The Progress., 1893-09-23

lot and assert themselves. They are su-
preme if they but know it.
A recent report from Belgium tells us
that more decisive popular victory than
that gained by the people over their
rulers has seldom been achieved. by
sheer numbers and the demonstration of
the popular will the legislature was
compelled 10 reverse decision which it
had previously passed by vote of four
to one. The question involved was an
extension of the franchise. Tho work
ingmen of the country demanded the
right tOvOte at the election of Legislators.
Hitherto the wealthy classes hlonc have
had the vote.
The consequence has been that the
legislators have faithfully served the
class which elected them and neglected
the interests of the poor. The condition
of the wOrkingman in Belgium was
therefore fast degenerating into one little
better than slavery. He is without the
protection of those laws which in other
lands in some slight degree restrain the
power and rapacity of oppressive EN-
ployers. The people had come to despair
of ever getting such laws unless they
could share in the privilege of electing
the men who make tho laws.
When, therefore, the legislature re-
jected the bill recently introduced to
confer that right, there was great indig
nation. The labor leaders ordered a
general strike that the men might give
tp hn nj hn
der was extensively obeyed. At Yer
viers alone IS factories were closed, and
in the province of Hainut 10 mines and
2 factories were deserted, and the men
thus liberated to the number OF 1900
joined in the ranks of the crowd who
were demanding political recognition.
The police and eventually the militia
were employed against them. but were
resisted fiercely.
In Antwerp the men quilted the docks,
where they were employed in loading
the vessels. raised barricades in the
streets and fought desperately with the
soldiers. They secured firearms after
few hours, and many of the police and
soldiery fell in attempting to disperse
them. Similar scenes were witnessed in
Mons, Liege and other large towns, be-
sides the great demonstration i'm Brussels
itself. The movement grew more threat
ening from day to day until it approached
the proportions of revolution. Then
the legislature yielded. On April 1S il
passed bill extending the franchise by
vote of 40 to 12.
A WORD TO THE SHYLOCK.
Let Shylock be careful Money is n
mighty power, but not almighty. Men
have been known to do things sometimes
in which they could see no money for
the time.
At the close of the siege of Rome the
assembly had voted to surrender Rome
to the French besiegers.
Garibaldi made up his mind to leave
tho city and put forth this singular or
der of the day:
Whoever chooses TO follow me will be re-
ceived among my own men. All ask of them
is a heart full of love for our country. They
will have no pay, no rest. They will get bread
and water when chance may supply them.
Whoever likes not this may remain behind.
Once out of the gates of Rome every step will
be one step nearer to death.
Four thousand infantry and 500 horse
men, two-thirds of what was left of the
defenders of Rome, accepted these con-
ditions. And there are as many heroes
among the common herd today as ever.
They will show it if ever the hour calls
them.