Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-31
OPENING OF PARL|AENI.
THE QUEENS SPEECH DEEPLY DE-
FLORES THE LOSS OF LIFE
IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Her Soldiers Praised-The Struggle
for Imperial Supremacy to be
Maintained Until 1T Reaches q
Victorious Conclusion Appeals
for War Revenues.

peace which had recently been brok-
en- in South Africa when last ! adj
dressed you, has, unhappily, not been
restored, but otherwise my relations
with other States are friendly. In re-
sisting the invasion of my South At
rican colonies by the South African
Republic and Orange Free State, my
people have responded with devotion
and enthusiasm to the appeal which
| have made to them, and the hero
ism of my soldiers in the field and my
sailors and marines who are landed to
cooperate with them, has not fallen
short OF the noblest traditions Of u
military history.
I am deeply grieved that so many
valuable lives should have fallen a
sacrifice, but I have witnessed with
pride and with heartiest qualification
the patriotic eagerness and spontan-
eous loyalty with which my subjects
in all parts of my dominions have
come forward to share in the common
defense of their imperial interests. !
am confident l shall not look to them
in vain when / exhort them to sus-
tain and renew their exertions, until
they have brought this struggle for
the maintenance of the empire and the
assertion Of it's supremacy in South
Africa to a victorious conclusion.
"a treaty has been concluded with
the German Emperor for the adjust
ment of the rights claimed by the
two countries in Samoa, Tonga and
other islands in the Pacific. To a
portion of these stipulations the gov
eminent of the United States has also
been a 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 consideration by
five of my Australian colonies.
Il have watched with cordial salts
faction the gradual development Of
my greater colonies into s~elf-govern-
ment communities. 1 feel confident
that the establishment of the great
federation of Australia will prove adj
vantageous not only to the colonies
Immediately concerned, but also to
the empire at large.
1.-The brilliant courage and soldier
like qualities of the colonial forces en-
gagged in South Africa have already
earned high admiration, and patriotic
offers of assistance which it is not pos
sible to accept have come from other
colonies with populations of various
races. / have received from the ruling
chiefs of native states of India numer-
Gus offers to place their troops and
the resources of their states at my dis
posaI for service in South Africa.
These proofs of their loyalty to myself
and their devotion to the aus of my
empire have afforded me much graf
ifcation.
I regret that, owing to insufficient
rainfall in the autumn over a great
part of Western and Central India, the
harvest and pastures have failed to
such an extent as to create a famine.
Timely measures have been taken by
government and by the rulers of
the native states affected to relieve
the suffering and prevent starvation.
Il regret to add that the epidemic
of plague continues and that although
its severity has not increased since last
year, there is at present no prospect
of its diminution.
Gentlemen of the House of Com
ons: The estimates for the public
service of the year will be laid before
you. The provision for military ex-
penditure must be largely increased
on account of the charges for military
operations in South Africa. The ex-
perience of a great war must neces-
sarily afford lessons of the greatest
Importance to the military administra-
tons of the country. You will not,
I am convinced, shrink from any out
lay that may be required to place u
defensive preparations on a level with
the responsibilities which the posses
sion of so great an. empire has laid
upon US.
AT a time when several other ma
lions are ~perfecting their naval pre-
parations at the cost of increasing eff
forts and sacrifices, the solicitude
with which you have provided for the
efficiency OF our navy and our coast
defenses will assuredly not be relax
ed
The rest of the speech recognizing
that the time is not propitious for do
mestic reforms involving large expen-
ditures, recommends amendments to
the agricultural, educational, company,
railway and accident laws and con-
cludes: 1T appears that service in
South Africa may have the effect OF
DISTINGUISHING those taking part in 1t.
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