The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-19
Belgian Deputies Yield to the
Demands Of the People.
TIE RIOTS WILL NOW CEASE.
Labor Leaders Decide to Call on the
General Strike.
Agitat1oa - Bo Continued Fer More
Liberal EnKfanchissnsnt Bnl-A
Fight With the Candlsmskers Of
DoTe

representatives this morning Premier
Beernaert congratulated the police on
their success in coping with the mob and
he said the government would guarantee
order. Tho premier intimated that re-
ports on proposals for the revision of the
constitution would be debated today. The
chamber. however. decided to have the re-
ports prepared and brought In for debate
at once. This action is believed to have
been precipitated by the presence Of .
great throng about the precincts of the
chamber, all evidently much excited and
determined that there should be no delay.
The approaches to tho chamber were
strongly guarded to prevent violence to
obnoxious members. The chamber reas-
sembled after the preparation of the re-
ports on the revision of the constitution
and by . vote of 119 to IL, with IA abstain
ing from voting, adopted universal suf-
frage with provision for plural voting
BY classes owning property accord
ing to the amount and situation
of tho property. The cheers within the
chamber were followed by prodigious ac-
clamations from the enormous crowd that
awaited the result Of the voting outside
the chamber. The greatest enthusiasm
was displayed everywhere, and people
joined in jubilee in honor of the great
triumph they had achieved. It is expected
that the decision in favor of universal suf-
frage will have an allaying effect upon the
popular excitement and agitation which
have rapidly been assuming the dipen-
sions of q general insurrection. The dread
of terrible uprising of the people similar
to that of the French revolution in its re-
sistless rage against privilege and power
had the effect Of bringing the chamber of
representatives around to the popular
side. There is no doubt in many minds
that had the chamber not acted promptly
there would have been . revolution in
Brussels.
In view Of the action of the deputies, the
labor leaders resolved At meeting this
evening to advise an abandonment of the
general strike and at the same time they
decided to issue to the people . manifesto
against the Nyssen bill, which proposes a
combination of plural voting and universal
suffrage. The leaders will urge the people
to follow up the victory by agitating un-
ceasingly for universal suffrage pure and
simple. The police and workingmen had
several encounters this evening and six
rioters were seriously inlussd. Nevsrthe-
less. the end Of the riots IL believed to be
near. The decision Of the labor leaders to
abandon the strike has produced general
feeling Of relief. The police worked night
and day and are completely exhausted.
If the strike and riots continue few days
more the preservation Of order would b left
entirely to the military. as the police
could not endure the strain forty-eight
hours longer. Many arrests Of socialists
are reported from the provinces.
The most serious disturbance today il
reported from Borgerhout, village short
distance from Antwerp. Many candle
makers Joined the movement in favor of
universal suffrage. Those remaining at
work were attacked by strikers today, and
troops were called upon to protect the
workers and restore order. The appear
ance Of soldiers had no effect in quslling
tho riot, and the officer in command
ordered his men to fix bayonets ana
charge. The result was that four strikers
were killed and fifteen others received
moro or less serious bayonet thrusts. sew
eral of whom will die. Great excitement
prevails in the village and the strikers
threaten vengeance tor the death of their
comrades. Here, a. in other parts of the
country, the men are spurred on to riot by
the women.
At q meeting Of the strikers in and
around Client this evening resolutions in
favor of resuming work tomorrow were
passed. Two men injured i'm the Mons
riot died this evening. Altogether seven
men have died in Mons of injuries re-
ceived in suffrage riots.
This afternoon some Of the most desper-
ate strikers Of Brussels eluded tho police
and set fire to . lot Of cotton stored on
one Of the Quays, and only after repeated
charges did the police succeed in driving
them away. The strike in Antwerp has
been spreading from the shipping trade to
the factories and mills. Many strikers
take no part in the riots, but quit as pro-
test against the denial of suffrage.
PARIS. April 1S--The French govern
ment has instructed the governors Of the
northern industrial town to Inspect
foreigners who may be organizing to
assist the revolution In Belgium. The
The Belgium socialist at Roubaix have
resolved to disregard these measures and
passed resolution declaring their readi-
ness to subscribe and otherwise assist
their brethren in Belgium. A large pro-
portion Of miners in the district adjoining
the Belgian frontier have been natural
lied. The Belgians and French socialists
are making efforts to induce them to
strike. in order to assist the organisation
in Belgium by stopping supplies to Bel
-