Delaware gazette and state journal., 1900-02-01
PARLIAMENT IN SESSION
In Conversation Of Early Arrivals, There
Was Nothing to Indicate a Panic.
QUEEN VlCTORlA'S SPEECH READ
Grleved That So Many Lives
Have Been Sacrificed.
PATRIOTISM OF SUBJECTS COMMENDED


cheerless weather. The members began
to arrive at an unusually early hour.
Hon. William Massey -Mainwaring,
Conservative. member for Central Fins
bury, was the first to arrive, entering
the precincts of the House at 40 a.
m,, half an hour ahead of John Cum
ming MacDona, Progressive Conserva-
tive, member for the Rotherhithe divi-
sion Of Southwark the second arrival.
The other members then began to ap-
pear at shortening intervals.
About 100 seats had been reserved ty
10 o'clock. when the leomen OF the
Guard arrived from the Tower and, with
lighted lanterns, carried out the usual
search OF the subtorrsnean chambers
and passages.
There was nothing in the conversa-
tion of the early arrivals TO suggest
anything in the nature of panic, and
there was little to indicate aIy keen
desire to embarrass the government, nut
there were evidences on all sides that
tho members keenly realized that they
we're meeting under exceptional circum-
stances, when preparations were neces.
sary to meet grave crisis.
Among the curious features Of the
situation, the House of Commons was
to be treated to the singular spectacle
OF Lord Edmund t'itzmauiice, Liberal,
member for the Cricklade. CT Northern,
division of Wiltshire, moving vote of
censure on his brother, the Marquis of
Lansdowne, Secretary of State for War.
There was a conspicuous absence of
public excitement in connection with
the reassembiing of Parliament. A
small knot of people witnessed the ar
rival and departure of the Yeomanry of
the Guard, the crowd around the on
trance to the palace yard at no time ey-
ceeded 500, and the few who were hop
ing for some demonstration against the
ministry were disappointed,
The seventh session of the Four
teenth Parliament of Queen Victoria
opened at 2 +. M, after the customary
formalities.
The Speaker, William Court Gully,
arrived at the House of Commons al
1.53 p. M. There was a large attend.
ance Of members.
The gentleman usher of the Black
Rod, Gen. Sir NJ. s. Biddulph, sum.
moned the Commons to the House oi
Lords at 2 05 p. m., where the Lore
High Chancellor, Earl HalsbuIy, rea6
the Queens speech.
THE QUEENS SPEECH.
The Queens speech was as follows:
:
which had recently been broken il
South Africa, when last I addressed
you, has unhappily not been restored
but otherwise my relations with othe
States are friendly, In resisting tn,
Invasion Of my South African colonie
by the South African Republic and tn
Orange Fiee State. my people have re
sponded with devotion and enthusiasm
TO the appeal which / have made +
them, and the heroism OF my soldier
in the field and my sailors and marine
who were landed to cooperate witt
them has not fallen short of the mobiles
traditions of our military history.
g am deeply grieved that so man
valuable lives should have fallen sat
'jfice, but i have witnessed wit
cation the patriotic eagerness an
spontaneous loyalty with which m
subjects IN all parts of my domir
ions have come forward TO char
in the common defence of their in
perial interests. am confidept sha
not look to them in vain when exhol
them to sustain and renew their exel
tions until they have brought th
struggle for the maintenance of tt
Empire and the assertion of il
supremacy in South Africa to victor
Gus conclusion.
"A treaty has been concluded wit
the German Emperor for the adjus
ment of the lights claimed by the ty
countries in Samoa, Tonga and 9TH
islands in the Pacific. To a portion
these stipulatiops, the government
the United States has also been
party.
''tA bill will be introduced at {
early date to give effect to the schen
of federation which has Keen adopte
after most careful consideration,
five of my Australian colonies. ha
watched with cordial satisfaction ii
gradual development of my greater &C
onies into self-governing communitie
i feel confident that the ESTABLISHING
of the great Federation of Austral
will prove advantageous. not only to I
colonies Immediately concerned, b
also to the Empire at large.
THE brilliant courage and soldit
like qualities of the colonial forces g
gagged in South Africa have alraa
earned high admiration, and patrio
offers of assistance which it was I
possible to accept have come frt
many other colonies with populatic
of various races. / have received frC
the ruling chiefs of native States
India numerous offers to place tn
troops and the resources of their Sta
at my disposal for service in SOU
Africa, These proofs of their loya
to myself and theii devotion to I
cause Of my Empire have afforded
much qualification.
II regret that, owing to irsuffici,
rainfall in the autumn over or
part OF Western and Central India,
harvest and pastura2e have failed
such an extent as to create u fami
Timely measures have been taken
my government and by the ruler:
the native States affected to relieve
suffering and prevent starvation.
II regret to add that the epidei
;. Of plague continues, and that, althol
its severity has not inci essed since
year. there is at present no rrospec
its djminution.
'Gentlemen of the House of G,
mons; The estimates fot the pul
service Of the year will be laid bet
you. The provision for military
penditures must te largely increas
on account Of the charge for milii
operations in South Africa. The
rerience of q great war must ne
sarily afford lessons of the greatest
portance to the military administrar
Of the country. You will not, l
convinced, shrink from any outlay I
may be required to place our defen
operations oil level with the
sponsibilities which the possessio