The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-19
SUFFRAGE IN BELGIUM.
TIE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES
VOrGs IN FAVOR or IT.

Plural Voting to Be Granted to Prop
erty Classea-A Revolution Probably
Avoided by the Action-Fear of u
Repetition Of the French Revolution
Irfiuenoed the Chamber.
BRUSSELS, April 1S.-In the chamber of
representatives to-day NJ. Beernaert, pre-.
mier, congratulated the gendarmes and
civic guard on their SUCCESS in coping with
the disorder. The government would guar
antee, Premier Beernaerb declared, to main-
| tein order. The premier intimated that
the report on the proposals for a revision Of
the constitution would be debated to-mor-
row.
NJ. .Rebouat at once arose and reported that
the chamber should not wait until to.mor-
row, but should suspend its sitting in order
that the report should be made ready for
! immediate presentation and then assemble
! again at once to discuss the report. To this
| proposition the chamber agreed. The
| agreement appeared to be hastened by the
presence Of an enormous 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 we're
| strongly guarded TO prevent violence from
| being done to obnoxious members. The
| representatives reassembled after the
| preparation of report on revision Of the con-
| stituton, and by a vote OF 1l9 ageiust IL,
with IA abstenuons from voting, adopted
| universal suffrage, with q provision for
| plural voting by Glasses owning property,
| according to tho amount and situation of
| the property. Cheers within the chamber
we're followed by prodiglous acolamations
| from the enormous crowd that awaited the
result OF the voting outside the chamber
| The greatest enthusiasm was displayei
| everywhere, and the people joined in
a jubilee in honor OF the great
triumph which they had achieved. 1t is
expected that the decision in favor Of uni
| yersal suffrage will have an allaying effect
upon the popular excitement and agitation,
which had been rapidly assuming the di-
mensions Of a general insurTection. 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 bad
the chamber not acted promptly there
| would have been areVolutton in Brussels.
THE STRIKE TO BE ABANDONED.
In view of the action of the deputies the
| labor leaders resolved at meeting held this
| evening to advise the abandonment OF the
general strike. AT the same time they de-
cided TO issue to the people manifesto
against the Nyssen bill, which proposes a
| combination of plural voting and universal
! sufPi age. The leaders will urge the people
to follow up theic victory by aRitating ua-
eeasingly for universal suffrage pure aud
simple.
The police!sand workingmen have had
| several encounters this evening and six
| - - ....r.. a..4..
| theless the end OF tho riots is belle we'd TO be
near. The decision OF the labor leaders to
abandon the strike has produced general
| feeling of relief. The police have worked
| night and day and are completely exhausted.
| Were the strikes and riots to continue few
| days more, the preservation Of order would
| be left entirely TO the military. as the police
could not endure the strain forty-eiRht hours
| longer. Many arrests Of socialists are re-
ported from the provinces.
At meetings Of the strikers In and around
| Ghent this evening resolutions in favor of
| resuming work tomorrow were passed.
Two men injured in the Mons riots died
this evening hltoRether seven men have
died in Mons OF injuries received in the
suffrage riots
COTTON SET ON FIRE.
ANTWERP, April 1S.-The strikers to-day
set on fire 400 bales Of cotton on the Quai
| du Rhin, and when the gendarmes arrived
the men were busy spreading the fire while
the frenen were fighting it. There can be
no question that the strike at Antwerp will
have decidedly depressing effect upon the
| commerce Of the port.
The most serious disturbance that has oc-
Cured to-day is reported from BourRer
| hout, village short distance
from Antwerp. Many candlemakers
ars employed in the village, and
majority OF them have joined
the movement in favor OF universal
| suffrage. Those who re NAMED at work
were attacked by the strikers to-day and
troops were called upon to protect the
workers and restore order. There was no
moral force in their appearance and they
resorted to a bayonet charge, Four strikers
we're killed and fifteen received more or less
serious thrusts. 1t is certain that some OF
the wounded will die. Great excitement
prevails in the village and the strikers
threaten vengeance for the death Of their
comrades. Here, as in other parts Of the
country, the men are in many instances
| spurred on TO riot by women.