The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-24
KING ALBERT NOW
BELGIUM RULER
With Brilliant Ceremony, Young
Successor of Old Leopold
AscendS the Throne.
PLEDGES HIS HONOR TO
WORK FOR THE MASSES
Promises a Policy of Humanity
and Progress in Dealing
With the Congo.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 23.-Another young
monarch was added to the reign1ng
sovereigns of Europe today when Al
bert ]. ascepded the throne of Belgium
The official ceremony was brilliant and
the popular acclaim genuine. Yester-
day all Belgium mourned, Today SOM
Der symbols Of mourning had been re-
placed with the tri colored orifamme
Everywhere there was merrymaking,
and joyous cries filed the air.
The scene in the house Of parliament
where The oath TO the throne was taken
was impressive, with its setting of roy
ally. Here the new monarch made an
address dcstrcd, by its democratic
tone and unequivocal expressions on
the great question of the Belgian Con-
CO. to attract the attention Of the
world
Colonization should mean civilization,
| SAID the king. The nation desired a
policy of humanity and progress in the
Congo, and no one had right to doubt
| her promise that such a policy would
be maintained. 1t meant the growth
of the nation and the advancement of
| the moral and intellectual standard of
the people.
Will Labor for Masses.
| He would seek, he said, to develop
the system of popular education and
labor INCREASINGLY for the general well
! beng of the masses He paid tribute
to Leopold H. and the lattcr's policy
in opening the Congo 10 Belgian activ-
| lty. lie outlined program of human
| lty and progress, and was appauded IA
| he declared proudly that Belgium had
always kept her promises and no one
had a right TO doubt her word.
.ntpr m Tho 6aN- tho kjnO raooivo5
| the addresses of parliament. Intimates
! of the king Informed the Associated
| Press today that the new monarch
proposed TO apply himself with all the
resources at his command TO the solu-
tion Of the Congo situation and the de-
vclopment of that dependency
Albert l., king of the Belgians, with
! his queen, Elizabeth, made state entry
into the capital from Lacken this morn
! ing Cannon doomed forth royal sa-
! lutte. church bells rang out and hun
dreds of thousands Of loyal subjects
ing Long live Albert aud "Long
| live Elizabeth
Given Warm Welcome
When the procession arrived at the
chamber, whore the oath of ascension
was TO be taken, the successor of Leo
! pold ii. was given notable reception
! by the assembled senators and depu-
ties. y feeble attempt of the social
lists TO make republican demonstrations
note n fresh outburst of cheering
| drowned the voices of the malconteuts.
| King Albert's speech from the throne
was al eloquent tribute 10 Leopold L.
and to his uncle, the late King Leopold
! II. He declared that the latter had
| performed n prodigious work in Africa
! with the constant thought of enrich
| ing the nation and Increasing the eco
nomic resources OF Belgium.
| The new monarch expressed his graf
itude for foreign sympathy at the death
of Leopold, saying that the special mis-
sious dispatched TO yesterday S funeral
testified 10 the admiration felt III other
countries for the high qualities of the
late king.
Turning TO the subject of Belgium's
future, King Albert said:
I'VE must continue our unshakable
attachment to constitutional liberty and
| the love of independence and thus hold
sacred our patrimony while advancing
toward the peaceful conduests In the
fields of labor and science.
Policy in the Congo.
In the Congo the nation wishes
policy of humanity and progress aud
the enforced mission of colonization can
not be other than a mission of high
civilization. Belgium always has kept
her promises and when she engaged to
apply in the Congo a policy worthy of
her, none lad right 10 doubt her
word. -
King Albert continued:
1.-THE throne has its prerogatives and
its responsibilities. The sovereign must
be the servant Of the law and the sup"
porter of social peace. / love my couu-
try and the queen shares with ME an
unatcrabc feeling OF fidelity to Bel
giuul, which we are incucating also in
our children. Your welcome touches me
deeply and | shall cndcavor TO deserve
the confidence shown in me. and now
before the country ] pledge myself to do
my duty scrupulouslY and 10 conSecrate
all nv strength and my whole life 10
the service of the fatherlaud -
Loud cheers, which has frequently
greeted the speaker. greeted the close
Of the speech. AS the final pledge was
made the assembled Legislators and
other spectators rose TO their feet and
made tbc chamber ring with shouts OF
Long live the king and "Long live
the queen
Tonight Tho city Is alive with lights
with tho depression and signs OF mourn
Ing that prevailed immediately after the
death Of Leopold But the explanation
X 10 be found in the personal popu-
larity OF King Albert and his queen
and the high position they hold in the
esteem OF nations.
REQUIEM HIGH MASS
FOR SOJJT, OF LEOPOLD