Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-25
SUFFRAGE ASSURED
BELG|ANS BY KING
Nation Completely Independent,
Albert Announces; Cardinal
Mercicr Grateful to u. S.

Brussels, Nov 25-King Albert, having
been received enthusiastically by the in
habitants of his redeemed capital upon
his entry into the city, made an i'm
portant speech on Friday from the throne
| in Parliament, his first uttcrancc in the
capital since almost the beginning of the
| war
| Near the throne stood General Pershing,
| representing the American Army; General
| Plumer of the British Army, and other
! Allied commanders. The Chamber W AS
| filled with members and in the galleries
was the Diplomatic Corps, including
| Brand Whitlock, the American Minister,
who returned to his post in Brussels on
Thursday.
sERsHING QUIET SPECTATORS
Grouped about the throne Ms the King
entered were Cardinal Mercier in his
crimson robes, Burgomaster Max, Cen
eral Leman, the defender of Liege, and
Prince Albert of England Queen Eliza
BETH with the Prince and Princess, had
preceded the King As the latter entered
he passed in front of Cardinal Mercier
Burgomaster Max and General Leman
and shook each of them warmly by the
hand
General Pershng took no part in the
having entered the city quietly as
spectator.
After the ceremonies in the Chamber
the King held an official reception at the
City Hall Here Minister Whitlock had
touching meeting with Burgomaster
Max, whom he had not seen since his
arrest and deportation to Germany.
The Burgomaster was quite overcome
with emotion. In his address King Albert
said:
The Government proposes to the
Chambers to lower, by patriotic agree
ment, the ancient barriers, and TO make
the consultation of the nation reality
on the basis Of equal suffrage for all
men of the mature age required Tor the
exercise of civil rights"
This statement aroused a storm OF
applause from all of the members Re
ferring to the Flemish question, King
Albert said:
To ENJoY FULL INDEPENDENCE.
The necessity of fruitful union de-
mands the sincere collaboration of all
citizens of the same country without
distinction of origin or language.
reciprocal respect for the interests OF the
Flemngs and the Nalloons ought TO be
an integral pricniple of the administration
being understood when he speaks hos
own language and assure to HIM hIs full
intellectual development, esp ecially hIghe<
education.
Belgium, victorious and freed from
the neutrality that was imposed upon
her by states which have been shattered
to their foundation by war, viii enjoy
complete indep endence Belgium, re-
established in all its nights, will rule its
destinIes according TO its aspirations
and in full sovereignty,
In speaking Of the manner IN which the
war had been brought to a successful
conclusion, Hing Albert referred with
gratitude to the great efforts of all the
Entente count ries and of the United
States, "a new and stalwart ally which
added the weight of her effort, so great and
enthusiastic, TO that OF the other nations
a nd caused our formidable adversary to
totter."
The King declared America had saved
Belgium from famine.
AMERICA SAVED Us, SAYS MERCER
Cardinal MERCER and Burgomaster
Max granted interviews to the Associa-
ted Press Yesterday. You have saved
us, " said the Cardinal, when asked what |
he thought about America s participation |
in the war y ou have saved the world.
Il never despaired, never lost hope, |
at times my heart was very |
full. (" the Cardinal said, referring to an !
incident in December, 1914, when Mill |
tary Govcnor VOC Kissing virtually made !
him prisoner in his Episcopal Palace. |
"'Rissing treated me rs 4 prisoner for four |
days"
Concerning the Governors of Belgium
during the war, Cardinal Mercier said
Falkenhausen was more cruel than Kissing
and more perhdiouS But he added,
there was not much TO choose between
them
THINKS GERMANY INsINCERF
Referring to the upheaval in the
OF Germany, Cardinal Mer-
rier said: II am no politician However,
he changes there seem too sudden to be
asting The new government appears to
ne like camOutiage Of the autocracy,
and the changes seem to have been made
% order according to prearranged schedule.
The barbarian device that might is
right has received its death blow; the
ircan Of pan-Gcrnan domination has
cen shattered and evaporated like
1oxious gas in the wind, and, thanks to
Gods justice, right has trlumphed and
he Bclglans once more are free and in
dependent
Your President is great statesman;
)ne Of the greatest Of all times. The Ger
mans dark plotting and treacherous
diplomacy were completely foiled by
President Wilson'S magnihcently honest
md i1nplaca5ly just messages"