Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-17

died Sept. 1s. 1902 There we're three
daughters born OF this union-Louise.
Stephanie and Clementine. The two
elder princesses have been estranged
from their father. but Clementine re-
mnined in his affections.
HIS SUCCESSOR.
There being no direct hereditary heir.
the crown pasrcs to Prince Albert, the
only son of l-eopold's brother. the late
PHILIPPE, count OF Flanders. The new
monarch was born on April s. 1875.
and on Oct. 2, 1900, married Princess
Elizabeth OF Bavaria. They have three
children. Prince Leopold. years old;
Prince Charles. yeaib old. and Prin-
cess Marie-Jose, years old.
Prince Albert Is ono of the most pop
ular members of the reigning house OF
Belgium. His wife is equally popular,
their home life being such as to attract
the love of the people, Prince Albert
has Travelled extensively and Is a man
of affairs. In appearance he is strlk-
ingly like the late king, but their dis
position and temperament have all
ways been In contrast.
Prince Albert has been great STU
dent of politics and economies and has
frequently lectured on these subjects.
To broaden his grasp of the affairs OF
the wolrd he visited the United States
and other countries, always studying
and always adding to his store OF
knowledge and philosophy.
There Is another side to the new king
which appeals to popular fancy He
dearly loves clean and healthy sport. He
is an accomplished horseman, enjoys
motoring and has taken a flight or two
in dirigiblc balloon.
In his intercourse with others he Is
most gracious. His frank. good-natured
face bespeaks intelligence and invites
confidence. Democratic In his tastes
and manners, he is nevertheless man
OF firm decision and kingly dignity.
While always conspicuous before the
public on account of the nature of his
private llfe particularly In recent years.
King Leopold has recently had much OF
the world against him, on account of
his attitude towards the Congo Inde-
pendent State. His great interest lay
in the development Of that country, for
he was practically the founder of IL
and was Its ruling sovereign. The
Congo Free State in Western Africa
was recognized and defined by the con-
ference of European powers at Berlin
in 1855.
CONGO SCANDAL.
II was the successor of the 1nterna-
tional African association, established
by Leopold and organized by STANDBY
In that year leopold was constituted
as sovereign. BY will dated Aug 2,
1889, Leopold bcqucathcd to Belgium the
right to annex the Congo State after
10 years. The conduct of the govern
ment of that state resulted in a fierce
dispute of worldwide dimensions and a
demand that a concert of European
powers intcrposc in the interest of hu-
manity. On November Is. 1908. Bel
gium formally assumed control of the
state. and since then efforts at reform
have been inaugurated. but not carried
out in an entirely satisfactory manner.
Criticisms against King Leopold In
In this connection arc said to have shat
tered the buoyant spirits of the SOW
ercign. He was proud of the work that
had been accomplished in that terri
tory and at Antwerp made a remark
able speech. in which he said the an
nexation of the Congo Independent
State was the greatest satisfaction of
his life. He declared that the Congo
would play q most important part in
the expansion of Belgium. 1t was be-
cause of his whole-souled interest in the
development of the Congo in connection
with the progress of Belgium that his
own people, In a measure, overlooked
the atrocities that were alleged against
him.
fAlIlB 1tOpOlu was toOheu upon DIS oilc
of the shrewdest and ablest men of the
time. He was essentially man of bus
mess, cold. reticent and calculating. He
was OF particularly Independent spirit,
and more than once has said to have
told other sovereigns who attempted to
advise him in connection with his prl-
vatc affairs to mind their own business.
For this reason King Leopold had been
cstranged from many courts of Eu-
rODe