The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-25
Belgian Independence Was Won By Patriotism
 Inspired By Song

This is day of inspiring memories for the Belgians, for it was on the night of the twenty-fifth of August, 1880, just eighty-fiVe years. ago to- day, that the revolution commenced at Brussels which made Belgium a free and independent snati9f1. It was the patriotic fury aroused by the singing of a stirring song which in spired the Belgians to arm against their oppressors. the Dutch. By the treaty of the powers made a century, ago, after the downfall of Napo1eona Belgium became part of the Meth erlands. The Dutch masters of the country sought to stamp out the French language and this and other measures obnoxious to the Be1gians aroused a spirit of rebellion. Only a spark was needed to set off the powder magazine, and. it was supplied by the singing of a song.
 On the night of August 25th the company of the Brussels Opera House sang Auber's opera t.sMusettesa de Por- tici"s The house was crowded, for the opera was popular with all classes of music lovers. During the course of the opera, the tenor, Francois van Campenhout, sang the stirring, fiery appeal of MassanieIlo, the Neapo1itan hero of the opera, in which elcalls upon the people to rise against the; tyrant oppressors of their beloved land and give their lives to the hoy task
 
 impassioned, powerful cry and the tenor put his very soul into the words. Thrilled to their innermost depths and perceiying the application of the ap- peal to their own condition, the audi ence arose as one man anad rushed out of the opera house and into. the street, singing the words of the chorus which was to them the call to arms. The contagion quickly spread through = out the city, and the whole population was soon singing and shouting, Down with the 4Dutch! Down with the tyr nts!2 Before the clocks of Brussels sounded the hour of midnight several barricades had been thrown up in the streets, and the revolution was on.
 The revolutionary fervor which had been ignited by a song was soon fur. ther augmented by anothers musical appeal. Francois van Campenhout the tenor whose voice had sounded the first battle~cry, set himself to the task of composing an anthem which would serve as the national song of the revolutionists. The result was @La Brabanconne,'' which is still Belgiun's s ntionaI song. The composers operatic educations resuItedf in an air which is gay and sprightly rather than sol emn and sonorous, but the ringing ap-. peal. tsBeIgiaIs be free, men," made and still makes a strong appeal to the. Befgianss~
 Fearful perhaps that the Belgians may again be aroused by the singing of song. the German governors of the country have imposed severe pen alties upon the singingof La Braban- .conne." as we'll as prohibiting the dis playing of the national colors and the wearing of the Belgian nationals col ors, The ban of Teutonic disapprova1 rests not only upon La Brabanconne'' but also upon tI1e Roi, Ia Loi, Ia. Iii berte.'' and other Belgian patriotic an- thems, as we'll as upon the ttMarseiI-. 1aise..' which has always been popu-' laf.in Belgium. It is safe to say, how ever, that if stf1es Be1gians dare not. utter aloud the inspiring words of La Brabanconne.' 7 they will sing 1t in their hearts today, in remembrance Of that night eighty-five years ago when a song inspired revolution which. within less than a year, made Belgium a free country.