The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-31
OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

OPENlNt VI FAhLlAMhNI'
Opposition Leaders Severely score
the Government for Its sins
or Omission.
LONDON. Jan. 3o.-The seventh session
Of the fourteenth parliament Of Queen
Victoria opened at p. M. after the Gus
tomary formaiitieA The speaker, VIM.
Court Gully, arrived at the house of corn
mons at I:6s D. m. There was q LARGE at
tendance OF members. The gentleman ush-
er OF the black rod. Gen. Sir M. 8. Bid
dulph, summoned the commons to the
house OF lords at 2:O5 p. m. where the
lord high chancellor, Earl Halsbury. read
the queens speech. which was a. follows:
The queens Speech.
..My Lords and Gentlemen: The peace
which had recently been broken In South
Africa when last addressed you has un-
happily not been restored, but otherwise
my relations with other states are friend
". In resisting the invasion Of my South
African colonies by the South African re-
public and Orange Free state. my people
have responded with devotion and enthu-
siasm to the appeal which have made to
them, and the heroism Of my soldiers in
the field and my sailors and marines who
were landed to cooperate with them has
not fallen short OF the noblest traditions
Of our military history.
Grief at Loss of Life.
II am deeply grieved that 30 many valu-
able lives should have fallen as q sacri-
nee, but have witnessed with pride and
with heartiest qualification the patriotic
eagerness and spontaneous loyalty with
which my subjects In all parts OF my do
minfons have come forward to share in
the common defense Of their imperial In
terests. I am confident I shall not look
to them In vain, when I exhort them to
sustain and renew their exertions until
they have brought this struggle for the
maintenance of tho empire and assertion
Of Its supremacy in South Africa to VIC
torious conclusion.
samoan Treaty. :
"A treaty has been concluded with the
German emperor for the adjustment of the
rights claimed by the two countries In
Samoa, Tonga and other islands in the
Pacific To a portion Of these stipulations
the government of the United States has
also been a party. 81 ~
AustraIian Confederation.
"A bill will be introduced at an early date
to give effect to the scheme of federation
which has been adopted after most care
full confederation by Ave of my Australian
colonies.
II have watched with cordial satisfac-
ton the gradual development of my greater
colonies into self-governing communities.
] feel confident that the establishment of
the great federation of Australia will prove
advantageous not only to the colonies i'm
mediately concerned, but also to the en-
pire at large.
Praise for Colonial Troops.
THE brilliant courage and soldier-iike
qualities OF the colonial forces engaged in
South Africa have already earned high ad-
inirati0n, and patriotic offers of assistance
which 1t was not possible to accept have
come from many other colonies with popu-
lation Of various races.
Loyalty Of Indian Princes.
II have received from the ruling chiefs
of native states of India numerous offers
to place their troops and the resources Of
their states at my disposal for service In
South Africa. These proofs of their loyalty
to myself and their devotion to the cause
of my empire have afforded me much graft
hcation.
Famine in India.
II regret that owing to insufficient rain
fall In the autumn over a great part Of
western ard central india the harvest and
pasturage have failed to such an extent as
10 create famine. Timely measures have
been taken by my government and by tho
rulers OF the native states affected to re-
lieve the suffering and prevent starva-
ton.
The Plague.
II regret to add that the epidemic Of
plague continues, and that, although it's
severity has not Increased since last year,
there Is at present no prospect of its d.
minution.
Necessity for More Money.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons:
The estimates for the public services Of
Of the year will be laid before you. The
provision for military expenditure must
be largely increased ON account of the
charge for military operations In South
Africa. The experiences of a great war
must necessarily afford lessons of the
greatest Importance to the military admin
istration of the country. You will not, I
am convinced, shrink from any outlay
that maybe required to place our de-
fensive preparations on a level with the
responsibility which the possession of so
great an empire has laid upon US. At a
time when several other nations are per-
fecting their naval preparations, at the
cost of increasing efforts and sacrifices.
the solicitude with which you have pro-
vided for the efficiency Of our navy and
our cost defenses will assuredy not be
relaxed"
The rest of the speech, recognizing that
the time is not proptious for domestic re-
forms involving large expenditures, rec
ommends amendments to the agricultural