The herald., 1898-02-09
|VICTORIA'S
ADDRESS
Given to the Lords and
the Commons
THE PRESENT REIGN OF PEACE
A VERY GOOD TIME TO PREPARE
FOR WAR
Premier Salisbury Speaks Hopefully
Concerning Present Complica-
tions in the Far East
THE PRESENT REIGN OF PEACE
A VERY GOOD TIME TO PREPARE
FOR WAR

Associated Press Special Wire
LONDON, Feb. 8.-The fourth session
of the Fourteenth Parliament of Queen
Victoria and the Twenty sixth Of the
United Kingdom, was opened by COM
mission at 2 o'clock this afternoon, with
the customary ceremonies. The Queens
speech was as follows:
my Lords and Gentlemen: My re-
lations with the other powers continue
friendly. The negotiations between the
Sultan Of Turkey and the King of Greece
have been brought to conclusion by
the signing of a treaty Of peace under
which the territorial relations between
the two powers are practically un-
changed.
"The question of the autonomous gov
ernment Of the Island Of Crete has occu-
pied the attention of the powers. The
difficulty of arriving at a unanimous
agreement on some points has unduly
protracted the deliberations, but hope
these obstacles will be, before long, sur
mounted.
Intelligence, which is apparently
trustworthy, was received, of the inten-
tion of the Khalifa to advance against
the Egyptian army in the Soudan. and
1 have therefore given directions that a
contingent of British troops should be
dispatched to Berber to the assistance
of his highness, the Khedive.
II have concluded a treaty of friend
ship and commerce with his majesty,
the Emperor of Abyssinia.
"The report of the commission ap-
pointed in December, 1886. to inquire
into the condition of certain of my West
Indian colonies, has conclusively estab-
lished the existence Of severe depression
in those islands, caused by the heavy
fall in the price OF sugar. which Is mainly
attributable to the reduction in the cost
of production and the great increase in
the extent of its production in recent
years. But the fall has been artificially
stimulated by the system of bounties to
producers and manufacturers of beet
sugar maintained in many European
states. There are signs of growing opin-
ion in those states that this system Is
Injurious to the general interests of
their population and communications
are now in progress between my gov
ernment and the governments princi-
pally concerned, with view to con-
ference on the subject, which / trust
may result in the abolition of the boun-
ties. In the meantime measures will be
proposed to you for the relief of the i'm
mediate necessities of the West Indian
colonies, for encouraging other indus
tries and for assisting those engaged
in sugar cultivation to tide over the
present crisis.
ION the northwestern borders of my
Indian Empire an organized outbreak
of fanaticism, which spread in the sum-
mer along the frontier induced many OF
the tribes to break their engagements
with my government, to attack the mil
litary posts in their vicinity and even
to invade the settled districts of my ter
ritory. 1 was compelled to send expe-
ditions against the offending tribes, for
insure peace in the future. A portion
of the Afridi tribes have not yet accept
ed the terms offered them, but else
where the operations have been brought
to a very successful close. The cour-
age and endurance exhibited by my
troops, British and native, have over
come almost insuperable difficulties In
the country in which they were opera
ting, but have to deplore the loss OF
many valuable lives. both amongst my
own troops and those whose services
were voluntarily and Loyalty placed al
my disposal by the native servants in
my Indian Empire.
IT rejoice at the fact that there Is rea.
son to Anticipate prosperous year, both
for agriculture and commerce through
out India.
| "Gentlemen of the House Of Commons:
The estimates which will be laid before
YOU have been framed with the utmost
desire for economy, but, in view of the
enormous armaments now maintained
by other nations, the duty Of providing
for the defense of the Empire involves
an expenditure beyond former prece-
dent"
Dealing with the proposed legislation
the speech from the throne says that
measures will be introduced for a sys-
tenn Of local government in Ireland. sub
stantially similar to Great Britain's: to
secure the increased strength and eff
cheney of the army; amend the present
conditions Of military service, to en-
able accused peopie 70 teStlIy In their
own defense; to facilitate the creation
Of municipalities in London, and to pre-
vent recognized abuses in connection
with church patronage.
LOOKING FOR POWDER
Previous to the reassembling Of Par
lament the usual party of beef-eaters.
accompanied by a number of officials
and headed by Chief Of Police Horlev
made the customary search for the i'm
itators of Guy Fawkes. formally ascer-
tanning that the vaults Of the Houses
Of Parliament did not contain anything
inimical to the safety Of the members.
THE IRISH PARTY
The Irish Parliamentary Party met in
committee room No. is. Timothy Healy
and his supporters, who abstained from
attending the party meeting previous to