The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-18
INDUSTRIAL REVOLT.
Workingmen of Brussels
Fighting the Bourgeoisie
for Mere Right to
Live.
SADLY DoWNTRoDDENc CLASS.
Mob Violence in AntWerp-Meet-
ings in Brussels-Trouble
Ahead.
SADLY DoWNTR0DDENCLASS
r, cable TO the United Press.


BRUSSELS, April Is. 1898. The night has
passed far more quietly than the au1hori-
ties expected. Nevertheless, the outlook
is still threatening. Dispatches from all
parts of the kingdom bring disquietiDg
news. Disturbances occurred in several
places during the night, but there was no
concerted attempt TO rebel against the
King. The movement is directed entirely
against the Chamber of Deputies and the
Ministers. who oppose the workingmen's
demands for the right to vote when they
reach legal age. without property qualifi-
cation.
The King. it is known, is in favor OF
wide extension Of the suffrage, and the
people have nothing against him person
ally. Impartial observers of the situation
readily sympathize with the strikers.
Belgium is. with the exception OF Russia.
lerhaps, the only country where there
Is absolutely no law projecting the work-
ingman from the rapacity of his employ
er. The Belgian workingmen have
seen during the past ten years.
their brethren in other countries
placed under the prorectlon of special
laws, and employers held TO strict liza
bility when thoss laws were violated.
The Belgians have had nothing, and the
Bourgeois class. which rules the coun-
try. evidently intend that they shall have
nothing it they can prevent. Were the
strikers armed and disciplined. there is
n question that the Industrial revoIu-
tion now shaking the country, would
QUICKLY become a bloody contest. AS 1t
i, the strikers have, in many Instances,
routed the armed police. and have not
hesita.ed so attack the soIdiery.
TROUBLE IN ANTWERP.
In Antwerp. today, the outlook is more
threatening than it was yesterday, de-
spite the fact that extraordinary precau-
tions have been taken. Among the agi-
tators in Antwerp are number OF Anar-
chists. OF these, two, Fabry and Weltsrs,
kaye made themselves particularly OBJ
noxious 10 The police, aud today they
were placed under arrest. The striking
dock laborers began their disorderly DEM
oustrations again this morning.
They took possession of the docks and
marched along the water front attacking
the men who were at work, compelling
many of the men 20 quit. One captain or
II vessel from which the men had been
driven away protested. Thereupon the
mob promptly stoned him.
The police 10 force we're finally ordered
TO disperse the rioters. A short conflict
ensued. during which the police used
their swords and revolvers, and finally
the mob scattered.
FERMENT IN BRUSSELS.
In Brussels the terrnen5 conEinued with
no sign of abatement. The streets are
filled with crowds of excited working
men, and generei feeling of uneasiness
prevails. Ii was the intention of the
strikers to hold grand demonstration
totlay IN the park at st. Giles, Two miles
south OF Brussels. This place had been
selected for the meeting in conseq uence
Of the order prohibiting demonstrations
in Brussels, but the instructions sent out
last night 6y the Governor of the Prov
luce of BrabaDt have puG check upon
the proposed meeting. A strong force OF
troops is in possession of the park and
the demonstration will not be allowed.
One meeting was held this morning
at Molenbeek a short distance from
Brussels. Fifteen thousand worKingmen
assem- bled at this place, and many In
cendiary speeches were made. The speak
ers pointed out the wrongs under which
laborer5. miners. mechanics, factory
hands and mill operatives labor. and
called upon Them TO assert their rights.
The meeting was most enthusiastic, and
great significance attaches to it. The i'm
mense crowd of workingmeh all swore
that they would sacrifice life If it We're
needful to obtain the right OF manhood
suffrage.
The meeting broke up without inter-
ference from the authorities and most of
The crowd returned to the city.
The newspapers supporting the govern
ment affect to treat the movement with
to compel them to stop publication, but
st.;- ct. r,c1ro ofr1l