New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-29
A MINIATURE PARIS.
WITH EVIDENCE FROM BRUSSELS
THAT POLITICS is THE WORLDS
GREAT GAME-LABOR REVOLT
AS MEANS FOR JUSTI-
FLYING THE END.
Brussels, April /


The gay and busting Belgian capital is at all
times a miniature Paris 1t has circuit of
spacious boulevards. external and internal:
striking contrasts Of architecture between the
Gothic Hotel de Vile, the semi Renaissa nee
haLe au Pain and the medieval guildhalls in
the most picturesque of European market
squares, and the highly decorated Louis Qua
torze Bourse, the Greco-Roman Palas de Jus
sice, with rocco ornamentation, and the bright
and cheerful French Renaissance residences of
the wealthy quarter; ambitious and well de-
signed columns. monuments and statuary in the
public gardens and squares: artistic manufact-
ures such as lace. carpets. glass and furniture;
an air of gayety in the cafes and restaurants
and sense of movement and brilliancy in the
night life. The resemblance to Paris is even
closer in times of political agitation, when the
thoroughfares filled with loungers waiting
for something sensational to happen; when the
newsboys shrieking in the streets morning
and night. and the cafes and restaurants re-
sound with excited chatter; and when the po
lice and soldiers look grimly. interested in
the game which overgrown children playing.
yet constrained keep them in order
as there are signs Of lack of self-control The
Belgians are natural politicians. and derive
much pleasurable excitement Parisians from
partisan press edited with deClamatory ener-
gy. They have their traditions of indie
pendence won by harrcades and popular up
risinss and when they exasperated by the
inertia and obstinacy Of a Conservative minis
try they relieve their feelings by gesticulating
wildly and by whistling the ''Marseillaise." They
DO not, however. take politics too seriously. but
succeed in finding relaxation and entertainment
in the byplay and episodes of public life.
The presence of a large body of soldiers to
assist the police in the maintenance of public
order is a precaution enforced by the political
history of Belgium. Barbados and street mobs
are giorifed in stone and bronze as the founda-
tions Of national liberty. Riot, revolt and revo-
luton were the three Rs by which independence
was mastered IN 1880. An opera night with the
stirring strains Of La Muette de Portici' i'm
parted the first touch of revolutionary frenzy
The Dutch ministry hesitated and made empty
promises until the populace of Brussels lost
patience constructed barricades in the streets,
sacked newspaper office and fought for four
DAYS against military guards. Those glorious
days of popular revolt are commemorated by
the names Of the streets leading toward the
Doric column of Congressman as the Rue de
Ia Revolution. the Place des Barricades and the
Rue du commencement Provisoire; and in the
Place des Martyrs is an categorical figure Of
Liberated Belgium with the names OF 44o pa
trjots who fought and persisted in the struggle
for Independence and with designs in marble OF
various incidents in the triumph Of street riot
ers When popular revolution is glorifled as
noble and inspiring tradition ministers need 10
be on their guard when Socialists are oehouhc-
ing them as the enemies Of freedom anu "heh
sna-ches of Ca ira" are heard in the dark al
levs They have prudently massed strong
force Of militia in the capital and established
something like q state of siege in guarding win
lines OF bayonets the approaches to the palaces
and the halls of the legislative chambers. They
have also wisely taken extreme precautions lot
restraining public excitement over the purlai VI
the unfortunate victims of last weeks riotins-
The soldiers and the populace agree IN re-
sarding the situation as less serious IMAM 'hese
mimic ornaments would seem to Indicate 7" iiie
waiting at the Hotel de Vile for pass "llhil
tho military lines so IS to secure entrance into
the Chamber of Deputies, 1 watched In the
co,,r, the eyolutions of the home guards ana
wondered whether they could be depended upon
:; .-;Sis IN fire upon street crowds OF friends
and neishbors They hardly more than
bovs in uniform and carried their weapons
awkwardly; and when their dress Paraoe was
over they broke ranks noisily and played caius
and smoked cigarettes among wooden oehche'
!, the medieval hall. Outside was the historic
Market Square where Egmont and Hoorn anu
tventy-five Flemish noblemen We're Sent ~ CA
ecution bv order of the Duke Of Alva and where
.he most stirring scenes in the history VI inc
low Countries had been enacted; and within
49,, ,,c,,,resoue hall were awkward squads or
,,- recr,,its reading the morning Journals, taik-
inc noIttics with excited gesture and enjoying
Sba humorous aspects of reform agitation Inc
nonulace itself hardly seems to take 4 hioie
serious view of what is plainly pohucal aiia''
with the organized forces of labor eHpioyeu !"
en,nhasizing a demand for the revision OIL Inc
ooro,.ions of suffrage 1t looks with anuse-
y,,ent while the soldiers form coroohs VI oaSo
80 s-ound palaces and public buildings and
70 from
x,.t,ons IT reads listlessly the impassionea
declaration OF the partisan writers Tor the oails
nress and exchanges jokes and fraterhizes win
a., ,a,.rs ON guard against lawlessness Ii is
,,re of q Roman holiday than a reVoiuuohaiS
--ss,s and the crowds with Gallo impetuosi's
,5 volatile temperament enjoy the eAci'eiiehI
of the side shows
The suffrage question, which mas leo 10 ger
eral Ia Dor revolt for a pollticai ioea anu
sroed an inert and self-wied ministry 10 Inc
reoessi,v Of adopting extreme military precau
,,ons against revolution, is not so simple DIS II
-aa,,,s 81 first sight we'll Informed Belgian |
bo undertook to explain il to me, requireo
eood part of an hour for elaborate eNposi'i'ii'
90 when he had finished he despairingiy as
a,es that he had not reached the centre pu'
IA on,v been toying with the fringe OF an III
.ricate subject. His own status as d No'ei' NJ
ever served TO illustrate the anomahes Vi 'e
.,s,er, He could vote four times III o
ynunal and three times In general ei'
nbereas an ordinary workingfiah couiu VIZ
- -. One vote was based on universal |
manhood suffrage, two We're Pii'iies
,s.~;s5 from, superior education. and the otheT
- n-.s grounded upon property. age and mar
-. rh;. method Of plural voting nullineo'
.ooo-d;rr N his own admissions. the supremacy |
.. ,,arbood suffrage and enabled the govern
,,.r. 80 the dav TO remain in power inoehhi'eiy