New-York tribune., 1891-05-22
TIE tAB0R VICYoRY IN BELGIUM.

The great strikes in Belgium which, accord
inc to the dispatches received yesterday, have
inst been ordered "off" have been OF lar
more serious nature than ordinary disputes De-
tween employers and employed. Their gravity
has been due, not so much to the breadth OF
the area over which they have extended or TO
their paralyzing effect upon every klnd OF Dol
pian industry, as to their political cnaracter'
1t was not for an increase OF wages that 'ne
working classes throughout the kingdom struck
but for an increase of political rights Ihey
demanded nothing less than revision OF the
National Constitution and the concession OF
universal suffrage. 10 this the upper classes
and in particular the landed propretos, the
GREAT manufacturers and the capitalists OF all
kinds. were strongly opposed. The present re-
stricted franchise which limits the electorate OF
n country with over 5000. 900 inhabitants to
q mere handful OF 1873, 900 wealthy voters ap-
peared to them the strongest and slrest Dull
vark for the defence of their interests, since 1t
involved the retention of the entire powers OF
government in their own hands.
The fight has been characterized by great
bitterness on both sides The Belgian work.
ngman even at his best is rough obstinate
and quarrelsome individual, and when his
passions are aroused he is apt to become both
ugly and dangerous. Ten days ago the attl-
tude of the strikers became so menacing that
the Government deemed it necessary to place
under arms the second and third classes OF the
National Militia, which of course added to the
general perturbation, since it took large num-
bers OF men engaged in mercantile, industrial
and professional pursuits away from their daily
avocations. A revolution appeared imminent,
and King Leopold, who has all along declared
himself in favor of the concession OF universal
suffrage, took pains to point out to the moneyed
classes that unless they abandoned their OPP
position and agreed to the demands of the
masses for political franchise, not only their
monopoly of power but even their possessions
and wealth might be torn from them by the
infurated people.
1t would appear from the cable dispatches
that the classes have at length realized their
danger and have decided to abandon political
platform which they can no longer retain with
ont serious peril. They have in fact, struck
their colors, and announced their readiness to
consent to a revision of the Constitution in the
direction of universal suffrage. 1t is the vic
tory of labor over capital in one OF the most
important industrial centres of Europe. Ii re-
mains to be seen what use the working classes
will mako of their success. 1t is doubtful
whether the rank and file of the Labor party
have any correct comprehension of that uni
versal suffrage for which they have been fight
ing with such determination and persistency.
They look upon it as kind Of bank check
on the future, as a sort of talisman by the help
of which working hours will be reduced and
wages increased Possibly it may prove to be
so in the long run but its failure to bring
about these desiderata at once will create
disappointment which may lead to an even still
graver crisis than that which appears to have
iust come TO a close in Belgium.