The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-07-06
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ECHOES OF A GREAT BATTLE.

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ECHOES OF A GREAT BATTLE.
ton was necessitated by the increase
of Belgium's population to seven
millions and a half which added
twenty new Representatives and ten
Senators. The apparent dispropor-
ton of the Catholic majority in the
Chamber to that in the Senate is
easily accounted for when we remem-
Der that six out of the nine Belgian
Provinces elect Catholic Senators.
Comment on the Outcome.
To appreciate the result of the
election it must be remembered that
this was the most holly contested
electoral battle fought on Belgian
ground since 1881. Several factors
made the outcome doubtful and gave
the opponents of the Catholic Party
great hope of victory. First of all,
the Liberals, Socialists, and so-called
Christian Democrats, entered into
combine" to get the full benefit
of their united electoral strength.
Moreover, one must consider the wear
and tear of twenty-eight years of an
uninterrupted tenure of Office which
during the last ten years reduced the
majority of the Catholic Party to
six. Finally, there was a heated
campaign waged all over the country
in meetings and through the press by
the opponents of the government.
But, nevertheless, all was of no
avail! The combined efforts of the
adversaries of the Catholic Party and
their furious attacks were successful
ly met and routed by the splendid
union and discipline of the Catholics
themselves whose great victory is the
answer which the hardy sons of
Belgium gave to the attacks of their
enemies. 1t is magnificent endorse
ment of party which, for quarter
of century, has given Belgium an
unequalled era of peace and prosper
ity, and has done yeomen service in
the work of Christian civilization and
progress in all the manifestations of
human activity and endeavor-an en-
dorsement which refutes the old cal
jimmy that Catholic countries are
doomed to failure
The triumph of the Catholic Party
is all the more noteworthy because
of the fact that it carried the whole
country, not only the small towns
but the large cities, not only the Elem
ish districts but the Walloon Pro-
vinces, so that the result of the polls
may be safely called a plebiscite or
popular vote. Since the election of
two years ago the Catholic Party made
gain of $4,000 votes. The mean
ing of the victory is all the greater
when we remember that the Catho-
lie Party went to the polls with flying
colors. The great issue was the school
question which caused the downfall of
the eminent Premier Schollaert year
ago. The adversaries of the Govern
ment challenged his successor, Baron
de Broqueville, who came to the polls
on a platform granting subsidies to
free schools. The challenge was ac-
SCpICu Qlu tuC SOIAO11S Oil ~ VIII q
glorious victory.
The result shows that the Catho-
lie Party is far from being in a state
of senility as it's enemies declared.
It's great victory is due, under God, to
it's splendid union and to the in
domitable energy shown by it's lead
ers, and especially by the young and
distinguished Premier, Baron de
Broqueville.
Nor can it be maintained that the
triumph of the Catholic Party is due
to the fact that the electors voted
in a moment of panic One week
after this, an election was held for
the Provincial councils, which cor
respond to our State Legislatures,
and the Catholic Party again tri-
umphed. Congratulatory messages
have been sent to Baron de Broque-
vile by the Catholic Centrum, and
the Catholics of northern France and
Holland. The attempts at rioting,
the natural result of spite and disap-
pointed rage, have been put down by
the Government and quiet has been
restored throughout Belgium.
Once more little Belgium has shown
herself worthy of the admiration of
the Catholic world. May the Catholic
Party profit by its new lease of power
and continue the great work which
has made Belgium the most prosper
GUS and progressive country of the
world.