The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-03
THE QUEEN
AND PARLIAMENT
By LU0IEN JULIEN WALKER

L.
be represented by the commission consist
ing of five peers. one of whom will read the
queens speech, standing, as he reads, upon
the steps of the throne in the house of lords.
The speaker and various members of the
house of commons will be present There
will be the statliest ceremony observed al
the opening of any parliament of the world;
the rules for it having been laid down three
hundred years ago.
The first time I ever witnessed the assem-
bling of parliament was just thirteen years
ago, and it was then that 1 saw the vener-
abe queen for the first time. L youth
full, impressionable, emotional, sentimental
and that wonderful street pageant in the
drizzling rain of a dull London day inn
pressed me more strongly than any other
scene had ever witnessed. From a shop
window opening on Parliament Square
Witnessed the coming of the royal pro-
cession. There were thousands of soldiers
in line, and it seemed to million peo-
pie looking on. The three famous "house.
hold regiments of cavalry were presens--
the Horse Guards, the Life Guards and the
Grenaders, and a splendid spectacle they
presented. For once 1t was not queens
weather." for the rain fell without ceasing
and the fog hung just around the house,
tops. One could not the dial of the
famous clock on the tower of st. Stephens.
Far away down the street we heard q
murmur like the echo of harmonious shout
from great multitude. Louder grew tho
echo until it formed itself into the worlds
resounding cry of The Queen-The Queen
God bless her!" Immediately the royal
chariot came into view drawn by eight
cream-colored horses, with footmen and
out-riders in gorgeous livery. The falling
rain had compelled her majesty to come in
the "glass coach" of state; the body of the
coach being constructed far possible
of glass. From where 1 stood I could see
her with perfect distinctness, and it was
the only time It has been given to me to
monarch wearing the crown of state.
As the queen approached every man took
off his hat and shouted 1.-THE Queen-Ths
Queen-God bless her!' Slowly and with
stately ease the great chariot rolled into tha
arched entrance to the house of lords in
the palace of St Stephens; and I-well,
went to cold beef and beer On various
occasions in the after years this plain
American citizen saw the queen pass bXf
but-this fact will do for another story.
The great function Of state to which
have referred was the last occasion on
which the queen opened her parliament.
and the last time she will ever perforn
that royal task in person. Mr. Gladstone
and his original scheme Of home rule for
Ireland had just been overwhelmingly des
feated, and Lord Salisbury had como into
power in a blaze Of glory The aged queen
seemed to see In this settlement of
turbulent politics in her kingdom, but If
that were true, her majesty lived to learn
that she was greatly mistaken.
When parliament reassembles next Tues.
day, Mr.. Balfour, the conservative leader
of the house of commons, will find behind
him solid majority of 141-only twice be-
fore equaled in the history of the British
parliament. No very secrious problems
confront Mr.. Balfour, and so he = likely
to have smooth progress throughout the
session, which lasts well into July and
may be until the members insist on proro-
cation to begin shooting grouse on the
statutory date of August -, commonly
called st. Grouse's day. There Is the mat
ter of the $5O,OOO,000 to be voted for Cecil
Rhodes trans-Afrcan railway, to link the
Cape Of Good Hope to Egypt; but in the
present temper of the British public that
gigantic project is not likely to meet with
much opposition. The gossip of unreliable
London correspondents of American news
papers that the liberal unionists, the allies
of the conservatives, may go over t, the
radical is the silliest of all possible nom
sense Most matter sent out from LoT-
don to American newspapers is either nom
sense or wilful lying. Ireland has been
placed out of the way by the
grant of local self-government, a1-
most identical with similar govern
ment in England and Scotland. The
radical party is hopelessly disrupted The
other week Sir William Vernon Harcourt
retired from the leadership of the party.
and the other day John Morley declared
that he would have of it. 1t is
known that Lord Roseberry feels the same
wayy and it is believed that Henry Herbert
Asqtith shares the views of his former
colleagues. Therefore, no respectable poll
tician is left to lead the radicals, the last
remnant of the liberals, the most famous
political party of the century. Things radi
cal seem to be drifting toward Henry La
bouchere, the wild and unreasoning scoffeI
at everything dear to the English heart.
Lord Salisbury has done a most graceful
thing in comforting upon the Earl of Elglr
the order of the Garter, the Oldest ano
most distinguished order in Europe. Lore
Elgin was appointed by Gladstone viceroy
of India and has been all his life radical
His beautiful estate of Broomhall in Fife.
shire, is we'll remembered by
earthly paradise, so far as beauty and gran.
deur go.
Mr.. Arthur James Balfour declared or
Wednesday that the friendly relations that
have been established between Great Brit.
ain and the United States would subsist fol
many year to come, to the benefit of the
civilization and tho glory of mankind.
5"DE OLE CAWS pONE.'