The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-07
FOREIGN.
QUEEN yICTORIA'S SPEECH.
American Affairs Briefly Noticed.
DEBATE I'm THE HOUSE.
Strong Language of Mr.. Gladstone.
FRANCE.

@ 60 EE) Bk
FRANCE.
| PRESIDENT THEIRS SHOT AT.
| LONDON; Feb. Ga dispatch to the Dali,
Telegraph from Paris says:-''President Thier
was shot at last night but not hurt. The assas
| sin escaped" .-t zoo. aa
GREAT BRITAIN.
THE LONDON JOURNALS ON THE ALABAMA
' CLAIMS AGAIN. ttt.
LONDON, Feb. 6.-The London Times thi
morning preserves its tone of moderation as
sumed yesterday in treating the subject of the
American claims 1t deprecates the intemper
ate denunciation of the treaty, and hopes il
VIII lead to no hasty action or resolves. The
present duty of English statesmen is to say OIL
do nothing likely to prejudice any attempts to
remove the misunderstanding which unhappily
has arisen.
The Daily Telegraph pronounces the claims
OF lndlrect damages as utterly indefensible, in
admissible and baseless 1t regrets any hesita-
ton on the part of the London press to stigma
TIE these demands as they deserve. The in
tentlons OF England cannot be too strongly i'm
pressed on the people of the United States
THE QUEENS SPEECH.
The session of Parliament was opened short
ly after noon to-day. When the members of
the House of Commons had assembled in the
Chamber OF the Peers, the Queens speech was
delivered, as follows: l n
My Lords and Gentlemen. rr
avail myself of the opportunity afforded by
your re-assembling for the discharge of your
momentous duties to renew the expression of
my thankfulness to the Almighty for the deliv-
GRANGE OF my son from the most imminent dan
ger and my lively recollection for the profound
universal sympathy shown by my loyal people
during that period of anxiety and trial. pro-
pose that on Tuesday, the 9th inst, eonforma-
BILE to the good and becoming usages of former
days that the blessing thus received shall be ac-
knowledged on behalf of the nation by thanks
giving in the Metropolitan Cathedral. AT this
celebration it is my desire to be present. Di-
rection has been given to provide the necessary
&C rommodations for the members of Parlia-
ment. -tl
The assurance of friendship that l re-
ceive from foreign powers continue in all re-
spects satisfactory, and l need hardly assure
you that my .endeayors will, at all times, be
steadily directed towards the maintenance of
these friendly relations. Vi y III q IH
The slave trade, and practices scarcely to be
distinguished from slave trading, are still pur-
sued in more than one quarter of the world and
continue to attract the attention of my Govern
ment. In the South Sea Islands the name of
the British Empire is even now dishonored by
the connection of some of my subjects with
these nefariouS subjects, and in one of them
the murder of an exemplary prelate has cast
fresh light upon some of the baneful conse-
quences. A bill will be presented to YOU for IA
Australia, and endeavors will be made to in
crease in other forms, the means for the coun-
teraction of the evil = g5e.-E--'rgg- -fsre.
Various communications have passed between
my Government and that of France ON the sub.
ject of the commercial treaty concluded in 1860
From the divergence in the views respectively
entertained in relation to the value of protec-
tive law, this correspondence has not brought
about any agreement to modify that important
convention. Both sides, however, have infor-
nn1a 4lxN,,.
shall occur to impair the cordiahty which has
so long prevailed between the nations. The
papers relating to these subjects will be laid be-
fore you. rs F- if-F
The arbtrators appointed pursuant to the
treaty of Washington for the purpose of amica-
bly, settling the Alabama claims held their first
meeting in Geneva. Cases were laid before the
arbitrator on behalf of each party to the
treaty. In the case so submitted by the United
States, large claims are included which are un-
derstood, on my part, not to be within the prov
ince of the arbitrators. On the subject have
caused friendly communication to be made to
the Government of the United States G ~
The Emperor of Germany has undertaken
arbitration on the San Juan water boundary,
and the cases of the Governments have been
presented to his Imperial Majesty. The COM
mission to sit Washington has been appointed
and is in session. The provisions of the treaty,
which require the consent of the Parliament of
the Dominion of Canada, awaits its assembling.
