The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-12

representation wasko prevail and in re-
| gard to the country districts the mod1s Of
! election, now extant, was to be maintain
ed. In the seven districts indicated the
clericals would have no prospect Of sue
cess II the opposition were united, yet any
disunion might insure the clerical minority
a number of seats in the lower chamber
of the Legislature. which, together with
the unquestioned ascendency in the coun-
| try districts, might provide for a majority
under ali circumstances.
Since 1896 the question of revision Of
| the constitution touching upon elections
has been before the Belgian legislature,
and Sept. Z. 1893. law amendatory of the
constitution was promulgated which pro-
vides for supplementary votes besides
the individual one Of each voter. Ac-
ccrding to this law the Belgian senate
| consists of members elected for eight
years. partly directly and partly indirectly.
The number Of senators elected directly Is
proportioned to the population Of each
| province, and is equal to half the number
| OF members of the chamber of representa-
tives. The constituent body Is similar to
that which elects deputies to the lower
branch. except that the age of electors is
fixed at thirty years. In 1866 the num-
| Der of electors for the senate was 1,1S5,O00.
disposing of 1,924,OOO votes. Senators cleo
Red indirectly are chosen by the provincial
councils, the number Of senator's depending
upon the population Of each province.
The members OF the chamber Of repre-
sentatives are elected directly. Their
| number is proportionate to the population.
Every citizen over twenty-five years of
age, domiciled for not less than one year
in the same commune, and not legally dis
qualified, has a vote. Every citizen over
thirty-five years of age, married or widow
er. with legitimate issue, and paying at
least francs a year in house tax, has
supplementary vote, as has also every citi-
zen over twenty-five years of age owning
| immovable property TO the value Of 1850
francs. orihavirg corresponding income
! orfm such property, or who for two years
has derived at least 100 francs a year from
Belgian funds either directly or through
the savings bank. Two supplementary
votes are given to citizens over twenty
! five years OF age who have received a dip
homo or certificate Of higher instruction, or
who fill or have filled offices or engaged in
private professional practice, implying at
least average higher instruction. No per-
son has more than three votes. Failure to
vote Is a misdemeanor, punishable by law.
There were in 1867 for the lower branch
of the legislature 14Ol, 951 electors possess
ing in all 2141, 4O1 votes.
The plan of the clericals to secure per-
manently a number OF seats in the legis-
lature by this new election bill was very
innocent on the face of It, but the opposi-
ton united and demanded not only a with
drawal of the obnoxious bill but also the
universal and equal suffrage. The govern
ment finally, after a number Of riots in
the provinces, which threatened the very
existence OF the monarchial institution
withdrew the bill.
The liberal party, divided up to tie cleo
tioins Of last year in itself, the moderate
liberals opposing the socialistic radicals, Is
now united in its attack upon the amended
constitution of 1893, which divides the
voters into classes, and the clerical party,
having almost two Representatives in the
legislative bodies to one Of the liberals,
also presents a united front against any
extension OF suffrage But the liberals
have IN this long campaign at least one
important victory. Prior to 1893 there
were but 10000 voters. The amended law
Of that year provided for more than ten
times this number for the' popularIbranch
Of the legislature. This concession was
brought about by the determined attitude
of the radicals and the threat Of a revolu-
tion. In these latter days there have been
open calls to arms not only in Brussels,
but also in the provincial cities of Liege,
Client and Bruges, and in the mining dis
tricts socialism threatens to eliminate in
open rebellion.
tits certainly significant fact that IN
the midst of all this turmoil there has not
been single threat against the person Of
the king or his dynasty This is undo,bt-
edly due to the fact that six years ago
Leopold IT,. took the cause of the people
against the clericals in the battle for ex-
tending the franchise, and the king and
the people won. In Belgium at least, and
in Brussels particularly, Leopold II, is
immensely popular, whatever his Short
comings may be. or his fiirtatlons. to call
these shortcomings by mild name, the
press of both hemispheres has kept full
and detailed account. His good qualities
have not received the same treatment.
Until the constitutional conflict of 1893 ne
has never been active in what is commonly
known as practical politics. and since that
time having achieved victory, at least a
partial one. for the people he has never
interfered in politics again.
His interests are largely confined 70 eff
forts to broaden the trade and industry Of
Belgium, and he has always been at the
front in geographical studies and re-
searches. In 1876 he called an international
geographical congress to Brussels to real
lie upon discoveries in Central Africa.
Based upon SANKEY'S discoveries IeopoId
II. founded the Congo Free State. of which
he assumed sovereignty IN 1855. upon re-
quest OF the Congo people. Subsequently
he coded this colony to Belgium. An ex-
petition to the south pole, made possible
largely by the kings contribution. has
just returned after a successful voyage in
the arctic regions. Last year he offered an
international prize Of 25.no0 francs. 10 he
awarded in 1901. for the best work on the
military history Of the Belgians from the
time OF the Roman invasion to the present
day. Whoever studies the pnysiosnOmv Of
King Leopold cannot fail TO be struck
with the rigid look OF his couptenance.
which rather repeLs advances And this
phys!ognomy does not belle the king. He
Is not favorite with men. despite his al
most democratic simplicity. He lacks the
personal gifts to attract them. and he
.acks beside his fathers astute wisdom to
manipulate them. and this iSnot so much
because he Is lacking in intelligence as
because imagination and the softer mali