The San Francisco call., 1899-07-05


Herald. Copyrighted. 1888, by James Cor
don Bennett
BRUSSELS, July 4-The Belgian
kingdom certainly escaped to-day a
great shaking up. The socialists, who
are admirably disciplined. had pur-
chased firearms. collected stores of
every kind to fight the police, the con-
stabulary and all representatives of
authority and organize a real insur-
rection. had NJ Van den Peerboom's
bill not been withdrawn. The danger
has subsided for the present. 1t IS
thought. however, that the special
committee, to which the three alterna-
tive bills have been referred. might fail
to agree. and that a dissolution Of Par
lament with an appeal To the country
on the question of universal suffrage
viii come.
Should the commission agree on any
bill distasteful 10 the Socialists and
Liberals. an insurrection viii only have
been postponed few days. or weeks.
The opposition is in the greatest ear
nest-ready to lose and spin blood
Meanwhile the truce is complete, and
with the assistance Of a downpour Of
rain, Brussels tonight is compare
lively quiet, although the "Marseil-
laise" and 90 Van den PeerbOom" are
freely sung under umbrellas.
The Brussels correspondent Of the
Paris Figaro gives some striking Off
cial figures, which reveal in clear
light the moving cause Of the crisis
that has shaken Belgium to its center
and still threatens a revolution The
Chamber Of Deputies is composed of
1872 members. The Government or Cler-
icaI vote at the last election for rep
resentatives in this body was 993, S51,
while the opposition vote for Socialists
and Liberals together was 936,237.
On a fair, equitable system Of repre-
sentation this would give the Govern
ment about seventy eight and the ops
position seVenty-fOur representatives
or a rneager majority of four for the
former. Now. as a matter Of fact the
CleriCals have 112 members and their
opponents only forty; that is 10 say,
while the Clericals Outnumber the Lib
erals and Socialists at the polls by
fewer than 5S, 600 votes in the total vote
IF nearly 2 600 600, they OutnumbeT them
In the Chamber by nearly three 10 one.
Such is the practical effect Of the
present system Of prOportionate repre-
sentation and plural voting since its
adoption some six years ago. Ihat SYS-
tenn has been aSSailed by Socialists and
Liberals and has even been disapproved
by moderate CIericals. The necessity OF
reforming 1t has been recognized by
King Leopold but the bill brought for
ward by Premier Van den PeerbOOm,
though ostensibly a. reform measure, is
really designed to make matters worse.
It's practical effect can only be TO
strengthen the Clerical majority. That
evidently is its purpose.
T1T has ma -
only q, mistaken but a dangerous move
IN bringing it forward is sufficiently
shown by the serious crisis it has pre-
cipitated It has united Socialists and
Liberals in solid opposition, whose
strength and determination may we'll
cause the King as well as the Clerical
Premier great concern.
In the Chamber Of Deputies to-day
NJ Van den PeerbOom, at the opening
of the session, reiterated the Govern
mentis strong desire to effect con-
ciliation and paCify the public mind.
He continued:
THE Government considers there is
ground for entertaining the counter
electoral proposals suggested by Vari
Gus members and submitting them to
a committee on which all parties will
be represented. The Government, in
the meanwhile, is prepared to consider
the necessary steps to accomplish the
desired understanding"
NJ Van der Valede. Socialist. on be-
half Of the two parties of Leftists sup
ported the ministerial proposal, which
he declared was equivalent to the with
drawal of the Government scheme. He
declared the parties Of the Left would
remain united in order to combat any
attempt OF the Government to resume
offensive tactics and to prevent any
fresh party coup.
NJ. Weiste declared the Rightists
would remain equally united for the
defense Of the constitutional liberties.
ANTWERP, July AT a meeting Of
the Provincial Council to-day Coun-
oilor belonging to the Left proposed a
resolution In favor Of the rejection of
the new electoral bill. A Rightist Coun-
cilor prot +ested that the resolution was
q oensure Of the Government This
was q signal for an uproarious out
burst In the public galleries, where
there were shouts Of Down with the
Government" Down with the thieves" "
Down with the priests" and the Mar
seiliaise" was also sung.