The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-12-24
KING ALBERT |.
TAKES SCEPTER
Entry to Capital is Demon
strative.
new MONARCH IS WELCOMED
Speech from Throne is Tribute
to Dead.
Concerning Congo Affairs, New Ruler
Says the Nation wishes Policy
Of Humanity and Progress
Enforced--subjects Greet
King.

son OF the late Prince Pnilippe, COUNT
OF Flanders. was crowned King of the
Belgians today, assuming the title OF
Aibeft Is
With his queen, Elizabeth, and
their sons, Princes Leopold and
Charles. the new king rode In state
from Laeken to the parliament, ac-
claimed by thousands along the gaily
decorated streets.
The oath of office was administered
before Joint session of the houses
of parliament and the feeble attempt
of the socialists to sound discordant
note was drowned by the cheers Of
the loyalists.
In his speech from the throne. King
Albert said:
Il pledge myself to do my jutR
scrupulously, and to concentrate al
my strength and devote my whole life
to the service of the Fatherland."
Tonight the city Is alive with
lights and merry making strangely
contrasting with the depression and
signs of mourning that prevailed i'm
mediateiy following the death of
Leopold. But the explanation Is to be
found In the personal popularity of
King Albert and his queen. and the
high position they hold in the esteem
OF the nation
day the sombre symbols of mourning
had been replaced with the tri-colored
orifamme and everywhere there was
merry making.
In the house OF parliament the new
monarch made an address, destined, by
It's Democratic tone and unequivocal
expressions on the great question OF
the Belgium Congo. to attract the at
tention OF the world
81 So to- 1kr raa
ton" said the king. The nation de-
sired a policy Of humanity and pro-
gress In the Congo and no one had a
right to doubt her promise that such
a policy would be maintained.
At daybreak. the htreets were again
crowded with many thousands OF spec
tators. Windows. balconies and roofs
were filled and standing room on wag-
ons. tables, chairs and ladders was sold
at extravagant prices.
Preceded by Queen Elizabeth and the
two little princes, Leopold and Charles.
who occupied the royal coach. Albert
made a Joyous entry" to the city.
King Mounted ON Charger.
The king was mounted on spirit
ed charger and made striking picture
In the gold and white uniform OF a
general
He repeatedly acknowledged the
unconcealed pleasure and pride as
shower of flowers fell upon the queens
coach.
At the hall OF deputies the demon
strationf in honor OF the king contln-
ued for many minutes.
Standing before the assemblage of
brilliantly uniformed princes and for.
eign representatives, bishops and
senators, Albert in another setting.
hax nm Qaad 81 college
professor. addressing his class.
In an agreeable voice and speaking
deliberately, the new monarch pledgec
himself to work for the social ad-
vancement OF the nation and the ele-
walton of the moral and intellectual
standard of the people. He would
seek, he said, to develop the system OF
popular education and labor unceas-
ingly for the general a. hethg Of
the masses.
He paid q high tribute to Leopold ii
and the latter's policy in opening the
Congo to Belgian activity. He out
lined a program OF humanity and pro-
gress and was greeted with a storm
of applause as he declared proudly that
Belgium had always kept her promis-
es and no one had right to doubt her
word.
VIII solve Congo Problem.
Later in the day the king received
the address of parliament. Intimates
of the king informed the Associated
Press today that the new monarSl
proposed to apply himself with all
the resources at his command to the
solution of the Congo situation and
the development OF that dependency.
1t IS his great ambition to justify in
the eyes OF the world the sovereignty
of Belgium over the Congo.
When the procession arrived at the
chamber, where the oath OF ascension
was to be taken, the successor of
Leopold II was given a notable re-
ception by the assembled senators and
deputies. A feeble attempt OF the So
cialihts to make a Republican demon
stration failed miserably. At every
dfscordant note, a fresh outburst of
cheering drowned the voices OF the
malcontents.
King AIbert's speech from the
throne, was an eloquent tribute to
Leopold /. and to his uncle. the late
King Leopold II. He declared that
the latter had performed a prodigious
work in Africa. with the constant
thought of enriching the nation and
increasing the economic resources OF
Belgium.
The new monarch expressed his
gratitude for foreign sympathy at the
death of Leopold, saying that the spe-
cial missions dispatched to yesterdays
funeral testified to the admiration felt
in other countries for the high quail
ties of the late king.
Talks OF BeiEium's Future.
Turning to the subject OF Belgium's
future, King Albert said:
"We must continue our unshaka-
pie attachment to constitutional lib-
erty and the love OF Independence and
thus hold sacred our patrlmony while
advancing toward the peaceful con-
quests in the fields OF labor aud
science.
"In the Congo the nation wishes a
policy Of humanity ana progress en-
forced. The mission of colonization
cannot be other than a mission of
high civilization. Belgium always has
kept her promises and when she en-
cages to apply In the Congo a policy
worthy of her, none has a right to
doubt her word
King Albert continued:
The throne has its prerogatlves
and Its responsibilities. The sovereign
must be the servant of the law and
the supporter OF social peace. love
my country. and the queen shares with
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