News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-02-03
Brief Review of Modern Euro
pean History-Belgium

pcdu E1lSlOIy-DclSluH
By it's position with frontiers adjoining
/, the opposed nations of France and Ger.
many, Belgium has always been exposed
to warfare. 1t has only been since the
signing of the ''scrap of paper" that was
supposed to guarantee its neutrality that
it has enjoyed protracted peace. His
tory finds it fighting country when it is
first mentioned on che pages of Caesars
Commentaries. "Of all these the bravest
are the Belgians, They live nearest to
the Germans, VINO daeil across the
RHINE; with whom they perpetually wage
Warfare
In the sixteenth century and for q
long time previously. Belgium was an APP
pendage to the Spanish realms and re-
NAMED so long after the adjoining prov
ince of Holland had with the aid of Eng
land achieved independence. In the lat
ter port of the following century 1857
1861 Belgium was the scene of some of
the wars with which Louis XIV of
France desolated Europe to make good
his title, "His Most Christian Majesty"
Louis claimed certain possessions q Bel
GUM as an inheritance belonging to his
wife, Spanish Princess. This he did,
although at his marriage he had signed
a remuneration of all such claims in her
behalf, for himself or his successors.
Scraps of paper bearing royal signature
were not more sacred, it would seem, in
those days, in some quarters, than a SINH
lar document has recently been. Louis,
however, does not occupy position in
the worlds esteem of which modern
monarchs should be envious. There was
a triple alliance against Louis to defend
Belgium, or the Spanish Netherlands
against invasion, England, Holland and
Sweden combining for this purpose.
They effected it, but Louis was able to
retain fortresses along the Belgian Dor
der of France after this war and after d
fiercer contest with Holland.
For nine years Q6SS-1697) the ambi-
lions of Louis plunged all Europe again
in war; and there was but breathing
| space of four years before the struggle
once again broke out to last for thirteen
years. During all these years Belgium
| was part of the war map. In 1714,
with tho treaty of peace, Spain lost much
of her territory; tue Spanish Netherlands,
or Belgium. fell to the inheritance OF
Austria. The country remained in noml-
.xpifh h..A ,,yt .,n
for about rs years though in many ways
independent. In 1890 the inCertel ence
of the Austrian Emperor in Belgian al
fairs produced revolt and the people de-
clared themselves independent of Austria.
This was at the outbreak of the cat
French Revolution. Two years later the
armies of France had occupied Belgium;
in 1895 the government of the couuery
was organized as 1.-The Batavian Rcpuh-
lic." Two years after this, Austria nav
ing been defeated by France gave up all
claim TO Belgium as her province.
After the Punishment of Napoleon to
Elba, 1914, there was general re-adju just
ment of European boundaries by the
Congress at Vienna. Belgium and Ho-
land were joined together to serve as
buffer between France and Germany. /,
Belgium, soon received the unpleasant
consequences of such action for in June |
1915 her territories were swept by the |
armies of France under the returned EN- |
peror, and the allied armies of England |
and Prussia under Wellington and Bluch-
er. They met at Waterloo.
The government thus established in |
Belgium went to pieces sixteen years
later; the people revolted, declared them
selves independent of their Dutch neigh
bors and chose Leopold OF SAKE Coburg |
king. All the powers of Europe recog- |
nized the new kingdom and guaranteed
its neutrality-a guarantee that was kept |
until August of the past year, when Ger
many broke it.
The kingdom which has existed for
somewhat eighty years has seen a great
increase of wealth within it's borders. |
This has resulted from thrift at home
and from the revenues brought in from
the Belgian colony in the Congo regions
of Africa. This last source of revenue
has had upon it the faint of cruelty
shown to the natives of the subjugated
territories. Whatever the faults of indi-
Yiduals or of organizations in this respect
the Belgian people have won the admira-
ton of the world outside the ranks of
their enemies. They have shown them
selves worthy of the ancestors of whom
the first Caesar said "Of all these the
bravest are the Belgians." To give aid
in supporting their starving millions is
not an act of charity but recognition of
merit. JOHN ELLIOT BOWMAN.
For Dyspepsia, our national ailment,
use Burdock Blood Bitters. Recommend
"A g., |