The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-19
THE BELGIUM OUTBREAK STOPS.
The People Force Free Suffrage
From the Chamber.
Belgium Saved From Terrible Revolu.
tion by the Granting of Universal
Suffrage to the Public-The Chambers
Bow to tho Will of the People aud a
General Strike Is Averted.

BRUSSELS, April lS.-In the chamber
of representatives today Premier
Beernart congratulated the gendarmes
and the civic guards on their success in
coping with the disorder. The govern
mont would guarantee, Beernart de-
clared, TO maintain order. The premier
intimated that reports ON proposals. for
the revision of the constitution would
be debated tomorrow. Debou at once
arose and reported that the chamber
should not wait until tomorrow, but
should suspend its sitting in order that
the reports should be made ready for
immediate presentation, and then assem-
BILE again at once to discuss the reports.
To this proposition the cham Der agreed.
The agreement appeared to be
fastened by the presence of an enor-
nous throng OF people, who crowded the
precincts OF the chamber, evidently very
much excited on the subject OF universal
suffrage, and resolute that there should
be no delay in considering that subject.
The approaches to the chamber wore
strongly guarded to prevent violence
being done to obnoxious members The
| representatives reassembled after prep
constitution, and, by a vote OF 1le
against ~, with IA abstentions from
voting. adopted universal suffrage, with
provision for plural voting by classes
owning property, according to the
amount and situation of the property.
Cheers within the chamber wore fol-
lowed by prodigious acclamations from
| the enormous crowd that awaited tho
result OF the voting outside tho cham
Der. The greatest enthusiasm was dis
| played everywhere, and the peop!e
joined in tho jubilee In honor OF the
great triumph which they had achieved.
1t Is expected that the decision in favor
OF universal suffrage will haye an al
laying eHtct upon popular excitement
and agitation, which had been RAPIDLY
assuming dimensions of general insur-
| rection.
The dread Of n terrible uprising OF
the people, similar to that OF tho Fronch
revolution in its resistless rage against
| privilege and power. had tho effect OF
bringing the chamber OF represonSa-
tives around to the popular side. There
Is no doubt in many minds that had the
cham Der OF commerce not ted PROMPTLY
there would have been revolution in
Brussels.
In view Of the action of tho deputies.
the labor leaders resolved at q meeting
neiu tnls evening to advise the aban-
donment Of ageneral strike. AT tho same
time they decided to issue to the people
a manifesto against the Nssen bill,
which proposes the combination of
plural voting and universal suffrage.
The leaders will urge the people to
follow up their victory by agitating un-
ceasingly for universal suffrage pure
and simple. The police and working
men have had several encounters this
evening and six rioters have been seri-
ously injured.
Nevertheless tho end OF tho riots is
believed to DO near. The decision of
the labor leaders TO abandon tho strike
has produced general feeling OF relief.
The police nave worked night and day
and are completely exhausted We're
tho strikes and riots to continue few
days more the preservation OF order
would be left entirely to the military.
as the polics could not endure the
strain forty eight hours longer. Many
arrests OF socialists are reported from
! the provinces.