New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-07
OPENING or PARLIAMENT.

The present session of the British Parlia-
ment opens under auspices favorable to the
Government. The speech of the Queen to the
two Houses made announcements in regard
to the foreign policy of the Cabinet which
are not likely to call forth any strong
opposition. The measures adopted for
the suppression of the slave trade
on the east coast of Africa are calculated to
commend themselves to general approval
The important questions which affect the
United States have already been so thoroughly
discussed that no new point is likely to create
variance of opinion in either House SUI
ficently strong to cause the Government
serious inconvenience. The Emperor OF
Germany having decided against the claims
of the British TO the island of San
Juan, the Queen announces her resolution to
give immediate effect TO the decision by
Withdrawing promptly from the partial oc-
cupation of the island. The proceedings
before the Geneva tribunal having resulted in
an award which in part established and In
part repealed the claims of the United States
allowed to be relevant, Parliament is to be
asked to provide for the payment of the sum
coming due to the United States under the
decision. In both of these questions the
course proposed by the Government is one
which involves the good faith of the country
and is sure to be supported by the Legislature.
Another question of foreign p0licy-the re-
latiOns with Russia-which is of great impOr-
lance to the country, is in that primary stage
which prevents any minute criticism. The
cautious phraseology of the speech ascribes TO
"a Ily ;Eo nf ba tun
tries the recent negotiations for an under
standing in regard to the policy to be pursued
in Central Asia. The direct object of the me-
gotiations is said to be to arrive at an identity
of views regarding the line which describes
the northern frontier of AfghanIstan. An
important omission from this part of the
speech is the indication of any expectation that
a peaceful termination of the negotiations is
anticipated
In regard to domestic affairs the most
prominent subject is that of University Edu
cation in Ireland measure is to be sub
mitted for settling this question, having for
its object the advancement of learning in that
portion of the kingdom coupled with ga care
"ful regard to the rights of conscience" The
term is a plausible one; but it appears to con-
Ctdl INC Wtll huOWH puIpOoC VI thO lOhiOi
to regulate education to suit the religious
sentiments of a portion of the Irish people.
While granting to the Roman Catholics in
Ireland the right to separate instruction, the
CLAIMS of a large and increasing body of non
conformists for secular education are dis
regarded. 1t is possible that whatever serious
opposition may arise in the House of Commons
against the Government will be closely CON
nected with this measure.
In the debates which arose in the two
Houses on the usual motion for an address to
the Queen, the opposition members, for want
of better subject of criticism, were obliged
TO select the Treaty of Washington. Mr.. Dis
raeli, who approved of the negotiations
at Washington, was apparently inconsist-
ent with his course at the close
of the last meeting of Parliament. His con-
domination of the prospective rules adopted,
and his comments on the construction of the
term "due diligence made by the arbitra-
tors, must have fallen fatty on the ears of his
auditors, who were undoubtedly satiated with
the question during the discussion of last year.