Pauperism creates pauperism at an increasing rate. To the same extent, however, that pauperism increases, crime increases and the life source of the nation itself, the youth , is demoralised. Thus starting with 1845 there is an approximately annual doubling of the number of juvenile delinquents under 18 years of age. According to this ratio, Belgium would have 74,816 juvenile delinquents in the year 1850 and 2,393,312 in the year 1855, i.e. more than the number of young people under 18 years of age she has and more than half her population. By 1856 all Belgium would he in gaol, the unborn children included.
Equality prevails in gaol.
Pauperism in Flanders was horn under the system of free trade, it grew and became stronger under the protective tariffs against foreign linen goods and linen yarn. With the exception of arms and nail factories, which have been exceptionally favoured by circumstances, the cloth factories which maintain their ancient renown and the zinc production which compared to overall production is insignificant, the whole of Belgian industry is in a condition of decay or stagnation. With a few exceptions, there is a considerable decrease in the export of the products of the Belgian mines and metal-works. We come to the linen industry. The decrease of the first six months of 1847 compared with those of 1846 amounted to 657,000 kilograms, the decrease in 1848 compared with that in 1846 amounts to 1,613,000 kilograms or 64 per cent.