Mr. Bell to Mr. Bayard .
The Hague , September 17, 1885. (Received September 28.)
Sir: I have the honor to bring to your knowledge that on the occasion of a recent demonstration of workingmen at Amsterdam there was a conflict between those taking part and the police authorities. Subsequently a meeting of the workingmen was convened in Amsterdam for the purpose of presenting a formal protest against the action of the police authorities. At this meeting a resolution was adopted protesting against the action of the police authorities and demanding an inquiry upon the subject of the excess committed by them under the pretext of repressing trouble. The speakers at the meeting advised those taking part to abstain from all tumultous demonstrations. The text of the resolution adopted at this meeting was delivered to the mayor by a delegation appointed for that purpose. The mayor, in receiving the document, said to the delegation that all those who believed themselves to have been wronged by the authorities, and were in a position to establish the facts, were at liberty to address him, either verbally or in writing; at the same time he expressed the opinion that the public force on the occasion of the late trouble did not exceed their authority. The delegation after its audience with the mayor reported to the crowd the result of its mission.
[Page 577]A new meeting was then held, at which the complaints of the people were formulated and a proclamation issued under the direction of various associations, requesting all those who desire to participate in manifestations for the purpose of modifying article 76 of the constitution to take part in a grand demonstration, which is fixed to take place at The Hague on Sunday next, the 20th instant.
The manifestations which have taken place within the past thirty days in different parts of the country, and especially at Amsterdam, were directed chiefly against article 76 of the constitution of the Netherlands, which limits the right to vote.
Article 76 reads as follows:
The members of the second Chamber are elected in the various electoral districts in which the country is divided by Netherlands subjects clearly enjoying civil and political rights and paying a direct electoral tax, which (regard being had to local circumstances) is fixed by the electoral law, and which cannot be less than 20 florins ($8) nor to exceed 160 florins ($64),
The proclamation calling the meeting at The Hague on the 20th instant is issued under the direction of the following-named associations: universal suffrage: bakers, boatmen, cigar-makers, cabinet-makers, carpenters, house-painters, tinners, carpet-makers, riggers, wheelwrights, stone-masons, printers, iron-workers, painters, plasterers, shoemakers, &c. The associations seem to be making an effort to secure a modification of the article in question by an appeal to the legal authorities by public but peaceful demonstrations. The proclamation itself is addressed to all those who desire to arrive by legal ways and without disturbance at the modification of article 76 of the constitution.
The meeting here is fixed for the 20th instant, the day before the opening of the session of the States General, and is no doubt fixed for that date on account of the expected presence at that time in this capital of the members of the States General. As the Government has at this time the revision of the constitution under consideration, no little comment has been caused by what is termed “the feverish impatience of the people.”
The reports of the committee of the second Chamber concerning the propositions to revise the constitution have recently been made public, but on account of their voluminous nature I have thought it best to await the final action of the States General before forwarding a definite report.
I have, &c.,