BELGIUM: THE INNOCENT BYSTANDER 



227 



with never a fratricidal war in their mod- 

 ern history. That tie is the bond of re- 

 ligion, for they all subscribe to the doc- 

 trines of the Church of Rome with a 

 heartiness that makes them one of the 

 best-loved peoples of the Holy See. 



These two peoples were first united 

 under Philip the Good of Burgundy, and 

 while they had to pass through the vicis- 

 situdes of many a war of European poli- 

 tics before they got even within hailing 

 distance of the time when they, fighting 

 shoulder to shoulder, could start their 

 career of separate existence from other 

 countries and united existence among 

 themselves, they were always on the 

 same side when other countries fought 

 for their control. 



Their tongues are Flemish and French, 

 and only lo per cent of the people can 

 speak both. The Flemish influence never 

 crossed the Meuse River toward the east, 

 and the Walloon influence reached but a 

 short distance toward the west from that 

 beautiful valley. The line of demarca- 

 tion between the two peoples is rather 

 sharply marked. 



The Walloons occupy eastern Belgium. 

 Their name is said to come from the 

 German word "welch," meaning culture. 

 It was given by the tribes of the Rhine 

 region to the inhabitants of the Valley 

 of the Meuse because of their early 

 civilization, for they were one of the 

 first of the peoples of western Europe 

 to step across the twilight zone between 

 semi-barbarism and civilization. 



WALLOONS AND FLEMINGS 



There is a physical difference between 

 the Walloons of eastern Belgium and 

 the Flemings of western Belgium, just 

 as there is a difference of tongue and 

 stock. The Walloons are of stouter 

 build and greater stature, and are dark 

 where the P'lemings are fair, thus be- 

 speaking the commingling of Spanish 

 blood. On the other hand the Flemings 

 are the more industrious of the two 

 peoples, and their women are said to 

 be able to prepare the best meals out of 

 the fewest things of almost any race in 

 the world. Both the Flemings and the 

 Walloons are fond of bright and lively 

 colors, but it is the opinion of most ob- 



servers that the Walloons have the 

 quieter tastes. The women on both sides 

 of the Meuse are famed for their in- 

 dustry, thrift, cleanliness, capacity for 

 hard work, and cheerfulness whatever 

 their lot. 



THE BELGIAN CONSTITUTION 



Belgium is governed under a constitu- 

 tion dating from 1830. This instrument 

 was framed by a convention of Belgians, 

 and has continued in force with but few 

 modifications ever since. It stipulates 

 that there shall be freedom of conscience, 

 of education, and of press, and guaran- 

 tees the right of meeting. Also, it pro- 

 vides that the ruler shall be a member of 

 the Church of Rome. 



Succession rests with the male heirs 

 of the King. Should there ever be a 

 complete default, the King can, with the 

 consent of the two branches of the As- 

 sembly, nominate his successor. If there 

 be no such nomination in the event of 

 default, then a new Assembly shall be 

 elected, two members for each one mem- 

 ber in normal times, and that body thus 

 constituted is directed to proceed to make 

 a choice of a new King. 



Belgium's constitution describes the 

 government as a hereditary constitu- 

 tional monarchy. But as the King has the 

 right of initiating proposals for new laws 

 and the power to dissolve the Assembly 

 at will, the powers possessed by him are 

 greater than those enjoyed by most con- 

 stitutional rulers. 



The Assembly is made up of a Senate 

 and a House of Representatives. The 

 Senate consists of 76 elected members 

 and 26 members appointed by the pro- 

 vincial councils. The members of the 

 King's Cabinet may be members of either 

 branch of the Assembly, but whether 

 they are or not. they enjoy the privilege 

 of speaking in both. 



SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES 



A senator sits for eight years, unless 

 the Assembly is dissolved during his 

 term, when all seats become vacant and 

 a new Assembly is elected. No man is 

 eligible until he is 40 years old, which 

 is a higher qualification in point of age 

 than is required in our own Senate. 