Turning to domestic affairs, am glad to APP
prise that, with very few exceptions, Ireland
has been free from serious crime. Trade in
that part of the kingdom has been active and
the advance in agricultural industry remarka-
BILE. L am also able to congratulate you so far
as present experience allows Judgment to be
passed, upon the perceptible diminution in the
number of both graver crimes and -habitual
criminals in Great Britain. -tt
Gentlemen of the House of Commons:-The
principal estimates for the coming year have
been prepared and will at once be laid before
you. l trust that you will find them suitable
of revenue affords favorable indications of the
demand for employment and of the general
condition of the people. indications which are
corroborated by decline of pauperism not
inconsiderable. f7y
My Lords and Gentlemen: Your attention is
invited to several measures of acknowled ma
tional interest; among these are bills for the
improvement of public education in Scotland;
for the regulation of the mines; for the amend
ment of the licensing system, and for fixing
the relations of the Superior Courts of Justice
and Appeal in particular; bill having for its
main object the establishment of secret voting,
together with a measure relating to the corrupt
practices at Parliamentary elections will be
Immediately presented Several measures of
administrative improvement in Ireland will be
laid before you Likewise legislative provis-
ions founded on the report of the Sanitary Com
mission. You, my Lords and gentlemen, will
1 am confident, apply your well known assidui-
ty to that work of legislation which from the
increasing exigences of modern society still
seems to grow upon your hands, and l shall
continue to rely, under Providence, alike on the
loyalty of my people and your energy and wis
dom to sustain the constant efforts of the Crown
to discharge the duties, defend the rights and
uphold the honor of the Empire.
There was full attendance of members in
the House of Commons after the body returned
from the House of Lords.
Dr. Donald Dalrymple, member for Bath, in
troduced a resolution looking to the amelora-
ton of the condition of inebriates. .
Frederick A. Milbank, member for North
Riding of Corkshire, gave notice of his inten-
ton to offer a resolution asking Sir Charles
Dilks if he adhered to the sentiments expressed
in his speeches delivered at Newcastle and other
places during the recess of Parliament
DisraeH then rose and called the attention of
the House to paragraph in the royal speech in
reference to the arbitration of the Alabama
claims. He animadverted at length upon the
treaty of Washington, for the faults of which
he blamed Earl Granville and Mr. Gladstone
in view of the developments which have been
made by the assemblage of arbitrator at Ge-
neva. Disraeli wanted to know why the Gov
eminent was exultant over the edification it
had given to Parliament on the subject The
royal speech was Signally unsatisfactory and
showed, in his opinion, that the Government
still lacked proper appreciation of the gravity
of the question at issue between England and
the United States. Tim American claims were
greater than those which would follow a total
conquest, and they were preposterous and un-
practical, and if admitted would be fatal to the
power and honor of England. Yet, said Dis
raeli sneeringly, the whole subject is disposed
of in one brief paragraph of the royal speech.
Mr.. Gladstone followed in reply. He said
that the treaty of Washington itself shows that
England is ready to make every concession
short of national honor to establish friendly re
lations with America and to set an example tt
be followed by other nations henceforth. The
government, said the Premier, is ready to ex
plain anything in connection with the treaty
but it will not admit that it has unwittingly
made mistake. He could, if he desired, refer
mands, which, of Itself, proved their absurdity
for they were such as no people in the last ex
tremity of war or in the lowest depths of ma
tional misfortune, with the spirit of England il
| their hearts, would ever submit to. (Cheers.
| Mr.. Gladstone concluded by saying that 'th'
| government would maintain the position that i
had taken firmly through in friendly manner
DOMINION OF CANADA.
THE RIGHTS OF INDEPENDENT PROVINCES.
Fort GARRY, Feb. 6.-There is great excite
ment in the Manitoba Legislature over the ex
preston of the Ontario Government that n
steps will be taken to bring Scotts murderer
to justice. The Attorney General introduced
resolution denouncing the interference of On
tario in Manitoba affairs, and an amendmen
was moved declaring that either province has
right to take action regarding the murder of
fellow subject. The galleries were crowded
and the close of Mr.. Hayes speech in favor o
the amendment the spectators gave loud cheers
The galleries were closed by order of the Speak
| er. The amendment was lost outSide-1S to )
1ca6 |, Of