The Legislative Elections in Belgium.
Before examining into the results of the electoral struggle which has just taken place, it is necessary to give a brief explanation of the conditions attending it. Since 1893 we have a new electoral law which establishes universal suffrage, but only in the sense that it accords at least one vote to every individual over twenty-five years of age. But this universal suffrage is vitiated by the provision that certain citizens, by reason of position or of property, have two or three votes. It is easily understood that this system is made to favor the conservative parties. Up to this time the law established "election by majority"; this year, for the first time, a new law establishing "proportional representation" went into effect, and on this occasion the parliament had been dissolved and the elections extended over the entire country.
Since 1884, following the almost total exclusion of the liberals, the catholic (clerical ultramontane) government had a majority of 72 votes out of a total of 152 seats in parliament. The liberals had 12 seats and the socialists 28. The new chamber is composed of 85 clericals, 1 Christian democrat, 35 liberals (moderate and progressive), and 33 socialists. The votes were divided as follows: Catholics (clericals), 1,007,166; Christian democrats, 55,000; liberals (of all shades), 500,610; socialists, 463,529. This result is, therefore, a new triumph for our party, for if it gains but five seats it is because the suppression of "election by majority" made it lose Mons. Charleroi and Thuin, where it is much stronger than all the other parties combined. It is, then, rather the increase in the number of votes that should be considered; we have gained about 140,000 since 1896.
Another notable point in our success is that our influence is beginning to pass beyond the purely industrial regions and to extend into the farming regions, hitherto impenetrable. This symptom is very important, for it shows us that success depends upon ourselves and our own efforts.
The results of the election also show that the liberal party, which believed that proportional representation would prove its Fountain of Youth, is truly a party in decay. Almost everywhere since the last elections it is in retreat, and it is evident that, while the advanced elements and all the young are coming over to socialism, the moderate elements are already going into the catholic party, not even voting for the liberal candidates presented at the elections.
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