Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-04-18
AN UPROAR IS CAUSED
Belgian Government Decides to Close
Debate on the Question of
Suffrage. .
Statement Made that Refusal to Re-
wise Constitution will be Signal
for War.
Premier Declares He Will Not Be
Driven at the Dictation of the
Populace.

Brussels, April 1S.-The debate on
the proposed revision CT the Belgian
constitution was resumed in the cham
Der Of representative during the Gay.
M. Braun GiberaD advocated q speedy
closing of the debate, in the interest OF
the whole country, and the premier,
NJ. De Smet de Mayer, heartily endors-
ed the suggestion, and proposed that
the house continue sitting until the
question was settled.
The Socialists protested against the
mer insisted on it's adoption. M. Van
der Velde, the Socialist leader. criti-
cized the government attitude. In
stead Of extending the olive branch,
he asserted, the premier offered fresh
provocation. The Socialists were alb
solutely opposed to the immediate con-
clusion of the discussion on the ground
that important events might shortly
occur.
The speaker then pointed to the fact
that there were 100000 men on strike
and that they enjoyed the respect Of
the middle classes.
This statement was greeted with So
cialist shouts of 1.-The government
thirsts for blood"
The premier maintained the wisdom
of the proposal for speedy close OF
the debate.
Socialist shouts of ''trickery,'
"treachery," lit will be the signal for
revolution" followed the premier's
| remarks.
At this juncture M. Van der Velde
crossed the floor and held q brief con-
versation with the premier, during
which M. Troclet (Socialist) cried:
'Then you want blood to flow to-
morrow"
| Socialists Shout Defiance.
The premier having reiterated his
unalterable adhesion to the propose
to close the debate. the Socialists
broke out into considerable uproar an(
clenched their fists threateningly, but
they confined themselves to that ant
the uttering of shouts of defiance.
| The debate was then continued by
the premier, Who amidst frequent in
terruptions. declared that a further re
vision of the constitution would not
accord with the desires of the country
He did not believe that universal suf
| frage would be conducive to the main
tenance Of free institutions in Belgium
| The government was prepared to ey.
anime, hereafter, arrangements ca1cu
lated to improve the conditions Of the
country but it would not agree t.
adopt universal suffrage, pure and sim
pie, which he claimed the Socialists
alone desired. A revision of the con
stitution, the premier further asserted
would plunge the country into turmoil
and the government utterly declined
to be driven at the diction OF the pop,
ulace and under threats of strike agi
tation and violence.
Renewed Socialist uproar, including
threats of civil war and shouts of ''you
have murdered one of the people," fol
I lowed this announcement.
The premier, after remarking that
he declined to notice such calumnies
said the existence of their national in
stitutions was at stake. The govern
ment was responsible for the honor
and destiny of the country, and was
conscious of it's duty. He then invited
the chamber to reject the proposed
consideration of the proposal to revise
! the constitution.