The situation in Belgium is becoming strained. Both Houses have
now passed the new Education Law, which we described last week, by large majorities, and it has gone up to the King. In ordinary circumstances, Leopold II. would sign it at once ; but the Liberals are asking him to veto it and dissolve, with a scarcely veiled threat that if he does not, the cities will be in insurrection. Serious riots have already occurred in Brussels, and it might be necessary to call out troops, and place the capital in a state of siege. We do not see that the King has any option, except to obey the Constitu- tion, which binds him to take his Minister's advice, whatever may be the consequences. If, just after a free election, he vetoes the Bill, or orders a Dissolution, because the cities threaten re- sistance, Parliamentary Government ends, and is replaced by Government by a federation of mobs. The duty of Belgian Liberals is to obey the new law, which is a perfectly Constitu- tional one, and repeal it when they obtain power after the next election. If they allow the cities to fight any law they dis- approve, they will find that the world's interest in the independ- ence of Belgium will rapidly disappear.
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