The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-12

the dark which the Conservatives are
making. and some Of them are naturally
| disposed to regard the representa-
| ton OF minoritics as n safeguard.
| The fate OF tho referendum. moreover, de-
! Ponds on whether the Conservatives are
| able to retain In the Constituent Congress
tho majority which they possess In the
| present Chamber. II was only by vote OF
| rs to As that they succeeded In carrying tho
proposal to revise the Constitution so that
the King shall be entitled in certain cases
to consult the whole body OF electors d.
rectly as to the advisability OF signing
particular bill The method in which 1t Is
| proposed that this reference shall be made
| Is rs follows. A given measure having
been passed. the King on specified day
! will submit to the voters single question.
| Shall this bill be vetoed? To which they
| will answer by their ballots. Yes or No. 1t
| Is undisputed that this institution works
| well in Switzerland. where its application
has been extended from constitutional
questions to ordinary legislation. One
other proposed change in the Belgian
organic law Is worth noting. that. namely.
by which the clause describing the limits OF
Belgium is to be revised in such a way as
to permit the acquisition OF colonies; that
is to say. of the Congo Free State.
The Belgian form Of the referendum Is
not identical with the Swiss. Advocated by
n Radical Deputy. NJ. JANsoN it has been
accepted by leading Conservatives because
they see in 1t n means OF strengthening the
sovereign. Under tho present Constitution
the King has the right OF vetoing bill
passed by the two Houses. but this preroga-
tive is practically dead letter in Belgium.
as it has long been in England The species
Of referendum now proposed revives this
right by authorizing the sovereign to with
hold his signature until the decision OF the
legislature has been expressly ratified by
the voters. 1t is left optional with the King.
however. to say whether he will or will not
consult the electors on the subject. A ma
jorty OF tho voters might be opposed to a
given measure. and yet. If the King chose
to sign it, they would have no remedy.
Such is not the case in Switzerland On tho
demand OF a certain number OF cantons or
OF prescribed number OF electors. any bill
passed by the Swiss Federal Legislature
must be referred to the voters for rejection
or adoption. 1t is not improbable. however.
that II the referendum is introduced at all
In Belgium. it will ultimately be applied on
the demand OF fraction Of the electors. as
it Is in Switzerland. The referendum is
essentially a democratic instrument OF gov
eminent. and in resorting to 1t in the in
terest Of tho monarchy. the Belgian Con-
servatlves may discover that they have
been playing with edged tools.
Will tho Radicals or the Conservatives
profit by the transformation Of the Belgian
Constitution II tho leaders Of the Con-
servatives had not protested to believe that
they could hold their own under the new
order OF things. they could never have pre-
vailed upon their followers to vote for re-
vision Of the organic law. They assert that
under the extension Of the franchise the
peasant proprietors and agricultural labor
ers. all Of whom are jealous Catholics. can
be trusted to balance the urban working
men and the miners. most OF whom are
Social Democrats. That they have at heart
some misgivings on the subject may be in
ferred from the avidity with which they
have seized the suggestion OF reieren-
dunn. 1t Is certainly the opinion OF old
fashioned Liberals. like NJ. FRERE-ORBAN.
that the contemplated close approach to
universal suffrage would involve the per-
manent ascendancy OF Social Democrats In
the legislature. Should his forebodings be
realized. tho course OF events at Brussels
would offer an interesting object lesson to
tho rest Of Europe. The young German
Emperor would stand aghast at the exam
pie held up to his soclalistic subjects. and
the Radicals Of Paris would be fired with O
desire to emulate the reformers Of Brussels.
AS between Germany and France. there Is
not the slightest doubt as to the side upon
which Belgian Democrats would range
themselves: and their elevation to political
power may be expected to show itself in a
Of the Belgian fortresses on
the German frontier. and in other measures
plainly indicating a determination to CO.
operate with France in the event OF an
European war;