Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-10
THE NEW BELGIUM.
What May BE Expected of This Re-
silent Nation.

10
silent Nation.
A people which has once shown the
higher qualities may be crushed b,. cir
cumstances for centuries but when the
circumstances are removed It's qualities
VIII reassert themselves We have Soon
that in the case of Italy and in tho caeo
of Germany but our tendency to over
look what lies under our nose has can
cealed 1t from US in the case Of Belgium
There Is pcrhars y slight excuse for us
in the change of names. The people now
called BelGians have only been SO STYLED
since the eighteenth century. Before that
they made their notable contribution to
history and civilization as the Flemings
and Walloons
1t is not always realized that tho civil
lization Of the low countries. which ~
the close of the middle ages and the
dawn of the renaissance was the highest
In Europe, Italy excepted. had It's cent
ers in what is now Belium. and that
what is now Holland was comparatively
poor and unimportant region until it
won its freedom from the Spaniards
largely through the stubborn resistance
which the Spanish efforts were concen-
trated. For over two centuries from that
time the fate of Holland and Belgium
was curlously different. Holland became
one Of the great nations Belgium. first
under Spain, then Under Austria. and
lastly under France, became the "cock-
pit Of Europe" Their are large
tracts of it whore you cannot walk ten
miles in any direction without crossing
the Gene of famous battle or siege.
Giere again we are STRANGELY forgetful
How many Of the English tourists who
visit Waterloo know that they are al
most within sight there of the field of
Ramilles0
The consequences to the natives of the
country were appalling: IL is almost a
wonder that any were left. This state
Of things was not satisfactorily ended
till 1881. when the Pelgians. after wrest-
ing their Independence from Holland. Sc
cured guarantee Of neutrality (renewed
In 1897 from the powers 1t Is worth re-
calling that in the Belgian War of indie
pendenCe unframed volunteers fought
against as many Dutch regulars with
artillery for four days in BRUSSELS. final
~ driving them out with heavy losses
and that prominent among tho heroes
Of this decisive exploit was celebrated
band from Lego.
Since 1881 Belgium has made more pro-
gress than Holland. Its population is now
larger. its wealth greater, and its contri-
button to the modern world on the side
Of industry. art literature. and Ideas Is
in most respects far more considera BILE
Situated at the meeting point of English.
French, German and Dutch Civilizations
it has borrowed from them ALL From
England it learned Industrial methods
and a good deal of It's politics: France
has especially Influenced it's literature
and art and has tnged its social ideals:
Germany has taught 1t something IN
municipal administration and in the
sphere of agriculture and also in that
Of high finance and oversee trade. There
Is much that is jerry-built in its social
and economic structure, as is inevitable
where growth has been so rapid but its
ultimate foundation Is a sure one while
peace lasts-the native talent Of an ex-
ceptionally gifted and industrious peu-
pie.
What every Belgian has been brought
up from his cradle to realize is that the
whole happiness of the country and
everybody in IT depends on maintaining
neutrality. Once let II be violated with
impunity. once let It even prove to have
been worth anyone's while to have vio-
lated ii, and the game is up-Belgium
must sink bac.s into the cockpit" stage.
Hence II is not surprising that the pres
ent unprovoked German onslaught has
been desperately opposed. What all Bel
CLANS hope is that, aided by the British
intervention they may make Germany
so repent their aggression that neither
she nor France shall feel inclined to TO
peat it in future
OF what material Is Belgium manhood
composed? There is, first1a distinction
OF races-the Flemish and the Walloons
The Walloons (whose real capital 3
Liege, but who nhabit the whole of tn"
coal and iron industrial belt stretching
eastward through Charlero to Mons and
also most Of the Belgian Ardennes) are
n fiery, idealistic race. The revolutionary
characterization of the Belgium franchise
in 1899 was their work They supply the
biggest battaions OF Belgium socialism,
In places like Liege they have Coutin-
uous tradition Of iron working and gun
making since a time when the timber OF
the Ardennes was the fuel Of their fur
naces They make locomotives, motor
cars; and smallarms which are sold all
over the world They have a racial gift
was Cesar FranckO AVID. much 9s IN our
own Wales, any local excitement brings
There j., puod deal Ct iopU.a. Ntera-
ture in their curious dialect of French