The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-03-11
BELGIUM in A FERMENT.
GREAT Discomfort IN BRUSSELS
OVER HOUSEHOLD SUFFRAGE.

Socialists in Germany Rejoice Over the
Defeat OF the Kaiser's Plans for n
Great Navy-British Statesmen Want
to Abolish the Royalty on Mines
Other Foreign News.
LONDON, March II. "A Brussels dispatch
says that the decision of the Cabinet in
favor of household suffrage, instead of
allaying, has aggravated discomfort, and
especially in Brussels, where compare
lively few workingmen occupy a single
house, the large majority being crowded
in buildings that hold several families
each. In the lower quarter of the city
there are signs of dangerous discomfort,
and the Socialists are speaking out more
boldly than ever before. The Govern
ment is aware of the danger, and the
troops are kept on the alert to deal with
an insurrection, should one break out
Owing to the dullness of trade, large
number of people are idle, and, in the
opinion of an English correspondent,
there are all the elements, ON smaller
scale, for Partisan revolution.
Acase of some interest TO Americans Is
pending in the London courts. The de-
PENDANTS are publishers of paper called
the Financial Observer, and were recently
prosecuted on charge of attempted
blackmail. An injunction has been
sought to restrain them from circulating
copy 81 their paper Of the . date Eebrg, ;
.sfhe Fletcher Mills of Providence"
| The applicant for the injunction is one
Bonpard, and the article imputed mis-
| conduct in connection with an alleged
syndicate to buy the mills in question,
| at Providence. in the United States.
The owners of the German collieries
have formed q combination for self-pro-
ton in Great Britain. They are pledged
to act as aunt against any demands which
the majority may deem to be unjust, and
| in the event of a strike that does not in
clude all the mines all are to join in bear
! ing the burden Of defense, contributions
to be regulated, according to the output of
each mine during 1900.
| The Socialists, notwithstanding the
warnings Of the Government. do not hide
their elation at the defeat of the Kaisers
| naval plans, and claim part of the credit
for bringing the defeat about. Their
| organs are outspoken in denouncing any
attempt on the part of Germany TO keep
abreast of Great Britain IN naval expendi-
| ture.
| A Paris dispatch says that the action on
the tariff shows the sentiment of the
| Chamber overwhelmingly protcctionist
The passage Of the Tariff bill, substan-
tally as from the committee, is regarded
as certain. II is estimated that the tariff
| will bring in next year thirty-eight mil
| lions In additional revenue. The Royalists
have given their adhesion to the increased
duties.
There is strong movement IN Parlia-
l M Tn ohn1ioh IN, ,,c
the precious metals. Mr.. Parnell is in
favor of the abolition on account of the
mine which he is trying to develop IN
| Wicklow, and which has already swal-
lowed up o good deal Of his gold. The
WEIGH Liberals are also for abolishing the
royalty, and many of the Tories take the
same view, not because they wish to
weaken the Crown, but because they wish
to strengthen the rights of individual
ownership against the time when the
Crown will mean radical Government.
The royalty on gold obtained from Irish
mines is five per cent.
A Berlin dispatch says that the German
Foreign Office is not prepared to address
any apology to Switzerland for the arrest
of Hangartner a Swiss engineer, who
used disrespectful language on Swiss ter
ritory regarding the Emperor William.
When Hangartner uttered the language
he was at the Swiss end of q bridge that
was in course of building. When his
work took him to the German end he
was arrested and afterward released. The
Swiss Government at first decided to ask
no explanation. but later reconsidered
this determination and addressed re,
mOnstrance to Germany. 1t is claimed
that Hangartner's words were clearly
audible on the German side and amounted
to an offense on the German territory.
The Standard says of the Bering Sea
papers: Both nations will rejoice that
their differences have been placed in such
shape as to make arbitration possible and
probable. 1t adds that nothing could be
more brief or irritating than an attempt
to consider the result from polemical
standpoint" ~.
The Times says: ut is difficult to i'm
agine how Mr.. blaine can persist in keep
ing the quarrel open after Lord Salisbury
has accepted the bulk of his own PROPOSED
terms of O conference, or can make u 9
grievance. The terms declined have been
shown to be manifestly unjust to Eng
land" Continuing, the 1hses says: "Thi
result of the Canadian elections. follow.
Ing the popular reaction against the new
Tariff law in the United States. may in
dIlce him Mr. Blpine) to reflect thai
more success would be gained by fair ant
amicable dealing than by high-handet
action and tall talk" -
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