The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-31
Explanation by Premier Salisbury
and Defense of the Conduct of
His Ministry.
SPEECHES IN THE HOUSE
OPPOSITION REPRESENTED BY SIR
HENRY CAMPBELL-BANNER
Irish Members of Parliament Now
United and Determined to Make
Their Power Felt.

LONDON, Jan. 3O-The seventh session
of the Fourteenth Parliament of Queen
Victoria opened at o'clock this afternoon
with the customary formalities. The yeo-
men of the guard from the tower, with
lighted lanterns, carried out the usual
search of the subterranean chambers and
passages. There was a conspicuous alb
sence of public excitement. A small knot
of people witnessed the arrival and depart
ure of the yeomanry. but the crowd around
the entrance to the palace yard at no time
exceeded five hundred and the few who
were hoping for some demonstration
against the ministry were disappointed.
The speaker, William Court Gully, arrived
at the House of Commons at 1853 D. m.
There was a large attendance of members.
The gentleman usher of the black rod. Gen.
eral Sir NJ. S. Biddulph, summoned the
commons to the House of Lords at 2:O5
p. m. where the lord high chancellor, Earl
Halsbury, read the Queens speech. 1t
follows:
MY Lords and Conference.-The peace
which had recently been broken in South
Africa when last / addressed you, has,
unhappily, not been restored, but other
wise my relations with other states are
friendly. In resisting the invasion of my
South African colonies by the South Afri-
can Republic and Orange Free State, my
people have responded with devotion and
enthusiasm to the appeal which L 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.
Il am deeply grieved that so many valu-
able lives should have fallen a sacrifice,
but l have witnessed with pride and with
hpartiQSf ha fri IL
ness and spontaneous loya..y with which
my subjects in all parts of my dominons
have come forward TO share in the common
defense of their imperial interests / am
confident 1 shall not look to them in vain
when l exhort them TO sustain and renew
their exertions until they have brought
this struggle for the maintenance of the
empire and the assertion of its supremacy
in South Africa to victorious conclusion.
"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 the portion of these stipu-
lations. the government OF the United
States has also been a party.
"A bill will be introduced at an early date
10 give effect to the scheme of federation
which has been adopted after most careful
consideration, by five of my Australian
colonies. L have watched with cordial
satisfaction the gradual development of
my greater colonies into self-governing
communities. L feel confident that the es-
Enlistment 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 soldier-like
Qualities OF the colonial forces engaged in
South Africa have already earned high ad-
miratlon, and patriotic offers of assistance,
which 1t was not possible to accept, have
come from many other colonies with popu-
lations OF various races. L 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.
Il 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 to such an extent
as to create famine. Timely measures
have been taken by my government and by
the rulers of the native states affected
to relieve the suffering and prevent starva-
ton. L regret to add that the epidemic of
plague continues and that although its Sc
verify has not increased since last year
there Is at present no prospect of its
diminution
Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
the estimates for the public service of
the year will be laid before you. The pro-
vision for military expenditure must be
largely increased on account of the charge
for military operations i'm South Africa.
The experience of a great war must neces-
sarily afford lessons of the greatest i'm
portance to the military administrations
of the country. You will not, l am con-
WINGED, shrink from any outlay that may
be required to place our defensive prepara-
lions on a level with the responsibilities
which the possession of so great an en-
pire has laid upon us. At time when
several other nations are perfecting their
naval preparations at the cost of increas-
ing efforts and sacrifices, the solicitude
with which you have provided for the ef-
ficiency OF our navy and our coast de-
lenses will assuredly not be relaxed"
The rest of the speech, recognizing that
| the time is not propitious for domestic re-
forms involving large expenditure, reco m
mends amendments to the agricultural,
| educational, company. railway and acct
| dent laws, and concludes: 1T appears that
service in South Africa may have the eff
| feet of DISTINGUISHING those taking part in
| IT, and you will be asked to sanction a
measure by which this injustice will be
prevented.
Il commend your deliberations at this
| anxious time to the blessing and guidance
| of Almighty Cod
The attendance of peers and of the pub
| lie was not extraordinary. After the read
| ing of the speech the House adjourned I'M
| til p. m, and the commoners returned
| TO their House. which also similarly sus-
| pended its sitting until o'clock.