The San Francisco call., 1899-10-18

| to-day in extraordinary session to
consider the South African situa-
ton. In the speech fromA the
throne, her Majesty said:
My Lords and Gentlemen: Within very
| brief period after the recent prorogation am am
compelled by events deeply affecting the inter,
ests Of my empire to recur to your sqyce bna aa
made II expedient that my Government should
be enabled to strengthen the military forces OF
this country by calling out the reserve. rot ~,
this purpose the provisions of the law render
II necessary that Parliament should be called
together. Except FOR the differences that have
been caused by the action Of the South African
republic the condition of the world continues 10
Gentlemen of the House Of Commons: Meas.
ures VIII be laid before you for the purpose OF
or may be caused BY events In South Africa.
Estimates for the ensuing year Will be SUB
mitted to you in due course.
My Lords and Gentlemen: There are many
subjects of domestic interest TO which your at
tention viii be Invited at later season, when
has been reached. For the present have In
vtted your attendance in order to ask you TO
that In performing the duties which claim your
attention, you may have the guidance and
blessings OF Almighty God
Both houses assembled in the Chamber
of Peers at o'clock. the Queens speech
being read by commission. Immediately
after the reading the Speaker of the
House of Commons, the Right Hon. Will
liam Court Gulley, returned to the Cham
Der of Commons the House taking a re-
cess until 4 o'clock.
Large crowds waited in the precincts of
St. Stephens for the reassemblng Of
Lords and Commoners and heartily well
coined the favorites, especially Joseph
Chamberlain, Secretary Of State for the
ly cheered while driving TO the House OF
Lords.
Within the House cordial receptions
marked the arrival of Mr. Balfour and
the other members of the Government.
The House listened impatently TO the
usual protest by James Lowther against
the alleged interference of peers in elec-
TONS but Mr.. Chamberlain's coming nut
everybody in good humor and was the
signal for an immense outburst OF ap-
plause. He entered carrying big dis
patch box. Mr. Balfour gave notice OF
motion tomorrow that no private bust
ness should be taken up during the au-
tumn session.
The speaker then read the queen S
speech shortly after which Sir Alexander
Fuller Acland Hood, Conservative mem
Der for West Somerset, rose TO move the
address In reply. He wore the scarlet and
gold uniform of captain OF the Grena-
diers. Sir Alexander Hood said the House
had never met under graver circum-
stances, not only for South Africa but for
the whole empire. Dwelling upon the
horrors of war, he declared that war
should not be undertaken except from
absolute necessity, but that in this case
had become necessary ito establish equal
rights for the white race in South Africa
and to remove the grievances OF the Out
landers.
After reviewing the course of the nego-
tiationS between the British Government
and the TransVaal, he said that PreSl-
dent Kruger by his own act had removed
all chance of peace. After dwelling upon
the splendid offers of assistance made by
the colonies and the necessity of main
tanning Great Britain s paramountcy, he
animadverted upon the defiant language
of President Steyn of the Orange Free
State, declaring that unless the question
Of British sqpresmafy vas settled 9n@Io now
He asserted that the British Government
under exceptional provocation had shown
great patience and forbearance and that
Great Britain had now no option but 10
repel attack.
Clement Royds, Conservative member
for Rochdale. seconded the address.
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, Liberal
leader in the House of Commons. who fol-
lowed Mr.. Royds. said Parliament had
been summoned to~giye its approval to the
early steps of war Never had the house
met In circumstances more serious or
amid conditions engaging to greater de-
gree the profound interest of the British
people. The demands made by the Gov
were such as to make it impossible for the
Government or any self-reSpecting coun-
try ever 10 take them Into consideration.
Actual hOstilities have commenced" )"
said Sir Henry, "and an active aggression
has been committed, which 1t is the plain
duty Of our Minister'S of Parliament and
of the people to resist. There will be no
disposition on the part OF this House to
place any obstacle in the way of granting
such supplies and such powers to the
crown as may be necessary to secure the
commenced to vindicate our rights. The
campaign should be vigorously and
promptly prosecuted, and nothing neces-
sary for that purpose should be refused
by the House Of Commons"
The leader of the opposition went on to
congratulate the Government upon the
choice made of officers to whom the main
charge of the expedition" had been
given. Never, he believed, had so apable
and experienced a staff been dispatched
from the shores of England.
"Our natural position in South Africa"
he declared, has placed upon US the duty
of seeing any impediment to our own
supremacy removed. On that we are all
agreed. 1 have no intention of entering
the steps taken by the Government. The
time for that has not yet come, and 1t
is proper TO wait for further explanations.
But l may say it does appear to me that
the governments are engaged in a game
of bluff Cheers and Ministerialst cries of
mo. no'), which is not very worthy
one for a great country like this. The
raising of the suZcrainty question was
utterly unnecessary and did more than
anything else to remove all chance of sue
cess of the negotiations
Mr. Balfour, who was received with
loud cheering, expressed satisfaction at
the declaration of Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman, with which, he said. he was
himself in heary agreement. Mr.. Balfour
complained that while Sir Henry Camp
Zimmerman insinuated that the war
was due to errors of the Government. he
did not specify these errors. The Gov
ernment would like to have charges
brought forward so that they could re-
fute them. He repelled the allegation
that the Government had goaded the
South African republic into war by flaunt-
ing Great Britain's suzeranty in their
faces. The South African republic made
claims to being an independent sovereign
state, but these were inconsistent with the
conventions of 1881 and 1884 Mr.. Balfour
said he could not understand Sir Henry
ampbell-Bannerman' declaration that
the Government had played game of
bluff
Bluff" said the Government leader.
means person acting as though ne held
cards he does not possess; but this coun-
try holds the cards and means to play
them"
Sir Henry Campbell -Bannerman. he
said, disapproved sending the troops to
South Africa, an irritating menace to the
Beers. but where would we not be but
for those troops? Not to have sent troops
would have been to betray the country
Mr.. Balfour said further that he felt en- |
titled to say: ''If war must come it has |
seldom been entered into by Great Britain /
upon an issue which was more clearly an |