The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-14
THE DISTURBANCES IN BELGIUM.

country. To begin with, it is the smallest
independent country in Europe-much small
er than Switzerland or Holland. Belgium
contains only II ,373 square miles-consider-
ably less than one-third of the area of In
diana-yet its population is nearly three
times that Of this State. In 1898 Belgium
had a population of $685., 1872. 1t is one of the
richest countries in the world, ranking
seventh in the value of its foreign trade
and leading all countries in the per capita
value Of that trade. In other words, she
has a larger commerce. in proportion TO
population, than any other country. Stats
tics show that Belgium foreign commerce
amounts TO S115 per head of population,
that OF Great Britain TO $96 per head, that
OF Germany to $4S per head, that of France
TO S42 per head. 1t is great manufacturing
country. and has an immense amount of
accumulated capital For several years
past Belgian capitalists have been invest
ing in Russian industries, and 1t is said that
one-half of the foreign companies started
in Russia during 1899 were Belgian. They
also have large investments in China.
The modern history of Belgium as an in
dependent country dates from $780, when,
after a bloody war, she separated from
Holland. Since then she has had only two
kings. Leopold 1 was selected and pro-
claimed king by the five great European
powers in 1881, and the present king, Leo
pold II. succeeded to the throne in 1865. and
has ruled as a strictly constitutional SOW
ereign under a written constitution adopted
in 1893. The basis of suffrage established
by the constitution differs in some material
respects from that Of any other country.
The legislative power is vested in a Senate
and Chamber of Representatives, mem
bers of the former being elected for eight
years and those of the latter for four
years. Men cannot vote for representatives
till they are twenty-five years DID, nor for
senators till they are thirty years old. But
the most peculiar feature of the suffrage
is the provision for cumulative or plural
voting. Every male citizen of legal age
may vote, but the constitution gives one
additional vote to every married man or
widower thirty-fve years OF age who has
legitimate issue and pays a house tax of
not less than $1.25. 1t also gives one addi-
tiOnal vote TO every citizen twenty-five
years old or over who owns real property
to the value of $780, or who has an income
of not less than $40 year from an invest
ment in the public debt. or from a savings
bank. Two additional votes are given to
each citizen twenty-five years of age who
has received certain diplomas or discharged
certain functions which imply the posses
sion of a superior education. The same citi-
zen may accumulate votes on more than
one of these qualifications, but no person is
allowed to cast more than three votes.
The obvious tendency of these cumulative
voting provisions is to encourage marriage
and raising families, to put a premium on
thrift and to give special recognition to
property and educational qualifications.
The plan is unique and worth studying.
When the constitution embodying 1t was
adopted the Brussels correspondent of the
London Times wrote to that journal:
This article, which adds to manhood suf-
frage as 1t exists in France, Spain, Ger
many Switzerland. the United States and
the Australian colonies, the safeguard of
double and triple suffrage according 10
age, marriage and paternity, as we'll as
to the possession of money, saved or in
herited, or Of a profession, will constitute
one of the distinguishing marks of the new
Belgian constitution. AS il reposes upon
the first principle that works must be con-
sidered with reference 10 their weight,
rather than 10 their number it has had the
effect OF putting an immediate end to the
violent political crisis which disturbed the
country. 1t has been accepted without much
enthusiasm, but as a reasonable COM
promise. The moderates of all classes who
do not go 10 war for abstract theories think
that it has prospect Of enduring.
But it has not worked satisfactorily to
all classes. The present disturbances are
largely due to a demand for revision of
the constitution on the suffrage question.
The Socialists and Liberals claim that
workingmen cannot obtain more than two
votes, whereas the rich get three 1t is also
claimed that the government winks at
fraudulent voting by which its supporters
are given votes than they are en-
titled to. The demand is for one vote to a
man and no more. The Liberal leader says:
Under the present unjust electoral regime
the workingman has only 10000 votes out
of 100000, whereas under the one-man-
vote system we would have 400 900 out of l.
200 600" A great strike that is set for to-
DAY in the mining and industrial dis
existing agitation. The strike will be in
the interest of electoral revision, and i'm
the end the government will probably have
to yield the point.