River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-04-20
DISORDER IN BELGIUM.
The Demand for Universal Suffrage
Threatens TO Result i'm Wsr-StriiSing
Workingmen Engage in Riots = The
Throne i'm Danger

The Demand for Universal Suffrage
Threatens TO Result in Wsr-StriiSing
Workingmen Engage in Riots = The
Throne in Danger.
LONDON, April 1.-THE demand for
universal suffrage in Belgium has ere
ated a crisis which cannot much longer
he kent from decisive issue. There will
be civil war or yielding on the part of
the bourgeoise or governing class with
in week. The fin = guns of what
| threatens 10 be "A revolution have al
ready been fired.
The dispatches become hourly more
alarming and there il some reason for
/ fearing that il is already too late to
heck the rising rebellion by conccs
sions TO the popular demand for the
ballot. A general strike ordered by the
labor organizations for to-day has been
anticipated 10y more than 100000 men
who have left work The situation to-
/ day in the smaller cities Is even worse
than in Brussels.
The ordering of a universal strike is
equivalent 10 call to arms. and il
means nothing less that am uprising
throughout the kingdom. The author
tiles do not seem to realize this, and no
adequate preparations have been made
To suppress the rebellion. 1t is doubt
full if the civic guards. who number
some 10000 men. can be re-
/ lied on to shoot down their fellow cit
liens, who are likely TO number a ma
jority of the population as soon as the
last chance disappears of securing the
right of suffrage by peaceful means.
/ The rapidity with which the mob build
/ barricades in some of the streets sur
/ prises many of those who refuse TO
/ yield to the popular demands
1t would not be surprising il strong
+, diploma tic influences should be brought
to bear To induce the king TO deal with
the situation by measures so drastic
AS to amount to coup d'ctat.
His majesty may find il neccs-
sary to save his throne by some
such measure as the proclamation of
II new constitution and the calling of
| the general election of new parlia-
ment by univeral suffrage 1t is re-
ported that the Belgian authorities
I have information showing that a con
/ spiracy exists for the overthrow of the
monarchy and the establishment of a
republic and that the conspirators
count upon French sympathy, if not
/ upon French support.
( BRUSSELS. April There is every
I indication that the coming week will
witness scenes of violence worse than
those that have passed. Preparations
are being made for "A monster demon
/ stration Tuesday At Trazednies near
1 Charleroi, Saturday night "A severe con
tlict took place. The soldiers charged
upon the mob, killing one worlSingman
and wounding a woman. The rioters
then scattered and resistance ceased.
sunday evening turbulent crowds
/ fought the police in several districts of
| the city In the Rue dc la Bavier river.
near the Maison du Peuple, the mob be-
came so threatening that mounted POI
lice charged them with drawn swords.
The rioters threw jars of Greek fire and
sent repeated volleys of stones among
the police. Many of the mob were cut
or trampled upon. Twelve We're ar
rested. Several policemen We're burned
and bruised.
The city is as if in a state of siege
/ All places of amusement are deserted.
/ The police and the rioters have the
streets to themselves. 4 dispatch from
Mons saws the rioters had possession of
many streets all Sunday afternoon. Re-
/ Inducements of soldiers have been sent
from this city.