The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-31
Looked for Successful Termination
ofsthe War.
RELATIONS ARE FRIENDLY.
Yet it Would be- Well TO Consider the
Possibilities OF the Future and
Prepare fors.All Evcntualities.
The Reply 10 the Address
From the Throne
Was Adopted.

LONDON, Jan. 5O.-The seventh ses-
sion of the Fourteenth Parliament OF
Queen Victoria opened at 2 p. NJ after
the customary formalities.
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.
General Sir. NJ. S. Biddulph. summoned
tho Commons to the House of Lords at
o:o5 p. NJ, where the Lord High Chan
cellor Earl Salisbury, read the Queens
spcch, which was1in part as follows:
MY Lords and Gent!emen,-The peace
which had recently been broken in South
Africa when last I addressed you has un-
happily not been restored, but otherwise
my relations with other States are friend
". In resisting tie invasion of my South
African colonies by the South African
Republic and Orange Free State my peo-
ple have responded with devotion and
enthusiasm to the appeal which nave
made to them, and the heroism OF my
soldiers in the field and my sailors ana
marines who We're landed 10 co-opera'e
with them has not fallen short OF the
noblest traditions of our military his
tory.
DEEPY GRIEVED.
II am deeply greved that so many
valuable lives should have fallen sacrl-
flee, but I have witnessed with pride and
with heartiest. qualification the patriotic
cagerness and spontaneous loyalty with
which my subjects in all parts of my
dominions have come forward to share in
the common defense of their imperial in
terests. am confident I shall not look
to them in vain when T eNhort them to
sustain and renew their eXertions until
they have wrought this struggle for the
ma'etenance Of the empire. and the as
sertion of its supremacy in>South Africa
to victorious conclusion.
TREATY 5WITtI GERMANY.
IA treaty Ia s l',,tzsSS 10y concluded with the
German Emperor for the adjustment OF
the rights claimed blythe two countries n
Samoa. Tonga and other Islands in the
Pacific To 4 portion of these stipulatons
the Government of the United States
has also been a party.
II regret that owing to insufficient rain
fall in the autumn over a great part OF
Western and Central India the harvest
and pasturage have failed ito such an eN-
tent as to create a famine. Timely meas
ures have been taken by my government
and by the rulers of the native state af-
fected to relieve the sufferingS and pre-
vent starvation.
'I regret to add that. tire epidemic OF
plague continues. and that although its
severity has not increased since last year.
there is at present no prospect of its di-
aninution.
ESTIMATES FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
|. "Gentlen,en 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 account of the
charge Of military operations in South
Africa. The eNpedience of q great war
must necessarily afford lessons of great
Importance to the military admin;s!ra-
ton Of the country You VIII not, I
am convinced, shrink from any outlay
that may be required to place our de-
fensive preparations on a level with the
responsibilities which the possession of
so great an Empire has laid upon Us.
Al time when several other nations
are perfecting their naval preparations
at the cost of increasing efforts and sac
rifices. the solicitude with which you have
provided for the efficiency of cur navy
and our coast defences Will assuredly
not be relaxed
The rest of the speech. recognizing
that the time is not Dropitious for do
mestic reforms involving large expendi-
lures, recommends amendments to the
agricultural. educational. company. rail
way and accident laws. and concludes:
1T appears that service in South Af-
rica may have the effect Of disfranchisinS