The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-30
THE BELGIAN TROUBLES.

Affairs Again Assuming a Serious Aspect-A
Revolutionary Outbreak Feared.
LONDON. April 29.-The labor troubles in Bel
giurn are again assuming threatening aspect,
and serious revolutionary outbreak is greatly
feared. A correspondent at Lisge writes that
the strike riots there liable to be renewed at
any moment with redoubled violence, and that
the citizens live in the greatest dread.
The real terror Of the situation consists in the
utter absence of organized unions. There is no
tangible source or controlling power which the
authorities can reach and influence. All is a
chaos Of ungoverned rage and brute force
There is no programme, and there are no lead
ers so that an assault upon the reputable quar-
ters of the town may be made at any hour,
without the slightest regard to consequences.
The merchants are the only solid party in the
midst Of this hot mass of rebellion, and they
can muster only a dozen reliable men. and can
have, practically, no influence az all in guiding
the fury of the mob, although they are potent
in exciting it. They can readily set mischief
aioat but they must leave it to take what
course it will.
One of the leaders of the Anarchist band is in
the pay of the police, and has been giving them
ly irresponsible and lawless character of the re-
cent riots and the terribly dangerous nature Of
the disorders yet to come. He reports that at
the last meeting held by the Anarchists prior to
March Is, the day on which the great riot broke
out in Liege, nothing whatever was known of
the coming riot, and the Anarchists were alto
gether innocent of melting riot, whatever part
they may have taken in it, or In working up the
feelings of the people to rebellious pitch. The
outbreak itself was absolutely spontaneous, this
man declares, and this completely UNCOVER ned
and ungovernable uprising of the masses is
hundred-fold more perilous than the organized
rebellion of all the workmen in the kingdom
would be-
The municipal councillor. at Seraing. speaks
in the most pessimistic tone Of the general out
look Of the labor troubles. He says that if moth
ing be done by the authorities to improve the
condition OF the miners tremendous catastro-
phe Is inevitable. He gives over half year for
the elimination of this event. He believes that
the miners will get through the summer well
enough. but that the cold weather will bring
their winter suffering upon them again, and
rouse all the animal rage against their condition.
which is now relatively quiescent He says that
terrible uprising is sure to take place before
Christmas.
Another element in this uncompromising war
between capital and labor In Belgium must be
considered, as its Importance is very great in
relation to the permanency and ultimate effect
of the workingmens rebellion. II it once gets
fairly under way. This is the interest OF the
local tradesmen in such places as Liege and
Seraing. II the miners are deprived of the just
balance of their wages by overcharges for food
bought at places controlled by the employers or
il they are discharged and left without any
money at all, then poverty will ruin the local
trades people. who will fnd no buyers for their
goods. Tracing their disaster TO its immediate
and manifest origin. they will sympathize with
the miners and make common cause with them
in any movement which seems at all likely to
improve the condition Of all. This union of sew
eyal interests is likely to make q general out
break more permanent and dangerous than the
riots by the miners alone would be.
Since the riots. month ago. the circulation
Of the noted Socialist organ, LIE Peuple, has
risen from twelve thousand to thirty Thousand.
and is still constantly increasing in q similar
ratio. This indicates the spread Of Socialistic