The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-30
The Constitutional Crisis in Belgium.


The most important change in the politi-
cal system OF Belgium since its separation
from Holland sixty years ago is now on the
eve Of accomplishment. Throughout the
present week the Chamber Of Deputies at
Brussels has been debating proposed re-
vision OF the Constitution. and it is expected
that decisive vote will be reached before
the first Of May. No one doubts that the
revisionists will be successful. and that
| Belgium will be transformed from the most
reactionary Of all countries protesting to
enjoy parliamentary institutions into an
almost uncontrolled democracy.
The trainers OF the present Belgian Con-
etitution called themselves Liberals. but
they were men OF even more moderate and
cautious views than their English and
| French contemporaries. In their eyes the
parliamentary franchise needed to be more
circumscribed than 1t was in the United
Kingdom after the Reform act!of 1882. or
In France after the accession Of LOUIS
PHILIPPE. They accordingly bestowed the
| suffrage on only q very small fraction OF the
| adult male population. and to this day the
right Of voting has remained circumscribed
by the same narrow limits. Hitherto it has
| proved impossible to secure electoral 70.
form because the Conservatives have
seemed inexorably opposed to any change
| whatever. while the Liberals. once power
ful under tho leadership Of NJ. FRERR-
| ORBAN. were unable to agree upon pro-
gramme. The Radicals. who. as it turned
out. contributed almost tho whole voting
strength Of the Liberal party. refused to
accept anything short OF universal suffrage,
but this NJ. FRERE- ORBAN inflexibly refused
to sanction. He is over eighty years old
and his conception Of electoral qualifica-
| tions has been scarcely modified In half a
century. He does not wont to enfranchise
the urban proletariat on the one hand. or the
peasantry on the other. The utmost lie has
been willing to concede Is a diminution OF
the property restrictions on the right OF
voting. and the recognition Of certain edu-
| cational qualifications. His obstnacy on
this point has led to the disruption, and, in
fact. virtual extinction OF the old Liberal
party. only handful OF members being re-
turned TO the present Chamber as support
ers OF tho former chief OF the Belgian Lib
erals. The principal parties which now d.
| vide the constituencies and confront each
| other In the Legislature. are tho Radicals
and the Conservatives. Tho latter are main
| tanned In onlco by largo parliamentary
majority. and could easily defeat tho pro-
posed extension OF the suffrage. did they not
| fear to expose Belgium to O social revolution.
1t Is tho organized md violent agitation
| Of tho question by Belgian wOrkingmon,
| which has convinced King LEOPOLD II. and
| his Conservative advisers that electoral re-
| form Is the sole alternative to an overthrow
| OF the monarchy and al upheaval of society.
Their conversion was completed by the
tremendous strike Of last year. which was
only put an end to by explicit pledges that
the demands OF tho worklngmen should be
complied with. Tho Conservative leaders,
however. although backed by the influence
Of tho King. who felt his throne in danger,
| have found 1t hard work to control their
| followers. and. as this weeks debate has
| shown. have been unable to avert mutiny
| on tho part OF the more stifc-necked reac-
| tiOnists. They have argued indeed, that
| the Conservatives and Clerlcals have no
| reason to dread the Acknowledgement of
urban artisans. inasmuch as tho new politl-
cal force thus created would be more than
balanced by the agricultural voters who
| are Jealous Catholics. steadfast upholdcrs
Of the existing social system. and firm be-
levers in the principle OF individuallsm ap-
piled to property. In SPITE however, OF
these professions. which perhaps wero
rather specious than sincere. the Ministers
have failed to win the support OF the Catho-
lie Church or of some Of the greatest land
owners. but. as they can rely on the co.
operation OF the Radicals, they are sure Of
carrying out their project OF reform.
The application OF universal suffrage to
Belgium will ho watched with intense inter-
est on the Continent OF Europe. for two rem
sons: First. because the Belgian operatives
and miners are more largely leavened with
socialism than Is the proletarlat In any
other European country: and secondly. be-
cause the Government would DO unable in
the last resort to employ forcible means OF
repression. owing to tho extreme msagre-
ness and weakness OF the regular army. It
Is a recognition OF the peculiar conditions
under which the experiment will be made
that has caused the Conservative Ministers
to insist upon coupling with the concession