Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-02-14
ERlN'S CLOUDS DISPELLING
The Queen at Last Recognizes the JUS
tice of Home Rule.
Her Recommendation TO Parliament
Surprises Many.
This Will be the StOrnneSt Session of
Queen Victoria's Reign.

LONDON, Feb. 11.-One section of the
! queens speech, read at the opening of
| parliament today, causes profound sem
satlon. 1t is that relating to affairs in
ireland. in which the statement is made
| that affairs in the little isle are in such
condition that steps may be taken to ex-
tend to the people of Ireland the privilege
of local self-government as now enjoyed
by the people of England and Scotland.
This concession to the home rulers was
| unexpected, and was received with express
sons of pleasure.
The opening of parliament to-day was
shorn of much of its usual pomp and cere-
mony, by the absence of Queen Victoria.
who, although urgently pressed by the
marquis of Salisbury to greet her faith
ful lords and commons in person. en-
phatically declined on the ground that
the condition of her health and the
prevalence of the grip made it impossi-
ole Tor her to risk exposure, in court
costume. Notwithstanding her alb
sence however, there was Il
brilliant attendance in the galleries
allotted to the diplomats and ladies, while
the usual large crowd of representatives of
the great unwaShed was assembled out in
Westminster yard. Mr.. Gladstone was
one of the first to arrive, and as the grand
old man, tall and erect, and with firm
step that failed to betray the fact that he
had just passed his S0th birthday. passed
through the iron gates, a mighty cheer
went up from the throng, and was echoed
by the members gathered in the lobby.
Mr.. Parnell who looked pale and care
worn, was greeted with
sympathetic cheer by his colleagues.
which doubtless had a hidden reference
to the troubles in which he has been in
volved 10y Capt. Shea. The benches on
both sides filed up rapidly, and it was soon
seen that the urgent appeals of the whips
had resulted IN one of the largest open
ing houses " of recent years. The house of
commons had barely been called to order
when the Black Rod appeared to summon
the members of the house of lords. when
the lord chancellor. in his robes of ermine,
read the queens speech from the steps of
the throne. 1t was in part as follows:
My LORDS AND GENTLEMAN: My rela-
tions with the other powers continue
friendly. An armed force under Portu-
guese officer entered a territory where
British settlements had been formed and
where there are tribes who had been taken
under my protection. A collision with the
natives resulted. Portugal has now. at
my request, promised to withdraw the
military from the territory in question.
The Samoan treaty. together with the
protocols, will be submitted to parliament
for its consideration. as will also be the
eXtradition treaty with the United States
The continued improvement IN the con-
ditiOn of affairs in Ireland and the further
diminution of agrarian crime has made it
possible to very largely restrict the area
where it is necessary to deal with certain
otfenses by a summary process. Propo-
sails for increasing, under due financial
precaution, the number of occupying own
ers of land in; Ireland for extending to
Ireland the principles of local self govern
ment which have already been adopted in
England and Scotland so far as they are
appliabe to Ireland, also for the improve
ment of the material well being of the
population of the poorer districts, will be
submitted to your consideration.
A bill providing for ascertaining the
liability of employers for accidents to their
employees; also bills to amend the laws in
respect of the health of the metropolis:
the dwellings of the working classes and
for the better regulation of the savings
banks will be submitted.
LONDON. Feb 1.-THE Parnellite
members of parliament reelected PANEL
chairman and adopted a vote of confidence
in him.
This session promises to be the storm
lest and most obstinate. as far as opo-
sition is concerned, that has engaged the
attention of her majesty's legislators for
a long time. The tories have bills and
schemes to present, but before any head
way can be made with them the liberals
have a few questions to ask about the
dispute with Portugal, and will probably
inquire if Lord Salisbury purposes doing
anything about Crete or Armenia. The
nationalists intend to rise the question
about the Pigott forgeries, while radicals
promise to make it hot for the government
in regard to the Cleveland street and other
West end filth of more recent date. The
debate on the queen $ address will probab-
ly last a fortnight, but in the present as
pect of affairs no one will be surprised if it
is extended to Easter The budget will
not be reached until after the Easter holi-
days.