Cologne , August 6. Let us look, to begin with, at the economic conditions of which the much-praised political constitution only forms the gilded frame. The Belgian Moniteur . In the province of Luxemburg 1 inhabitant out of 69 receives support Namur 1 in 17 Antwerp 1 in 16 Li ge 1 in 7 Limburg 1 in 7 Hainaut 1 in 6 Eastern Flanders 1 in 5 Brabant 1 in 4 Western Flanders 1 in 3 This growth of pauperism will necessarily be followed by a further increase in pauperism. All individuals who maintain an independent existence lose their civil equilibrium as a result of the assistance tax with which these poor fellow citizens burden them and they too plunge into the abyss of public charity.
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.