The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-31

Opening of Parliament - Lord
Salisbury Defends the Govern
ment Policy, and Asserts There
Was Lack in Funds Provided for
Intelligence Department..
LONDON, Jan. 3O-With the customary
formalities. the seventh session of the
fourteenth parliament of Queen Victoria
was convened today at 2 p. m. The at
tendance of members was large. The
speeches were listened to with mark d at
tention throughout.
Not one of the speakers is considered
to have risen to a height BETTING the
gravity Of the situation. Sir John Ten
niefs cartoon in Punch represented Lord
Salisbury as addressing the cabinet coun-
Gil and saying:
Never mind what we say, gentlemen;
but let us all say the same thing
The feeling is that the ministers failed
In this apparently simple matter.
GALLERIES THRoNGED.
On the resumption of business in the
house of lords the galleries were
thronged Lords Northcote and Avebury
Ghe latter was formerly Sir John Lub-
bock) took seats with the United States
ambassador Joseph II. Choate, in the dip
lomatic gallery. The Prince of Wales,
the Duke of Connaught and the Duke of
Cambridge were seated on the cross
berches. There We're many ladies in the
galleries, and there was an unusually
large attendance of peers.
The Duke of Somerset moved the ad-
~. 20
the Earl of Shaftesbury seconded the mo-
ton. The Duke of Somerset, in moving
the address, said he looked forward con-
fidently to the successful termination; of
the war. He urged the necessity for re-
form in the military administration, and
said that hitherto the army seemed to
have existed for the benefit of the war
Office, and that in future the war office
must exist for the benefit of the army.
The Duke of Somerset then eulogized the
loyalty of the colonies, especially Canada,
and strongly deprecated the adverse crit
icism of Gen Butler, his remarks in this
connection being cheered. He said he
had every confidence in Gen. Butler and
in Lord Roberts.
The Earl of Shaftesbury, Conservative,
Great Britain owed to her colonies, and
expressed satisfaction at the settlement
of the Samoa question.
The Liberal leader in the house Of
lords, the Earl of Kimberley, followed.
He said he was glad to learn that Great
Britain's relations with other states were
friendly. He added that he believed the
term could be justly applied to the re-
lations with European governments and
the United States, ard deprecated undue
attention to the attacks of the foreign
press. His lordship congratulated Lord
Salisbury on the conclusion of the agree.
ment with Germany, but strongly disap-
proved of the tone of Mr. Chamberlain s
speeches. In that connection, however,
he paid warm tribute to the conduct
of the soldiers in the field, and to the
loyalty Of the British colonies
GOVERNMENT CAUTIONED
The Earl of Kimberley, continuing.
said that, although the moment was one
of the deepest gravity, he would entirely
abstain from criticising the conduct of
the generals. 1t was the duty of the gov
erEment to select men to conduct these
operations, and it was their duty to sup,
port them 1t was, therefore, unwise to
criticise the generals in these operations.
He did not mean to imply that the gem
erals were not doing their utmost to full
fill their arduous cuties, but the govern
ment would be wise if it made every ef-
fcrt to prepare thoroughly for what
might occur in the future Continuing.
Lord Kimberley said:
I'VE might meet a period of disaster,
and, although our relations with the
other powers are friendly, it would be
well to consider the possibility of the
future, and it would be well if the gov
ernment prepared for all eventualities.
and all dangers, ard be ready with the
means to surmount them. The govern
ment does not seem to have been aware
of the scale of preparations of the South
African republics
After Lord Salisbury had spoken Lord
Rosebery made fiery speech, demand
ing of the government what it was go.
ing to do, and adding that the country
would shrink from no sacrifice which the
burning emergency might demand. Lord
Rosebery spoke with great force anc
earnestness. He asked why the premier
made it SO difficult for the man in the
street to support his policy The past
conduct of the government would come
up for investigation some day. he hoped
adding:
I'VE have the right to know whether
before the crisis the intelligence depart
Inent supplied the government sufficient
Information. If not, dismiss the depart.
Inent. If the government possessed the
information their responsibility is heavy
] hope that when the time for the in
vestigation arrives those who have served
the queen will be covered with sucl
glory that the eyes Of the investigators
will be dazzled.
PREMIER ATTACKED.
81 was appalled, at the nature and style
of Lord Salisburys speech. We have
now 10000 men in South Africa, yet We
are with difficulty holding our own. The
attitude of foreign nations is described
rs friendly. But that does not strike me
as being so amicabie as the word woult
imply. I deem 1t necessary to know
what the government is going to do
Lord Salisbury said the cause of oul
casualties was the sInallness of the Sc.
cret fund and the British constitution
But what is the governments duty:
Some form Of compulsory service must
be introduced to meet the growing ex-