The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-04
Independence of Belgium
 Proclaimed 85 Years Ago

Even if they are not permitted by their new masters to celebrate the oc- casion. Belgians will remember that today marks the 85th anniversary of the proclamation of Belgiums inde- pendence. It was on the fourth of Oc- tober. 1880. that the provisional Bel gian government at Brussels issued proclamation declaring Belgium free and independent of the Netherlands The revolution had commenced in Brussels on August 18th preceding, and on July 21st following Leopold, Prince of Saxe-Coburg, was formally crowned king of the Belgfans.
 On the abdication of Napoleon, Bel giun was put under an Austrian gov ernor, but when the powers divided Europe they gave Belgium to the Dutch monarch as g. reward for his devotion to the allied cause, and 1t was united to Holland as the United Netherlands. The inclinations of the Belgians, which led them to French alliance, were not consulted in this settlement, but if the Dutch had adopt ed a temperate and consolidating policy they might have retained Belgium. As it was, the differences between the two peoples soon reached acute stage.
 The Dutch were principally engaged in commerce, the Flenaings of Belgium in agriculture and manufacturing, and this brought about a clash of economic interests, literature and associations, and Catholic in religion, while the Dutch sought toSforce them to adopt their own tongue, and to embrace the CaIvinist faith and Puritanic moral 'code. In their intercourse with the French the Belgians had acquired li- beral ideas and principles and were independent of authority and trad1- tion, while the Dutch were conserva- %ix o1 pies were adnirable in their way, but their ways we're very different.
 The Dutch, although only half as numerous in the new kingdom as the Belgians looked upon the latter as subject people, and on their territory as the spoi1s of victory. The use of the French language in judicial and bow ernment proceedings was to be abol-. ished. In the States-General Holland with her 2,00o, 900 people was to have a, number of representatives equal to Belgium with her 4,000, 900 inhabitants The great public debt of Holland was imposed on Belgian industry. The con- stitl1tion was passed by an assembly in which the dissentients were a ma jority, but the absent members were reckoned as assenting, and thus the majority was converted into minor ity.
 A law gagging the press finally led to the outburst, although the singing of Auber's Masaniello at the grand opera in Brussels was the immediate cause of the revolt The spirit. stir ring airs aroused the Belgians to fury, and the. first blow for Belgian inde- pendence was at once struck. The in ha bitants of Brussels bully barricades, and soon all Belgium was af1ame Af- ter a battle, in which the men of Liege" turned the tide, Brussels was, in the complete control of the rebels. A provisional government was formed by Baron von Hoogvorst, Van de Wey- CT, Jolly, Count Rogier. Count Felix de Merode, Gendebien, Potter, and others, and on October 4th Belgium was declared free and independent. On December 26th the independence of Belgium was recognized by all the all lied powers. The Dutch fought brave Ely to retain the country, but France sent an army to assist the Belgians. and peace was restored on the new basis by which Belgium has enjoyed freedom and prosperity up to the Ger
 man invasion.