Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-18
Struggle Of the WOrkingmen for the
Right of Suffrage.
NO H0STILITT TUEARD THE KING.
Prospect Of a Bitter Contest Before
the End.
OTHER TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
STRUGGLING FoR SUFFRAGE
The Fight of the Belgian workinemss
Against tn. l..Ci.iAtor..

The Fight of the Belgian workingmss
Against the Legislator.
BRUSSELS. April lS.-1be night has PASSED
FAR more quietly than the authorities eNp.cted,
but. nevertheless. the outlook is still threaten
ing. Dispatches FROM all parts Of the kingdom
inhabited by The working people bring disquiet-
ing news. Disturbances occurred in several places
during the night. but there Sas no concerned
attempt TO rebel against the king. The move
ment IL directed entirely against the chamber
OF deputies aud the ministers who oppoSe the
workirgmen demands for he right 10 vote
when thev reach legal sge without any prop
erty qualification wnaisoeyer.
The king. it IL known. Is IN favor Of . vide
extension OF the suffrage, aud the crowds Of
excited workinSmeu who are now demanding
What they believe to be their richt have nothing
against him personally. IMPARTIAL observation
OF the situation readily finds ~ mpathy with the
stIikers.
CONDITION OF THE BELsIAS woRKIxsnEx.
Belgium is, with the exception of Russia.
perhaps the only country where there Is sbsp-
lately no law protecting the workinsmsn from
the rapRcity aad greed OF has elny lover. The
Belgian workIngInen have seen within the past
ten wears their bred an other countries
placed under the protection Of srecisl laws en-
acted Tor their benefit. aud have seen emnlovers
held 10 a strict liability when these laws wore
violated. The Belgians have had nc thing and
the buu-geolsie class which rules TIE country
evidently intend that they shall have nothing IL
they Can prevent.
Hence in their desire to assert their man
hood and secure their rights the spectacle pre-
sents Itself o; gigantic strike to obtain die
right 10 elect Representatives among the law
makers. Were the strikers armed and disci-
piined there is no question that the industrial
revolution now shaking the country would
quickly become a bloody contest. As it is the
strikers have in many instances routed the
armed ponce and have not hesitaged TO attack
the soldiery.
THE Effective MnITART FORCE
The peace effective OF Belgium, officers and
men, is 4S. .S4r exclusive OF the civic guard.
numbering 4S.647 men. and IL viii therefore be
seen that the dlsorgauized mobs Of working
men. only Few of whom possess weapons
have Iltue Glance of overthr"Wlng The govern
ment by resortlng 20 attacks upon the troops.
Yet with their passions iniAmed by the words
OF their leaders the strikers 40 not hesitate 10
tgh;, and unless extreme stems are taken
against them the trouble will result disastrously
TO the trade and commerce Of the country.
In Antwerp the day outlook ls more threaten
ing than 1t was yesterday. and this despite the
fact that extraordinary military precautions
have been taken TO preserve the peace. Among
the more prominent OF the agitators in Ant
werp are n number Of anarchists. OF these
two. Fabry and Neiters, have made themselves
they were placed under arrest
DIsoRDERLY DENOMINATION RENEWED
The striking dock lAborers began their din
orderly demonstrations again this morning.
They took possession of the docks and marched
along the river front, attackinr the men who
were at work, compelling many OF them TO
quit. One captain Of a vessel from which the
men had been driven away protested 70 the
leaders OF the rioters, whereupon the mob
promptly stoned HIM aud forced him TO fee.
The police in force were finally ordered TO
disperse the rioters. A short confict ensued.
during which the police used their swords aud
reyolyers, and finally the mob scattered. In
Brussels the ferment continues. with no sign Of
abatement. the streets are flied with crowds
OF excited workIngmea and a general feeling of
uneasiness prevails. Ii was the intention of the
strikers TO hold grand demonstration today In
the park at 81. Giilcs, two miles south Of Brus-
sells.
This place has been selected for the meeting
In Consequence OF the order prohibiting do
monstrauons in Brussels, but the instructions
sent out last night by the governor Of the
province Of Brabant have put check upon the
proposed meeting. A strong force Of troops In
in possession OF the park and the demonstrataou
will not be allowed
STEPS To PREyRNr A MEETING.
BurgomGster hoekelberg of ST. Giles refused
10 prohibit the meeting in the park there 10
day, and as a result the governor Of Brabant
took the az ir into his own hands. He ordered
troops to be sent to ST Giles 10 prevent any
demonstration the strikers might attempt TO
make.
Many OF the strikers in this city are deter
mined to hold meetings. despite the orders Of
the gorernOr's province to tine contrary. They
do not however, intend 20 bod their demon
st-atIons within the city limits. They select
little suburban villages where they trust they
he IN ..rglN Wit bV he
FIFTEEN THOUSAND ASSEMBLE
One such meeting was held this morning at
Molenbeek. a short distance from Brussels.
this place and many incendiary speeches were
made. Ghe speakers pointed out the wrongs
under which lsborers. miners, mechanics. fac
tory hands and mill operatives labor and called
upon them to assert their rights.
The meeting was most enthusiastic and great
significance attached to IT. The immense
crowd of workingmen ali swore that they would
sacrifice their life n 1t were needful to obtain
the right OF manhood suffrage.
The meeting broke up without interference
from the authorities and most of the crowd re-
turned to the city.
The newspapers supporting the government
affect to treat the movement with contempt
Today the strikers attempted 90 compel them
to stop publication, but in this city were unsuc-
cessfuL
MORE FIGHTS THE STREETS.
The mob gathered again as the police
disappeared and the gendarmes were again
sent to the whsrves TO disperse the rioters.
This they succeeded in doing. but not until
they had measured strength with the mob As
coon the mob was driven from one point
along the river front they would appear in
another and continue the rio.ing.
Several times during the morning the police
were obliged to charge the strikers and every
time were met with resistance. Six of the
rioters suffering from sword wounds fell into
the hands OF the police.
The situation is still threatening.
A DUCHESS SENT TO PRISON.