The record-union., 1898-02-06
Said 1t Will be the Most Important Pro-
nouncement for Years Past.
Her Majesty Following Closely the
Events in the Far East, Having
the Keenest Appreciation OF
the DifRculties-The Session OF
Parliament Expected to be
Most Important as Regards
Home and Foreign Affairs.

LONDON. Feb. 5 Copyrighted, 1881,
by the Associated PresS).-At couhcil
held at Osborne, Isle of wight, Oh
Thursday, the Queens speech, 10 De
read at the reassembling of ParnamelA
next week, was approved. II Will DC
the most important pronouncement lor
years past. Her majesty is following
the events in the far East very ciosely'
and has the keenest appreciation Oh tlie
difficulties. She has been most busy
recently over dispatches on the SUP
ject.
1t will be idle to deny that the Par
Lament reaSsembles, with the ar
charged with uneasiness and with the
prospect, that the session VIII De most
important as regards home and foreign
politics. First in interest is the Chinese
question. 1t is known authoritatively
that the Marquis Of Salisbury has dis
approved strongly of the declaration
made by Sir Michael Hieks-Beach, the
Chancellor Of the EXchequer, at Brlsbol,
as embarrassing his negotiations Will
other Cabinet Ministers The premier
has also resented the virulence OF the
press attacks growing out OF the So
called back-dOwn Of the Government on
the subject of opening the port or
Talien Wan, and the revival OF Count
Crotrs description of his lordshlp as
"A lath painted to initiate IRON mas
emphasized his irritation
The opposition, however, has decided
not to unGuly prolong the debate on
the address in reply to the speech from
the throne, and to challenge on the
Indian trouble later: but the OPPOSE
ton will try to get the Government
10 unfold it's session programme at the
earliest possible moment.
The Irish members will be much IN
evidence during the coming session, Inc
Superintendents, local Government ana
Catholic University bills affordtng them
a great battle-ground. In regard to the
latter measure, the Diilonites, Red
mondites and Healyites have united for
common action, and with the exception
Of Messrs. Carson, Lecky and T. w
Russell, all the Irish Unionists VIII OPP
pose it.
The first mentioned bill probably will
precede the army bill, which will be the
feature of the session, and which VIII
also serve to introduce the Dreyfus
question into the House of Commons,
d
eminent if it has ever received secrets
from the notorious, prisoner
The Independent Parliamentary par
", at meeting held in Dublin last
evening. decided upon amendments to
the address in reply to the speech from
the throne. They viii move that re-
form III the existing system Of local
Government in Ireland will not meet
the demand for home rule; they will
demand amnesty for the political pris-
oners, and will denounce the alleged
Stephen GREEN'S election frauds; will
demand attention for the distress ex-
listing in ireland, and will ask for aid
for Irish industries.
REGARDING the weeks rumor of the
approaching resignation of the Mar
ouis Of Salisbury, 1t should be noted
that il formed the~subject of gossip in
the inner circles of the clubs some
days before it appeared in the news
papers. If such an intention exists in
the mind of the Marquis it is apparently
due to his present state of health, for,
though his physician has advised him
to tighten his work as much as posi-
BILE the appearance of the Premier at
Wednesdays Foreign Office reception
belied the stories circulated concerning
his poor health. He walked buoyantly,
and had rudy checks.
Gerrnany's action in excluding Amer
ican affected" fresh fruits and live
plants and shrubs and packages con-
tanning the same is laughed at by the
authorities here who have to deal with
the American fruit shipped To England.
A representative Of the Associated
Press is informed by the Board of Ag-
riculture that there never has been any
complaint in this country against
American fruit shipped to England.
There was some agitation years ago on
the subject of spraying trees with ar
senic but investigation proved that the
practice did not harm the consumers.
and that the same method was followed
in England, in Canada and on the con-
tinent. All the fruit importers Of
Covent Garden made similar state
ments. A representative of one of the
biggest fruit firms said that in their
experience only one package Of Amer
ican fruit had reached Covent Garden
in unfit condition. Inquiries made
among the retail dealers show that they
have not heard the slightest complaint
against American fruit
The most interesting feature in home
politics during the week was the revolt
of the Liberal Unionists OF the Edge
baston division of Birmingham, led by
the Birmingham Post" The Liberal
Tnionists In this division oGtnumber the
Conservatives. but the next vacancy
was promised to the Conservatives
some time a go. NOW "A large section Of
the Liberals decline To submit 10 this.
though Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary
of State for the Colonies. is said to have
succeeded in browbeating" the ENeeu-
five COMMITTEES of the Liberalization
Association, which by a good majority
had voted that the Conservatives shall
select the successor Of George Dixon,
Mr.. Chamberlain declared that if the
committee did not fulfil its promise It's
membership practically denied him as
their leader The dissenting Liberal ma
5ority declare they win nominate n
straight Liberal.
The Pope is pronounced to be in ex-
cellent health. and 10 be busy.ng him.
self with a document to be addressed to
the Catholics of Christendom, thanking
them for their affection as expressed
upon the occasion or his jubilee. The
document invokes political and religious
peace Throughout the whole human race.
His holiness viii preside al the function
at ST. Peters, and will aftcrward re-
ceiye a body of pilgrims. including a
numerous delegation from the United
States.
Queen Victoria viii visit the Indian