The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-02-09
Queens Speech.Deals With Sub
jccts Already Familiar to
the Public.
CsEncsr Question Not Referred to
III Any Way--Governorship
OF Crete.
Strength Of the Army Should Be
increased Local Government
For Ireland.

-
OF the Fourteenth parliament of Queen
Victoria and the Twenty-sixth OF the
United Kingdom, was opened by com.
mission, at 2 p. III. with the customary
ceremonies
The queens speech was as follows:
My Lords and Gentlemen: My rela.
tions with the other powers continue
friendly. The negotiations between the
sultan Of Turkey and the king of
Greece have been brought to a conclu.
sion by the signing Of a treaty of peace.
under which the territorial relations
between the two powers are practically
unchanged.
The question Of the autonomous gov.
ernment Of the island of Crete has
occupied the attention Of the powers.
The difficulty of arriving at an unani.
nous agreement on some points has
unduly protracted the deliberations,
but | hope these obstacles will before
long be surmounted.
Intelligence, which is apparently
trustworthy, was received Of the inten.
ton of the khallfa to advance against
the Egyptian army in the Soudan, and
l have therefore given directions that n
contingent OF British troops should be
dispatched to Berber. to the assistance
OF his majesty, the khedive.
l have concluded q treaty Of friend.
ship and commerce with his majesty,
the emperor Of Abyssinia.
The report of the commission l ap.
pointed in December. 1896, TO inquire
| into the condition OF certain OF my
West Indian colonies, has conclusiyc.y
established the existence OF severe
depression in those colonies, caused
by the heavy fall in the price
Of sugar. which Is mainly attrlb.
utable to the reduction III the
cost Of production. and the great III.
crease in its extent i'll recent years.
But the fall has been artificially stimu-
lated by the system Of bouEties to pro-
ducers aud manufacturers Of beet root
sugar, maintained i'll many European
states. There are signs Of growing
opinion in those state, 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 o con-
fcrence on the subject, which / trust
may result in an abolition Of the boun.
ties In the meantime measures will
be proposed to you for the relief Of the
immediate necessities of the West In.
dian colonies. for encouraging other
industries, and for assisting those en-
gagged in sugar cultivation to tide over
the present crisis.
On tho northwestern borders Of my
InGian empire an organized outbreak
Of fanaticism, which spread in the
summer along the frontier, induced
many Of the tribes to break their en-.
gayements with my government, &c
attack the military posts in their vicin.
ity, and even to invade the settled dis
tricts Of my territory. Twas compelled
to send expeditions against the offend.
ing tribes, for the punishment Of ths
outrages and to insure peace in the
future. 4 portion Of the Afridi tribes
have not yet accepted the terms offered
them, but elsewhere the operation.
have been brought to u very successful
close. The courage and enduranc,
exhibited by my troops, British ant
native, have overcome almost insuper
able difficulties in the country in which
they were operating. but have to dc
plore tho loss Of many valuable lives
both amongst my own troops and thos,
whose services were voluntarily an,
loyally placed Mt my disposal by tn
native princes Of my Indian empire.
. Her majesty then rejoices 9t the fac
that there is reason to anticipate |
prosperous year both for agriculture
and commerce, throughout India.
Gentlemen of the House Of Com
mons: The estimates which will b
laid before you have been framed witt
the utmost desire for economy; but. II
view Of the enormous armaments nov
maintained by other nations, the dut,
Of providing for the defense of the EN-
Miro involves an expenditure beyont
former precedent.
, Dealing with the proposed Legislation
tho speech from the throne says tina
measures will be introduced for tn
organization Of system Of local gov
! ernment in Ireland, substantially slmi
. lar to Great Britain; to secure the in
9 crease, strength and efficiency of tn
. army: amend tho present conditions Q
! military service; to enable accused pee
: ple to testify in their own defense; t
f,.cilitate tho creation Of municipali.ie
IN London, and to prevent recognize
ahnses in connection with church paI