| Show S BELGIUM I Belgium so prominent lately in the I news dispatches Is one of the young oung monarchies of Europe In 1815 Hol Hoi Holand Hoiland I land hand anti and wore united but this union did not last t In ISlO 1830 the country revolted drove away awa the Dutch army ann annand and ind officials officiate and called d together a na rut national ional assembly The Tho next year ear this body hod drew up a constitution and arid elect elected elected elected ed Leopold of oC Coburg king England and France took Belgium under their protecting care and the tho country was lost host to Holland According to the constitution the tile ting Icing acts only through his ministers who ate are responsible to the parliament and resign resl n when not In halmo with the majority Tho rho parliament consists of oC two elective houses Part of oC the tIme members member of ot the upper house boulle however r rore ore are elected by b local councils and tho the thorest thorest S rest must owna large amount amount of oC prop property erty crt The country countr has had a long and bitter fight for Cor the tho franchise At times a clash between the laborers and militia has seemed Imminent In 1893 a law was adopted giving every man mana a vote But two votes were wele given gen to toa toa toa a man over 35 years ears of oC age if it he pos possessed possessed a certain amount a of ot wealth or orf orIf It If f ho he had n me family Three votes otes weN vere to be cast c t by men possessing certain educational qualifications and by b thos those holding certain offices 6 In 1809 1899 the tho law 5 S was modified for tor the purpose of or ad admitting tt p the I lt to representation rep t 11 j r y In tn tho the government but hut there thoro Is 18 great groat unrest among amo J the tho people peopleS S The Tho Congo State is practically the creation of ot the late Jato king Leopold 11 II It U was at Ills his suggestion that the tho Congo International Association was organized ed cd for tor tho ostensible purpose of oC ex exploring Central Africa and making an end of oC tho the slave shave trade tra e Stanley entered the tho service of Leopold and headed the expedition or the tho association But dis disputes disputes disputes soon arose as to boundaries or spheres of Influence and Bismarck suggested an International congress at I Berlin This was WIlS hold In ISM 1884 It Is s notable in the tho annals of at history as a the first European congress at which the tho United States was recognized This I congress accepted the existence of oC the tho Congo State aa as u a n fact and recognized the tho sovereignty of ot the Congo Association AssocIation tion ion on condition that the I policy polley should bo ho maintained The Tho Congo Freo Free State Slate is now non transferred to Belgium in so far as Is s that country has acquired the tho right to annex It IL I hene It l mR th tI W There are aro about people eople In Inthe Inthe Inthe the Congo State scattered over an era of oC a square mil Belgium In Europe has haR about six and arid a n halt half million Inhabitants Some Soma French politicians we understand are arc look looking lookIng lookIng ing forward to the annexation of oC the country and they the are said to have havethe the support of oC a n strong party part In Belgium The addition of ot that country countr Including the Congo Free I rec State would be con considerable of an achievement But the tho annexation of or Belgium by b France would probably mean the absorption of oC Holland by b Germany German ape radical changes rc on the tho map of oC Eu Bu Europe Europe rope |
