New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-15
BELGIUM.
ALMOST A REVOLUTION.

ALMOST A REVOLUTION.
To hs Editor i TAe LoH&os Times IL
,o1 events have occurred in Belgium which, tnou5h
hitherto disregarded in England, calculated
cise mOmentous influence on the future OF tha' cum
Try. In order that your readers may understand ll
nature 0 the present cisis let recur for monc"'
10 the occurrences OF 1913.
Prior 10 the French Revolution Of February par
ties were pretty equally balanced in the Belgium
Legislative Assembly, the Liberals and Ultranon-
ianes having alternately a small majority, Iarsiy
exceeding FIX eight. The Revolution found DEF
GUM in possession of a Liberal Ministry, ano
hanks 10 the wisdom Of the King, the prudence OF
the Government, ard the loyalty OF the people the
country passed .afely through the storm "nich
leVeled nearly every other continental Government
Then came the reaction IN France ard elsewhere-a
reaction If which the CltTamOht6ue party was no.
slow 10 avail itself. The franchise being on most
extended scale the great majority Of voters IN lIe
villa. es and country dtricts, more particularly 10 'ue
Flrn ish provinces, profoundly Ignorant ana com
Iletcly under the domination Of The priests CaIeu
on TO exerce the elective franchise, they are driven
by the cI in chs Ike sheep, 10 the pol II tue iul
belief that Liberals Freemas'ns and Atheists are
syImyno terms, for 60 are they taught Ne 1donl"
dsly. TIE intelligent populations II Brussels Antwerp,
Ii9oe and VeTyieTs have Struggled in vain against
this priosy domination, and some two or three years
ago the UltIamoDtane party obtained decided major
ity in the Legislative Assembly 80
The King who thoroughly understands his p0stoh
rs constitutional monarch, was compelled 10 form
government, the opinions Of which were in accordance
With those If the parliamentary majority. The llberaI
ministry was dismissed, and that of NJ de DECKER
n eIe tool OF the priests appointed in lis place. No
sooner was this triumph gained than Intolerance ana
bigotIy assumed new Developments The most able
organs of the press protested III Naln Inc bishops re-
tled by exconnuuca,ng their renders. Pastoral lei
iers were issued warning parents of the fate which
awaed those who did not pdtronLe tue jesuit College
Of Louvan, and the State Universities OF GAent ana
Liege were put under episcopal ban. Az lepgth the
near seemed ripe, and about two months back the
Government introduced the Bill upon Charitable lnstl-
tutions which the immediate cause Of last weeks
ridtiug. ao
The administration Of charity in Belgium since 1880
has been completely secuarized ard concentrated in
the hands of the civil power. Religious congregations
and members Of the clergy Of every denomination are
legally Incapable of receiving or distributing aims anu
b quests destined for the poor. This distribution Is
made by two institutions specially appointed for the
putpose-tbe Administrations HOSpfaheres and the
ButCaur de Bientaisancc. All requests to religious
congregations are null and void and all donations IN
favor Of the poor RENTED to the abovenamed IN
s,itutions Ii will thus be seen that Bel nm enjoys
law more limited in its application than our Law OF
Mortnain but still affordng protection against the
priest to the dying citizen and his family
The Ministerial Bill proposes that the Government
shall have the power, by a simple decree under the
Kings hand OF comforting religious congregations
the rights OF citizens with all the privileges attaching
the reo including those OF possessing luheTlng ana
receiving all donations andlegaces gwen or bequeath-
ed 10 Them On the other hand, they who wish TO DIS
poe Of their fortune in favor of the poor, or for chart
liable purposes will have the right to name special ad-
niljsrators Of such property they shall devote TO
,bof end In fact the proposed Bill practically re-
meals the existing laws, and wlihdraws all protection
nom the dying man whom it leaves in the hands and
at the mercy OF bis spiritual attendant
But this Is not ALL 1t is fraught with danger to the
Crown for family dslnheriteG III favor OF convent
will bear no good will toward the King who has signed
Tie decree whereby that convent Is rendered capable
Of inheriting, and whereby they are ruined. " We
have liberty Of speech" say the Ministers and the
priests Liberty Of the press, liberty OF meetings let
Gus, then, have liberty of charity! However, the
bill was brought ill., and the discussions were regarded
with the greatest anxiety by the public, who crowded
the trbunes daily. The debates lasted upwatd Of a
month and on the 10Th nit the principle OF the bill was
affirmed by a majority of 60 to A, one member decin.
ing 10 vote and five ony being absent noble stand
WINS made during the whole discussion by MesSrs.
Roger, VcrhaegeD Orts, Tesch and fIere-Orban, who
fought the ground inch by inch, shivered the feeble
arguments OF their opponents, ana were beaten only by
force OF numbers.
ton proposed amendment after amendment. Con-
tihuay defeated they were ever at their post sup
ported by the great Of the cOuntrys intelligence.
The applause wherewith their speeches were greeted
from the tiibunes iOused the ire of the Ms.e ral.S,
who declared that the Assembly was celebrating
under duresse, and three times during the debates
were the tribuues cleared by force At length on
Wednesday last VI. Frere-OrDar, having declared
that the Government were playing an "tHdigne
confdic" before the Chamber and the country, wa.
called 10 order by the President. lie at once replied
by accusing Inc l1cslucHl W pdltlHiitN' tu' "uiu
"infqne having been applied to him by member
On previous OCCASION aid passed uncensured by the
President This sally received with Immense ap-
llause in the tribunes, and the Preside nt ordered
Them 10 be cleared forthwith. Amid the groans
and wells Of the occupants THIS task was
slowly Effected b. the gendarmts. The crowd then
rushed outside the Chamber and hooted the l'opes
Nuncio. They yelled at the Ministers, cheered tue
Oprosition members, aud III the evening paiaded tue
town in groups Of 30 or Co. Next evening they broke
the windows Of The Emancipation Office, journal
specially devoted to the priest party aud likewise these
ii the Jesuts and other religious establishments The
troops were kept in readiness, artillery was stauonel
on tie Grande Place, and great exclteMent prevailed
On Friday the Burgomaser issued proclamation Tor
bidding groups of more than five To assemble, ana IN
the evening the mounted gendarnes dispersed those
who esdeavored 10 evade lis effect. Yesterday the
King pubebed decree proroguipg the Chamber stHe
de, aid in all probability, the Ministerial BIZ VIII be
heard Of 10
Meanwhile riots have occurred at Mons ana al
Antwerp, at Client and at Liege. The old spult Is
rou ed among the buTghers aud they seem determined
resist any further attempts at pres'iy dOmipa'lon
TIE resolution adopted by the kpg the wl-st mat
could be taken under the circumstances IL VIII PROB
ably restore peace and order, by giving tue GoNern
ment opportunity of quietly dropping their oonoI
ious measure without the appearance oil yiedilg 10
pubic clamOr. Would that the priests couil ro' by
Ike lesson but like the BourbOns, they learn nohlng
ard forget nothing. ,,,u
/ remain, Sir. yours obedisntiy; ,,.,.
May3l AN ENGLISH RESIDENT IN bhLOIlh