The Meeker herald., 1893-04-22
THERE MAY Be A REVOLUTION.
THE SITUATION IN BELGIUM.
LaborIng Men Emphasize Their Demand
for Universal Suffrage With
tcts OF yfoIence,


The laboring classes Of Belgium are becom-
ing more violent In demonstrations of disap-
proyal against the Chamber OF Deputies for
its refusal to vote In favor OF universal SUI
frage. In connection with this agitation a
large number OF strikes are In progress
throughout the country and altogether the
situation Il serious. A dispatch from Brus-
sells on the l1th, says:
The industrial revolution against the
Chamber Of Deputies Il In full progress To-
day LOCO of the dock laborers In Antwerp
Joined the movement, and much excitement
prevails there. The strikers have cut of COM
munication with the vessel, lying Mt the
quays by throwing their gansvays into the
river They INDUCED la other serious demon
STATIONS, and became 80 threatening that the
military had to be called out TO preserve Or
der. No conflicts have yet occurred, but the
attitude of the strikers Is very threatening
and the trouble is expected at any moment.
The streets and open place In the vicinity oil
the wharyes are filed with strikers, and hour
ly their ranks are being swelled with laborers
and others. 1t is hoped that the presence oil
the military will hold the strikers in check.
The strike will perhaps delay the departure
of the American steamers.
Al Licgc the strike is still on, there having
been no disorderly demonstration. There
have been no additions TO the strikers forces
to-day. The strikers NJ Mons have resorted
To the use of dynamite TO enforce their de-
mani for universal suffrage. bomb, which
had been placed close to the Washes church,
exploded this morning with great violence
sliatterln. the stained glass windows OF the
church are doing other damage.
The explosions seem TO have acted us an
incentive to the strikers to commit further
oulragcs The strikers INDUCED In all man
ner Of threats against the government, and as
the day wore on they became emboldcncd
and determined to take possession oil the
town for labor professions. When the mob
attempted to march through the street they
were met by a strong detach fnent OF the civic
guards No attention was paid TO the order
TO dl-per.c. Hootlng and yelling they at
tempted TO march on and dchcd the guards
10 IRE upon them. The guards fired upon
the crowd. but this dil not effect their dis
persal On the contrary. II only Infatuated
them and a charge vas made upon the guard
A desperate hnLd-io-hani conflict ensued.
The main body Of the -tr.kcrs was broken up
but groups of struggling men could be seen
In the streets. The battle WAS long and bit
terly contested, hut lnally the guards were
victorious. It Is known that four Of the
miners were killed Many Of the rioters
were wounded aad a nGmber were taken to
the hospital The killing Of the four strikers
has added greatly to the excitement In the
town and there Is danger Of a more serious
outbreak. Fourteen loldlrrs were wounded.
Three will not recover They were removed
I al II.f mt IA en-
statements were taken for the public pros
ccuiors.
la the Chartered district, where 5000 min
or. are employed. work In the miues may be
said to be at a standstlll, for eo,01o OF the
miners have quit work. and are rioIous. Most
Of these miners are mlseraby poor. and they
and their families are bound to suffer The
cotton, yam. lace, linen and wool mills and
factories in Grammont, In East Flanders, arc
the operatives in these industries having
Joined In the strike movement
Many OF the men employed at Antwerp in
loading and dscharging vessels, and In other
work about the wharvoi, did not quit work In
obedience 10 the order Of the men engineer
Ing the strike. This inilamed the strikers,
who to-day made an attack on the workers.
| The latter made a weak attempt to defend
| themselves, but they would in all probability
I have been driven away had 1t not been for
! the gcudarmes, who took hand in the af-
| fray The strikers were armed with revolt
| vcrs, and used them. The gendarmcs, who
also had firearms. were quicker to respond,
/ and 1t l. thought that several strikers we're
| wounded number OF iheringleadcrs among
/ the strikers were captured
] lac f,.tInar nf uufest continues ~ surpnd
| There Is no denying the fact that the crisis is
acute Excited meetings in favor of uni
yersal suffrage arslbclng held throughout the
| country. Everywhere imprisoned appeals
are made to those who live by toll to join the
great demonstration now In progress.
The government has issued decree calling
out all the militia for the defense of the state
| This means the mobilization OF some 5000
troops against the workingmen.
D