The age-herald., 1899-07-04
A REVOLUTION
 SEEMS IMMINENT If Universal Suffrage is Not
 Had in Belgium. OFFICIALS ARE P0WERLESS To Maintain Order, and the Situation is
Grave, With the Monarchy Se- riously Threatened1Dem
 strations by Socialists

New York, July S.-A dispatch to the Herald from Brussels says:
 "The situation in Belgium is very grave. Socialists and radicals, composing the opposition, now demand universal suffrage and will be satisfied with nothing else.
 Al depends on what the government will do on Tuesday. If they fail to bring in a bill granting universal suffrage, 1t is feared that there will be a revolution with eonse- auences of far-reaching character.
 '@The government is in a difficult posi- ton. By opposing the demand for uni- versal suffrage, it may bring about a revo- lution which would sweep away the mon- archy. On the other hand If it gives in, the appeal for universal suffrage would ap- parently result in such a large socialist republican majority in the legislative body that the monarchy would be in just as much danger.
 ''In addition to this, the workmen in the pcpulous industrial towns in Belgium have decided to go out on a strike if their de- mands are not yielded to on Tuesday.
 ''The active members of the revolutionary party are collecting arms and ammunition and are fully prepared to support their claim by force
 There was no serious disturbance Sum- day in Brussels itself, but serious events occurred in several places in the provinces Socialists assembled in great numbers in the park, where a regimental band was to play in the afternoon. The socialists gath cred around and sang the 'Marseillalse with such vigor that the music of the band could not be heard.
 The police tried to intervene, but had to yield to superior numbers and the social ists carried the day.
 Socialists to the number of 700 or 800 then formed procession and marched through the street to the Maison due Pule singing the 'Marseillaise' as they went.
 At the Maison du Puple a meeting was held at which resolutions in favor of uni Versal suffrage were passed with great en- thusiasm.
 The most serious disorders were those which took place at Alost. A meeting was addressed there by Abbe Daens, Catholic socialist, who, by reason of his attitude in the present circumstances has been repu- diated by the Catholic party.
 'An attempt to break up the meeting by the police was strenuously resisted. The police charged the crowd with extraordin- ary violence and many of the people were seriously injured.
 Incidents of extreme gravity occurred at Liege. A review of the civic guard took place, and while it was in progress a pro- cession composed of socialists and radicals
  seillaise' and 'Carmegnole.'
 While the socialists were marching past the civic guard remained unmoved, but af- terward they marched in uniform to the celebrated Maison Du Puple, of Liege, thus demonstrating their entire sympathy with the socialist party.
 "A monster meeting of miners was held at Mons at which resolution in favor of going out on a strike in the event of the government refusing to give them satisfac- tion on the electoral question on Tuesday was passed. This means that from 25,00o to 30,O0O men are preparing to go on strike.
 Mass meetings were held in Verviers by all the workmens associations of that dis trict and a general strike was agreed on should the government refuse to give way. "The burgomasters of Brussels, Antwerp, Liege and Ghent have informed the govern ment that it was impossible for them to be responsible for the maintenance of order unless the government yields to the de- mands of the masses.
 According to the Petit Bleu here, If no means of reaching a satisfactory solution is brought forward by the government on Tuesday, the king is thinking of dissolving parliament and consulting the country"