The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1913. THE CRISIS IN BELGIUM.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1725, 16 April 1913, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1913. THE CRISIS IN BELGIUM.

» The general strike in Belgium, referred to in our cable columns, is not so much an industrial as a political upheaval. Just as certain wild women in England are endeavouring to compel Parliament to give them the vote by destroying property and endangering life, so in Belgium the Socialists are trying to extort from the Government an amended franchise law by paralysing the trade and industry of the whole country. The Belgians at present have universal suffrage, but it is modified 'by a system of proportional representation and tho plural vote, and tho object of the strLe is to abolish the latter. . The Socialists were sorely disappointed at the result of the General Election last year, when tho Clerical, or lloman Catholic, party camc back with an increased majority. This party has held office for over 28 years, but since.. 18!)9 its majority had been gradually decreasing, so that in 1904 it was 20, in 1906 it was 12, in 1908 it fell to 8, and in 1910 to 6. Tho new conditions which prevailed in 1912 inspired the Liberals and Socialists with renewed hopes. Owing to the increase in population 20 new seats were created, most of which went to swell the representation of the industrial centres, and the election was made a really national trial of strength by Hie fact that the custom of electing the Chamber by halves was altered,, and all the constituencies were called upon to choose their representatives simultaneously. The Liberals and

Socialists combined to oust the Clericals from office, and it came as a great shock to them to find that the appeal to the country had resulted m an increase of the Roman Catholic majority from 6 to ]G. The disappointment of the Coalition was increased by the fact that their conhopes of capturing a majority of the twenty new seats had not been fulfilled, no fewer than twelvo of theni: going to the Clericals. In spite of what is called the Clerical domination, it has to bo admitted that Belgium shows no signs of stagnation. On tho contrary, as a writer in the Westminster Gazette states, the country "has increased amazingly in wealth and population, has become a colonial power, and has abundant capital to invest abroad." It is, however, contended that in spite of this great prosperity the average, rate of wages is net high; but it must also be borno in mind that the cost of living is low, and that there is not much poverty of the abject, hopeless sort that exists in some other countries. Moreover, tho land is largely owned by the people, and the system of co-operation is in vcA*y general operation. That the religious element is having an important influence on the strike is indicated by the cabled statement that one of the strikers has shot a Roman Catholic workman who refused to cease work. In Belgium, as in some other countries, the Socialist attacks on religion have caused the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church to organise special labour unions for theii own people. These unions have steadily increased in membership, and they now embrace a very large _ section of organised labour. Syndicalism and the general strike v/cre recently condemned by Cardinal Bourne, and no doubt the Belgian Bishops hold similar views, the_ result probably being a serious split in the ranks of the workers. As a matter of fact, not only the working classes, but thq nation,as a whole, is divided into two clearly marked sections. Mr.-Sorolea, in Everyman, recently argued that Belgium is really not a nation at all; it is rather _ a "geographical expression, an artificial creation of politics and diplomacy." "It is one of the most free-thinking, and also one of tho most Catholic countries, almost medieval in its loyalty to the old religion. In politics it is one of the most advanced, with a formidable organised Socialist party; yet it is also one of tho most Conservative.

. . . _ There arc in Belgium two countries and two raccs, which have littlo-in common. . . The Flemish population _is Catholic, as Catholic as the Irish and the French Canadians; the Walloons are Agnostic. The Flemish constituencies a,ro as Conservative as the constian English or Scottish University. The Walloons are more Socialist than the miners of Saxony." All these facts taken together seem to indicate that the present crisis is something more than a fight for franchise reform or a struggle between Labour and Capital ; it may develop into a trial 'of strength between two peoples, with conflicting religious, social, and political ideals. The progress of such a struggle cannot fail to excite widespread interest throughout the civilised world.