The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-10
TIE CHURCH QUESTION IN BELGIUM.
Debate on the Bill Against
Fanatical Conspiratore.
The King and His Ministry Sus-
tanned by the Parliament.
BRUGEs. June rs, 1875.

Ou inc ga luSL. Cue government Dll lor INC
punishment OF the onOr or proposal to commit
offences against life and property came on for dis
cussion in the Chamber OF Deputies Previous to
the commencement OF the debate a despatch was
read from Count Perpoucher, German Minister at
Brussels, in which the representative or the En-
peror William thanked the Belgian government In
his masters name for completing its penal legis-
lation" in compliance with the suggestions of the
German Foreign once. The temper OF the House
was sufficiently indicated by the general cheer
ing with which the German note. Notwithstanding
its somewhat patronizing tone, was received.
Evidently
CATHOLIC ASSEMBLY
has nothing but horror to express for attempts OF
the Duchesne kind and determined TO put them
down in the most summary fashion.
M. Lelievre, the first Deputy who rose. thought
the penalties enacted were not sufficiently high;
otherwise he entirely approved the Ministerial
scheme.
M. Cutlery was among the few who were cour-
ageous enough TO oppose the bill, which he de-
nounced as too severe He also moved as an
amendment that merely verbal proposals TO COM
NIT a crime should be exempted from the opera
ton OF the act. He feared tnat II words were
made criminal encouragement would be given to
spies and informers and the feeling OF individual
security would be weakened. There can be no
doubt that M. CUTLERY hit
THE WEAK POINT
in the bill; and M. Thoutssen, who had drawn up
the report OF the committee In It's favor, had
really no arguments with which to meet his OBJ
jectons. The Minister Of Justice however came
TO the rescue and defended the principle Of the
government measure with better success. In re-
ply to the passages which had been cited from
Rossi, and which expressed all the fears to which
NJ Gnilery had given utterance, he quoted the
scarcely less high authority OF M. Haus, the emf
nent writer on criminal Jurisprudence, who Is .
professor in the University Of Gnent and the prin-
cIpal author OF the Penal Code OF 1867. NJ. Haus
goes so far as TO say that proposal to commit
crime constitutes in itself outward act OF crime,
being that commence ment OF execution without
which no attempt is punishable. ("La PROPOSE
ton fatte I'm tiers de commetre crime con-
stitue un acte exterieur formant le commence
ment d'eXecution sans lequel Il MY pas
de tentative punssablem But IL is evident
| that the proposition laid down by Pro-
lessor Haus, If It proves anything, proves
too much; for if the proposal, according to the
Belgian law, Is actually commencement OF the
criminal act, Duchesne was legally as well as
morally guilty OF attempting the assassination OF
Prince Bismarck and could have been dealt with
accordingly. In fact the Minister, in endeavoring
to justify the spirit OF his measure was showing,
II his justification was to be accepted, that there
was no need for the measure at all.
RxMINIsTER BARAs POSITION.
The ex-Minlster OF Justice, M. BaTa objected to
the bill, but declined TO assume the responsibility
OF voting against IL. The honorable member prob
ably bethought him that the day not far distant
when he might be at his old post, and a member
OF Cabinet which would In It's turn be compelled
! to consider whether the demands Of powerful
neighnor could be safely rejected. Tne chiefs OF
the liberal party whose return to once could not
| ha nd naal all tha
more secure In power from having ha1 a trouble
| some question settled Ior them by their pre-
| decessors.
THE MINISTRY ALL-PowBRFUL
The resolution OF M. Bara TO abstain from voting
either way left the government master OF the
| situation. All real opposition to the bill had
ceased. The debate was nevertheless continued
on the following day June 2sl, when NJ. LIE Hardy
de Beaulien, in very neat little speech, said he
thought the bill a mistake from beginning to end,
but he would vote for 1t on political grounds and
to give
SATISFACTION TO NErGHBoRrNa POWER,
II the amendment or NJ. Cutlery were accepted.
"Formerly,n said NJ. LIE Hardy de Beaulien, "there
stood a giobet at the entry OF every town, and
this gibbe: was rarely untenanted. think we
need not regret that age. Nevertheless the gov
eminent project OF law is bringing US back to It,
in this sense that tt is taking q step backward.
incident which gave rise to the bill is exceptional
and isolated. Had the government been in a
position to say to us, These attempts are be-
coming numerous-they must at all costs be put
down. there would have been a reasonable
ground for the new law. But this is not tue
case, There is only the attempt OF Duchesne.
Let us examine II. 1 conclude that when the
Archbishop Of Paris received Duchesne's letter he
did this Uhe speaker here made gesture as "
tearing a letter, at which there was good deal OF
| laughter) There might have been an end OF the
matter. II Duchesne had met the Attorney Gen.
eral he might have accosted him quite quietly
with a Good morning. How are youS'- Qaugh-
! ter)-and the Attorney General might have an
svered quite WELL thank you How are you9'
much laughter.) And no more would have been
heard OF the business.n
| M. lie Hardy de Beauen, while riciculing the
| a6ufre Duchesne aud at the same time announcing
that he should vote for the government bill TO
appease German sentiment, no doubt expressed
the feelings of O good many persons present
| The debate soon after came to close.
AN AMENDMENT.
An Amendments by NJ. Jottraud, limiting the du-
ration OF the act to two years, was first rejected
by so votes to IS. division next took place on
NJ Guillery,s amendment excepting verbal propo-
GALS from the scope OF the BILL which was also
rejected ana by q larger majority-viz, SO to IT,
The vote was then taken on the bill without
amendments when the result appeared as fol-
lows:-
Yeas. "
Novs Observation-Disclosures. 6
ADStAlnlnR .
Majority for the government, II.
THE BILL PASSED.
The bill accordingly passed, not without grave
mlsgivings on the part OF many liberals. The
Independence Beige, which is thoroughly anti
clerical, and is, indeed, che principal organ OF
liberal opinions the Continent, has been averse