs. and the
chateau itself Of Louis XVI arnhitec
ture. recently fedecorated and fur
nIshed in Louis XVI style at cost 81
100000 by b wealthy scholar ard
artist. Who spid Il 70 Leopold. The
barmaid baroness II said to tc tumb-
hing the furairus out OF tho castle to
put - it, place something more mod
e<n. and. sccorcine ID her IDEAS. m,re
tasteful. Her seu'le lover submits 10
hcr every suggestion as to the, order
ing OF his household ansirs. and IL
shout ID rbestow : Belgian dukeS6m
upon their illegltImate son.
The Belgians in the Twentieth CEN
tdry ere supporting. at enormous ex
pcnse and Inconvenience. con-
scisncelesp old -debduchee with sos-
tening brain and sangresned heels.
Who administers the government Of
Belgium and The Congo from the
French homo az Tho poli Teassheet
he has sst 10: a. hia fv6rite. rhe ac-
counts Of the divss1ssHs u his aecl.n-
ing and paretic years read, like q page
from 0ibhon or sostonius. describ.
Ing the lives OF ths caeasrs during
tho dscadente. Of the Roman EN-
pire. I,
s. a limited ntonarcliy might be
fairly acceptable form Of government
e the reign OF the monarch were i'm
ltcd to the period of bis good behav-
lour and tho Conscientious perform
ance Of his duties. II all wearers of
crowns werc ~ seif-rssptctns and as
seriously bent upon acQuitting them
selves hcnorably - has been the vsn-
erabls Frans-JoSsph Of Austria-Hun-
gary. or a. was King Christian OF
Denmark. who felt that divine rignt
implied responsibility to seek divine
gyidaAcs "A NJ SApacity Of ruler. and
TO sst . 5000 srxampis to his subjects
BY being personally above reproach.
republican government. with its ire
1usnt elections and resultant business
upheavals. might not be 90 popular a.
it 10 nowadays. Evcn if all OF the
Of the sc~ptcr were az In
nocuous N, Edward VII. who has b<en
nothing more than . somewhat d,ssi-
pst~d. sporting sontloman. WHOSE
faculty for making friends has Offset
the haws In his private character. the
monarchial form Of government
might continue to exist much longer
than It II destined to in the various
European countries Of growing en-
lightcnment.
King Leopold's star IL setting amid