New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
PARLIAMENT OPENED.
A1TACK ON MINISTER'S MADE
AND ANSWERED.
UNITY IN UNFOLDING INTEGRITY OF
THE EMPIRE-THE QUEENS
SPEECH

The EMPIRE-THE QUEENS
SPEECH
London. Jan. 3O.-The seventh session of the
fourteenth Parliament Of Queen Victoria opened
at p. m, after the customary formalites
The Speaker, William Court Gully arrived at
the House of Commons at 1:53 D. m There was
a large attendance of members
The Gentleman Usher Of the Black Rod. Gen
eral Sir M. S. Bddulph, summoned the Com
mons to the House Of Lords at 2:05 D. M. where
the Lord High Chancellor, Earl Hasbury, read
the Queens Speech. 1t follows
My Lords and Gentlemen: The peace which
had recently been broken in South Africa when
! last addressed you, has, unhappily. not been
restored, but otherwise my relations with other
! States are friendly. In resisting the invasion
! of my South African colonies by the South
| African Republic and Orange Free State my
| people have responded with devotion and
! thusasm to the appeal which have made. to
| them and the heroism of my soldiers in the
field and my sailors and marines who land
ed to cooperate with them, has not fallen short
of the noblest traditions of our military history.
| am deeply grieved that many valuable
| lives should have fallen sacrifice but have
| witnessed with pride and with heartiest gratif-
| cation the patriotic eagerness and spontaneous
| loyalty with which nv subjects in all parts of
my dominions have come forward to share in
| the common defence of their Imperial interests.
am confident l shall not look to them in vain
| when | exhort them to sustain and renew their
| exertons until they have brought this struggle
| for the maintenance of the Empire and the
| victorious conclusion.
THE SAMOAN TREATY.
| 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 party.
| A bill will be introduced at an early date to
! give effect to the scheme OF federation which
has been adopted after most careful considera-
| tion by five of my Australian colonies.
| 1 have watched with cordial satisfaction the
| gradual development of my greater colonies into
| elf-governing communities. l feel confident
that the establishment OF the great Federation
| of Australia will prove advantageous not only
| to the Colonies Immediately concerned but also
to the Empire at large.
The brilliant courage and soldierlike qualities
of the colonial forces engaged in South Africa
have already earned high admiration, and patri-
otic offers of assistance, which 1t not posi-
BILE to accept have come from many other col
onies with populations of various races. 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
qualification.
the autumn a great part of Western and
Central India the harvests and pasturage have
failed to such extent to create famine
Timely measures have been taken by my Gov
ernment, and by the rulers of the native States
affected, to relieve the suffering and prevent
starvation. II
1 regret to add that the epidemic OF plague
continues and that although its severity has not
prospect OF its dirninution.
MORE MONEY FOR THE WAR NEEDED.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons: The
estimates for the public service of the year will
be laid before you. The provision for military
expenditure must be largely increased on ac-
count of the charge for military operations in
South Africa. The experience OF great war
must necessarily afford lessons OF the greatest
Importance to the military administrations of
! the country. You will not, l convinced,
shrink from any outlay that may be required to
place our defensive preparations on a level with
the responsibilities which, the possession of so
great an empire has laid upon us. At time
when several other nations are perfectng their
naval preparations at the cost of increasing
efforts and sacrifices, the solicitude with which
you have provided for the efficiency Of our navy
and our coast defences will assuredly not be
laxed.
The rest of the Speech recognizing that the
| time is not propitious for domestic reforms in
volving large expenditure. recommends amend
ments to the Agricultural, Educational, Com
pany, Railway and Accident laws, and con-
cludes:
1t appears that service in South Africa may
have the effect Of disfranchsing those taking
| part in it, and you will be asked to sanction
measure by which this injustice will be pre-
vented
! commend your deliberations at this anxious
time to the blessing and guidance of Almighty
God
SMALL ATTENDANCE OF PEERS.
The attendance of peers and of the public was
not extraordinary.
After the reading of the speech the House
adjourned until p. m. and the Commoners re-
turned to the House, which also similarly
pended its sitting until o'clock.
| There a conspicuous absence OF public
excitement in connection with the reassembling
| of Parliament. small knot Of people wit
messed the arrival and departure of the Yeomen
| of the Guard; the crowd around the entrance to
Palace Yard at time exceeded five hundred,
and the few who hoped for demonstration
against the Ministry were disappointed
THE HOUSE OF LORDS
On the resumption of business in the House
of Lords the galleries were thronged Lords
Northcote and Avebury 6he latter was formerly
Sir John lubbock took seats with the United
Diplomatic Gallery The Prince of Wales the
Duke of Connaught and the Duke of Cambridge
were seated on the cross benches. There were
many women in the galleries, and there was an
| unusually large attendance Of peers.
The Duke of Somerset moved the address in
reply to the Queens Speech, and the Earl of
Shaftesbury seconded the motion The Duke In
the course Of his remarks in moving the address
said he looked forward confidently to a success
full termination Of the He urged the neces-
sity for reform 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 then eulogized the colonies espe-
cially Canada, and deprecated the adverse criti-
cism on General Butler. Remarks in this con-
nection were cheered. He said he had every