The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-01-01
BELGIUM HAS ITS
OWN TALE OF WOE
Little Kingdom Rent by In.
ternal Strife.

When Belgium was set up as an
independent buffer state" in 1880
the Holy Alliance of absolute or
would-be absolute monarchs held
sway. and nobody dreamed that the
peace and concord of the artificial
kingdom would ever be disturbed.
Did not the people exist merely to
obey their sovereigns? And had not
Leopold of Saxe-Coburg been duly
made king? Yet all the racial and
linguistic elements of the present
inveterate division between French
speaking and Flemish-speaking peo-
pies; between Walloons and quasi
Dutch Flemings-a division which
now borders periIously on civil war,
and which has resulted in shouts of
"A bas lie roi !" directed against King
Albert-eXisted at the time AS a
matter of fact. the Belgian nation
ality has always been an artificial
affair. n this population of 7.S11,-
$40 1925 there are 2.S50.O00 who
speak only French, and 3.1S5. 900 who
speak only Flemish. which is a
tongue closely kindred tot may be
called virtually identical with-the
Dutch. Well-nigh 100000 people
speak both French and Flemish. but
this 100000 includes a majority
which speaks French only as con-
venient concession to the tongue
which is really the literary and busi-
ness language of the capital. They
are really Flemish i'm sympathy.
French was from the start put over
the Flemish in official proceedings, in
the schools and universities. It was
not until 1898 that the Flemish was
recognized by being placed on an Off
cial par with French. In a distinct
sense, the development of the Bel
gian nationality was Gallicizing
movement. and it was no doubt newt
able that Flemish sentiment should
eventually rise against this.
At all events it has developed into
bitter mutual opposition. Mainly
the French-speaking element consists
of the so-called Walloons. who are the
descendants of a Celtic race CALI
cized centuries ago. Racially a peo-
pie by themselves. the Walloons speak
a dialect of French. and the pure
French has generally taken the place
of the patois. The Flemish, who are
of Germanic origin are everywhere
making a patriotism of their tongue.
Very little of the consideration of re-
ligion enters into the division: both
races are preponderantly Catholic
but the Walloons and other French
speakers supply the majority of the
Liberal or Anticlerical party in Bel
GUM. Officially. Belgium makes no
account of religion. and does not
enumerate either communion in the
census.
Though the Belgian royal house is
of German origin. it has become, in
its culture. pretty thoroughly CALI
cized. Certainly the experience of
Belgian royalty during the World
war would tend to strengthen it's
French sympathies No doubt this
is the reason why King Albert meets
the cry of "Down With the king -
in distinctly Flemish province like
Limburg. Surely the division is I'M
fortunate Belgium has for centuries
been a clark and bloody ground
the chosen battlefield of Europe. 1t
has had enough of war. It's neu-
trality. by the international arrange
ment, was guaranteed by the other
nations. That guaranty was over
thrown by Germany and removed by
the treaty of Versailles. The coun-
try is now party 20 defensive al
lance with France. Flemishism car
ries the country nearer to Holland.
and consequently nearer to the
shadow of eventual German dimina-
ton. King Albert. who is certainly "A
patriotic Belgian. is probably aware
of this. Possibly he heeds the Amer
lean motto. UNITED we stand. d.
vided we fall."-Boston Transcript.