The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-06
Reading Of the Queens Speech to
Lords and Commons.
ATTACK AND DEFENCE.
Lord Beaconsfield Takes Up
Gladstones Cue.
THE FUTURE OF AMERICA.
Adoption Of the Address in
Both Houses.
lBY CABLE TO THE HERALD. ]

(BY CABLE TO THE HERALD
LONDON, Dec. 6, 1878.
Parliament met yesterday. The Queens
speech was read in the House Of Lords by
Royal Commission. 1t is as follows -
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN--I regret that have
been obliged to call for your attendance
at unusual, and probably to most Of yon.
inconvenient season. The hostility toward my
Of Aghanistan, and the manner in which
he repused my friendly mission, left me no aterna-
tive but to make peremptory demand for redress.
This demand having been disrcgardcd have directed
expedition to be sent into his territory and have
taken the earliest opportunity Of calling you together
and making to you the communication required by
law. have directed that the papers the subject
shall be laid before YOU receive from all foreign
Powers assurances Of their friendly feelings. and
have every to believe that the for
the pacifcation Of Europe made by the Treaty of
Berlin will be successfully carried into eject.
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF CoAxoNs--The
Inmates for the ensuing year are in course of preps
ration and will in due time be submitted to you.
Ny LORDS AND GENTLEMEN-I propose that. after
full elaboration upon the matters which have led
to anticipate your usual time of meeting. and after
suitable recess yon should proceed to the considera
ton of the various for the public benefit
which win then be laid before you. / confidently
commit to your wisdom the great interests Of my
Empire. and 1 pray that the blessing OF Almighty
God may attend your counsels.
DEBATES ON THE ADDRESS.
In the House of Lords the address in re-
ply to the royal speech was moved and de-
bate began. Earl Granville complained of
several omissions in the Queens speech.
particularly of the absence of any mention
Of the war in South Africa, which was
viewed with great anxiety by those
best acquainted with the colony.
He said he did not intend to
move any amendment to the address.
because of the lateness Of the publication
Of the correspondence concerning Central
Asia. It could not make any great difference
to Parliament whether it met now or next
February, as far as regards any influence it
could exercise on the war which has already
begun. Nobody doubted the absolute pre-
rogative of the Grown to make war or peace,
but it is perfectly certain that continual
recurrence of such surprises will seriously
weaken the foundations of the prerogative.
BAD FAITH CHARGED.
He repeated the accusations that Lord
Cranbrooks despatch misrepresented the
conduct of the Gladstone government, and
Lord Lytton's communications to the
Ameer of Afghanistan were harsh and in
discreet. He concluded as follows:-
However unnecessary the war may have
been, however much we may be con-
vinced that you have completely played
into the hands Of our great rival,
we urge this House to cooperate in the strongest
manner with the House of Commons to make the
troops. We trust the government has not made
fallacious estimates undertaking the expenditure.
in the Abyssinian war
A QUESTION FACT
Lord Cranbrook Secretary of state for India. de-
cared that he accepted the entire responsibility for
his despatch and would not withdraw a single sen
tcnce He made s.detsiled statement in justification
and particularly pointed out that Lord Granville. in
1879 declined to intimate Russia that any aggres
sion on Afghanistan would meet with British resist.
ance.
AN
Earl Gray moved an amendment to the address ex.
pressing regret that Parliament was not summoned
as soon as possible after became probable
The Duke Of Somerset cordially supported the
prosecution Of the war.
SALISBURY PLAIN.
The Marquis OF salisbury, Secretary OF state for
the Foreign Department. rcpclled the personal
charges that he had deceived Parliament by denying
that there had been any change Of policy toward AZ
ghanistan. He said they were brought forward by
Lord Granville 20 distract the conntrys attention
the TACT that attached
were siding with the encmies OF their country.
THE PREMIER RISES
Lord HSsconsGsld then addressed the House. He
criticized the attitude Of the opposition in raising
personal questions and challenged them to attack
directly the justice and policy OF the war.
He stated that the inspection OF cyprus by
his colleagues showed that the island sur
passed oil the governments expectations and
would soon be recognized as one Of the most in
fuenthl positions in the British dominions. He ex-
pressed opinion that the results OF the victory of
General Roberts in Afghanistan would be speedy and
satisfactory Ho believed the worst of the CONNER