The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-11-09
Continued from page ~
BEERNAERT, RELGlUM'S FORE
MOST STATESMAN.

MOST STATESMAN.
sible sacrifice for it's own defense. This
was part of August Beernaert's pro-
gram and, in the face of much oppo-
sition, he had the Parliament pass a
series of measures for the strategic
defense of the country, chief among
which was the building of the fortifi-
cations of the Meuse, which are in
tended to defend Belgium against a
possible invasion by French and Ger
man armies.
Enhanced Belgian Prestige.
Premier Beernaert not only strove
to make Belgium prosperous, he not
only pacified and defended it, but he
helped to make it greater. The genius
of King Leopold II had endowed Bel
GUM with a colonial empire of i'm
mense possibilities, the African Congo
Leopold, the Colonizer, found an en-
lightened and strong co-laborer in his
Premier, in the fulfilment of the
gigantic task of organizing the new
colony, of assuring it's legal status, of
defending it against the ISLANDERS of
foreign greed, by Strengthening the
ties between the new colony and the
mother country. This broad and far
sighted policy of the Belgian King and
his Premier was, in some way, the
moral and economic salvation for a
country like Belgium, which is essen
TALLY dependent on it's soil, but which
nevertheless has to seek beyond the
oceans markets for that over-produc-
ton the sale of which has to feed it.
August Beernaert deserved we'll also
of his country by his steps to settle
the vexing language question. Bel
GUM is a bi-1ingual nation; few of
the nine Belgian Provinces are popu-
lated with Walloons who speak
speak their own language. Beernaert
initiated series of measures which
had for object to put the two leading
languages on a footing of equality.
Hence a source of strife amongst Bel
CLANS was removed
| DSC1AdC uONO1 was dCLudLOu NY
purely political motives; he had in
view the welfare of ALL He was not
only political leader but statesman
in the full meaning of the word. This
he showed on many occasions and
especially when he wanted the Par
Cal reforms, namely, the proportional
representation, with a view of insuring
a representation in the Parliament to
the political minorities. In this he
was opposed by coalition of all par
ties which caused him to resign in
1894. Let us add by the way, that this
political reform was adopted by the
Belgian Parliament six years later
He remained in the Parliament where
his authority was unimpaired and over
which he presided from 1896 till 1900.
King Leopold made him Minister of
State, which is as much as honorary
Minister, distinction seldom con-
ferred on any Belgian.
| The Catholic Party.
August Beernaert's influence on the
ideals and thoughts of Belgians has
been very great. Up to 1884 the
majority of the Belgian bourgeois
(what we would call the middle class)
was liberal There, liberalism found
it's strongest backing and following
The liberal ideas were so ingrained
in the bourgeoisie that Catholic gov,
eminent was considered to be the ruin
of the country, as something dishonor-
| ing before the eyes of the rest OF
Europe. Beernaert made them see
their mistake and gave proof that Bel
gian Catholics are the most capable
the most progressive leaders OF the
government. They have astonished
the world by their moderation, and
the fact that they brought the country
to an unheard-of degree of prosperity
and expansion was received first with
surprise and afterwards with increas
ing sympathy. Beernaert won the
day and soon the Catholics will have
been in power for thirty years. Count
De Smet de Mayer, de Trooz, Schol
Ilaert, and especially Baron de Broque
vile are the living proof OF the sound
ness of the politics inaugurated Dy
Beer-naert.
A Great Statesman.
i In the domain of internationa
politics, Beernaert played great part
His influence abroad was great; in oul
time that knows of no more Meter
Enichs, Palmerstons, Bismarcks and
Gladstones, Beernaert was prominent