The state herald., 1893-04-28
BELGIUM woRkMEN WIN,
Tho Chamber Of Deputies Feels the
Pressure and Grants Universal
lufrnCe.

Suffrage.
Tho laboring classes Of Belgium have won
their point and the Chamber Of Deputies on
the 18th passed the bill granting Universal
manhood suffrage.
TO enforce this demand tho wor<ingmsn's
unions have caused the men to strike during
the last few weeks and very few men remain-
at work while large bodies met, paraded,
threw stones, exploded dynamite, and sue
cceded In making the middle and upper
classes very nervous. 1t was feared that an.
other French revolution would be brought
about, and the Chamber OF Deputies found
itself unable TO resist the pressure.
In the Chamber Of Deputies on the 18th NJ.
Bernaert, the premier, congratulated the gen
darmes and the civic guards on their success
In coping with disorder. The government
would guarantee, NJ. Bernaert declared, to
maintain order The premier lntimated that
the report on the proposals for the revision OF
the constitution would be debated Wednesday.
NJ Demon at once arose and proposed that
the chamber should not walt until Wednes-
day, but should suspend Its sitting 10 order
that the reports should DO made ready for
immediate presentation and then assemble
again at once In order to discuss the reports,
To this proposition the chamber agreed.
The agreement appeared TO DO fastened by
the presence Of an enormous throng OF peo-
pie, who crowded the precincts Of the cham.
Der, evidently very much cxeitla OF the sub
ject Of universal suffrage and resolute that
there should be no delay in considering that
subject. The approaches to the chamber
were strongly guarded to prevent w@G-s
from being done to obnoxious members.
The Chamber Of Deputies reassembled after
the reports Of the revision Of the constitution
and by vote OF ll9 to ~, with fourteen alb
frase, with provision for the the plural vot-
Ing by the classes owning property, according
TO the amount and situation OF the property.
Cheers Within the chamber were followed
by prodlgious acclamations from the enormous
crowd that awaited the result OF the voting
outside the chamber, The greatest enthu-
slasm was displayed everywhere and the peo-
pie Joined In jubilee In honor OF the great
triumph which they had achieved. 1t is ex-
pectcd that the decision in faror OF universal
suffrage will have an allaying effect upon the
p'l'hini abiNatioH' "hiSh
had been rapidly assuming the dimensions of
general insurrection.
In view Of the action OF the deputies, the
labor leaders resolved to advise the abandon
ment OF the general strike. At the same time
they decided to Issue to the people manifes-
to against the Nyssen bill, which proposes the
combination Of plural voting and universal
suffrage The leaders Of the bill urge the
people TO follow up their victory by asitating
increasingly for universal suffrage pure and
simple.
The night was passed far more quietly than
the authorities expected, but nevertheless the
outlook Is still threatening. Dispatches from
ali parts Of the kingdom Inhabited by the
working people bring dlsquieting news.
Disturbances occurred In several places dur
ing the night, but there was no concerted at
tempt TO rebel against the king. The move
ment Is directed entirely against the chambe r
OF deputies and the ministers who oppose the
workingmen's demands for the right TO vote
when they reach legal age, without any prop
crty qualification whatsoever. The King, II
is known, Is in favor of wide extension Of
the suffrage, and the crowds OF excited work
VIM hic uchhHuiue NHab tucg
believe TO be their right have nothing against
him personally. Impartial observers OF the
situation readily find sympathy with the
strikers. Belgium is, with the exception of
Russia, perhaps, the only country where
there Is absolutely no law protecting the
worklngman from the rapaclty and greed Of
bis employer.
The Belgian workingmen have seen within
the past ten years their brethren In other
countries placed under tho nrptcetlssD OF
special laws enacted for their benefit, and
have seen employers held toA strict liability
when these laws were violated. The Belgians
have had nothing, and the bourgeoIse class,
which rules tho country, evidently intend
that they shall have nothing II they can pre-
vent Hence, In their desire 10 assert their
manhood and secure their rights, the spec,a.
Gle presents Itself OF gigantic strike TO OBJ
tain the right TO elect representatives among
the lawmakers. Were the strikers armed
and disciplined, there ia no question that the
Industrial revolution now shaking tho coun,
try would quickly become a bloody contest