The Belgian Senate on Thursday voted in favour of sub-
mitting the Referendum to the Convention which is to be imme- diately called for the revision of the Constitution, by 46 to 12. As the Chamber has already accepted the proposal, and the people are known to be in its favour, this vote almost ensures that the experiment shall be tried. The result will be watched -with the deepest interest, for if it is a successful one, the example is sure to be copied throughout Europe. The present method of deciding great political controversies by years of party strife wastes too much time and energy, and is tainted throughout by the fact that the majority for a great measure is often artificial. The voters elect for the sake of their general policy, representatives who use their powers to pass measures which the majority do not desire. The Home-rule Bill, for example, may be carried in the teeth of the electors by Mem- bers who received their majority on account of their pledges about the Eight-Hours Day, Local Option, and the taxation of ground-rents. The Referendum will draw out the national opinion upon a specific proposal, which the present system of taking a plebiscite by dissolution does not do. It has the further advantage that it cannot be explained away or defied by any who profess democratic principles. It is democracy in full action.
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