Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/596

 558 Readings in European History Dutch for Holland only and always against Belgium,. . . and, lastly, the most offensive partiality in the distribu- tion of civil and military appointments by a government in whose eye the name of Belgian was a disgrace; in a word, all Belgium treated as a conquered province, as a colony, — everything rendered a revolution necessary and inevitable and hastened its approach. Such just and real grievances could only lead to one result. We had risen against despotism to reconquer our rights, and we were treated by tyranny as rebels. Our cities were burned; the most barbarous treatment was inflicted even upon old men and upon women ; the rights of humanity, the laws of war, were trampled underfoot. Such conduct testifies to the ferocity of our enemy and calls down bless- ings on the victory of the people which has cleared our territory of them. The fruit of this victory has been independence. The people have proclaimed it through us, and have called you together, gentlemen, as the organ of its wishes to establish it forever. BIBLIOGRAPHY A. Refer- Congress of Vienna and the Reconstruction of Europe : Seignobos, ences. Political History of Europe since 1814, Chapter I, pp. 1-8; Andrews, The Historical Development of Modem Europe, Vol. I, Chapter I, pp. 86-133; Phillips, Modern Europe from 18/j, Chapter I, pp. 1-13. Restoration and July Revolution in France: Phillips, Chapter II, pp. 22-36; Chapter VIII, pp. 168-185; Andrews, Vol. I, Chapter II, pp. 134-179; Seignobos, Chapter V, pp. 103-132. The German Confederation and Metternich's Policy: Phillips, Chapter III, pp. 37-56; Seignobos, Chapter XII, pp. 374-386; Andrews, Vol. I, Chapter VI, pp. 229-241. Struggle for Italian Unity: Seignobos, Chapter XI, pp. 326-339; Andrews, Vol. I, Chapter V, pp. 180-228. Independence of Greece: Phillips, Chapter VII, pp. 135-167; Seignobos, Chapter XXI, pp. 648-654 ; Fyffe, Modern Europe, Chapter XV, pp. 525-602. [For the general bibliography of the period since 181 5, see the close of the following chapter.]