New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-29

frage, snd manhood suffrage was paralyzed
decade after decade.

frage, and manhood suffrage was paralyzed
decade after decade
This is the question which has brought on a
suspension Of labor by a working force esti-
mated anywhere between 10000 and 100000
in the kingdom The coal miners Of Chareroi.
the cisarmakers and metal workers of Antwerp.
the spinners and glassmakers of Brussels and
the founders. quarrymen and mechanics q
other centres of labor have responded to the
call of the Socialists and abandoned their work
for the purpose of emphasizing the demand for
political reform. They had grievances
against their employers. and expressed regret
for the inconvenience which they causing:
and the masters in many instances openly sym
pathized with them in the sacrifice which they
were making in wages for the sake of forcing
the government to take up a necessary reform
measure. 1t is an essentially, peaceable revolt
of the working masses. and has been conducted
in the early stages without lawlessness or
violence. Excuses may result from the mach
nations of anarchists from the idleness
of large body of unemployed working people;
but so far as the movement has proceeded there
has been self-restraint in a lawabiding spirit
Liberals and Radicals while not responsible for
the Socialist appeal to the working classes to
strike for a political idea do not hesitate to
describe it as the only practical method of or
CANNING dSftiiSI 'iic
conservative and reactionary government
which refuses to redress legitimate public grieV-
ances and to remove the anomalies of an in
equitable system of elections. They have Joined
in an Intellectual appeal to the Ministry to dis
solve the Chambers and to order general cleo
ton, which may have the character of ma
tional mandate on this supreme question OF
political reform. The Socialists. who divide on
equal terms with the Moderate and Progressive
Liberals the strength of the minority in the
Chamber of Deputies have refrained from sane
tioning this appeal for general election with a
misleading response referendum from
plural voters. They stand for the principle of
peaceable agitation by the army of labor strik-
ing for political reform.
The Prime Minister. NJ. De Smet de Mayer,
with the Clerical leader. NJ Woeste. behind him.
has adopted the natural course required by par
tisan interest. With safe majority Of eighteen
in the Chamber of Deputies he allows leaders
like NJ. Neujean, NJ. Janson. NJ Feron and NJ
Vandervelde to debate for a season projects OF
election reform. but creates the impression that
lawbreakers seeking to intimidate govern
ment and legislators and to coerce them by
popular violence. The troops massed at a
dozen points for the prevention OF mob violence,
and the palace occupied by the Chambers can
only be approached through lines of bayonets.
gerate the menace of street roting and lawless
ness and to make an excessive display Of the
military precautions taken for the maintenance
of public order II is the game Of politics played
with expert dexterity by official veterans who
are astute enough to comprehend that working
people cannot remain indefinitely on strike for
a political idea. and that soon they return
to their labor the Garde Cvique be dis
missed and the regular troops withdrawn to
their ordinary barracks. The agitation viii have
been headed of by the ministerial demonstra-
ton for the defence of public order, and the :
ordinary elections can be brought under the
plural system and the Conservatives remain un- |
in office. These the government !
tactics and unless all signs fail. the reform !
agitation will temporarily be checked II an |
archfsts provoke excuses and the Socialist |
forces get out of hand and exceed the limits OF |
passive resistance and popular protest. the Con-
servatves will profit by acts of violence Other
wise the working classes will make an impress |
sive protest against undemocratic methods OF |
public opinion. and cause which Is |
as Just and reasonable John Brights appeal |
to conservative England to trust the people VIII |
ultimately triumph. Meanwhile II is a pretty |
game Of partisan politics pure and simple with |
the ministerialists exaggerating the dangerous |
tendencies of the proletarat and with the |
democratic leaders overrating the resources and
political activities Of organized labor. 1t is not
strange that the soldiers play cards over their
rattons and sober minded citizens read the
newspapers with cynical amusement. The wag-
gish Mannekin, the patron imp Of old Brussels.
does not need to masquerade a monk, or a
Carde Civile or son of toll, but merely as an
una pa shed politician. l. n r.