reply to an aggression against the troops, repression
without words, the summary justice of the commander of the army
responsible for his soldiers._

"_But our armies are far away; we are no longer in the zone of
military operations. Nothing here menaces your troops, the
inhabitants are calm._

"The people have taken up work again. You have bidden them do it.
Each one devotes himself, Magistrates, Judges, officials of the
provinces and cities, the clergy, all are at their post, united in
one outburst of national interest and brotherhood.

"However, this calm does not mean that they have forgotten.

"The Belgian people lived happily in their corner of the earth,
confident in their dream of independence. They saw this dream
dispelled, they saw their country ruined and devastated, its
ancient hospitable soil has been sown with thousands of tombs where
our own sleep; the war has made tears flow which no hand can dry.
_No, the murdered soul of Belgium will never forget._

"But this nation has a profound respect for its duty. It will
always respect it.

"Has not the hour come to consider as closed the period of invasion
and to substitute for the measures of exception the rules of
occupation as defined by international law and the treaty of The
Hague, which sets a limit to the occupying power and imposes
obligations on the country occupied?

"Has not the hour arrived to restore the Court House to the
judiciary corps? The military occupation of the Court House is a
violation of the treaty of The Hague.

"Among the moral forces does one exist that is superior to justice?
Justice dominates them all. _As ancient as humanity itself, eternal
as the need of man and nations to be and to feel protected, it is
the basis of all civilization._ The arts and sciences are its
tributaries. Religious creeds live and prosper in its shadow. Is it
not a religion in itself?

"Belgium raised a magnificent temple to Justice in its capital.

"This temple, which is our pride, has been converted into barracks
for the German soldiers. A small part of it, becoming smaller every
day, is reserved for the courts. The Magistrates and lawyers have
access to it by a small private staircase.

"Sad as are the conditions under which they are called to
adminis