The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-31
THE QUEEN TO PARLIAMENT.
SHE EXPRESSED BOTH GRIEF AND
GRATIFIC ALTON.


Compliments Her Colonial Troops
and Colonial Loyalty-RepIy by
Duke of SOmersct-Secret service
Lacking. Says salisbury.
London, Jan. S0-The seventh session Of
the Fourteenth Parliament Of queen
Victoria opened at p m, after the GUS
tomary formaites.
The gentlemen usher of the Black Rod,
Gen Sir NJ. S Bitdulph, summoned the
Commons to the House Of Lords at 2:05
D. m, where the Lord High Chancellor,
Earl Halsbury, read the queens speech.
The Queens speech follows:
My Lords and Gentlemen: The peace
which has recently been broken in South
Africa when last l 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 At
rican Republic and Orange Free State
my people have responded with devotion
and enthusiasm TO the appeal which |
have made to them. and the heroism of
my soldiers in the field, and my sailors
and marines who were landed to cooper,
ate with them has not fallen short Of the
noblest traditions of our military history.
81 am deeply erieved that SO many val
liable lives should have fallen a sacri-
fee, but | have witnessed the pride and
with heartiest qualification the patriotic
eagerness and spontaneous loyalty with
which my subjects in all parts of my do
minons have come forward to share in
the common defense their imperial inter
ests | am confident | shah not look to
them in vain when 1 exhort them TO sus-
tain and renew their exertions until they
have brought this struggle for the main
tenance of the empire and the assertion
of its supremacy in South Africa to a
victorious conclusion.
"A treaty has been concluded with the
German Empire for the adjustment of the
rights claimed by the two countries in
Samoa, Tonga and other islands I'm the
Pacific To a portion of those stipula-
tions 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 fed
GRAFTON which has been adopted after most
careful consideration by five of my Aus
trailan colonies
81 have watched with cordial satisfac-
ton the gradual development of my great
er colonies into seif-goyerning communi-
ties. / feel confident that the establish
inent of the great federation of Australia
will prove advantageous, not only 10 the
colonies Immediately concerned. but also
20 the empire at large.
Compliment to the Colonies.
THE brilliant courage and soldier-like
qualities of the colonial forces engaged in
South Africa have already earned high
admiration, and patriotic offers of assist
ance which it was not possible to ac-
cept, have come from many other co.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 al my disposal for service in South
Africa. These proofs of their loyalty TO
myself and their devotion 10 the cause OF
my empire have afforded me much grail
hcation.
Il regret that. owing to insufficient rain
fan in the autumn over a great part or
Western and Central India, the harvest
and pasturage have failed to such an eX-
tent as to create famine. Timely meas
ures have been taken by my government
and by the rulers of the native states at
fected to relieve the suffering and prevent
starvation
II 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 d.
minution
"Gentlemen of The House of Commons:
The estimates for the public service OF
the year will be laid before you. The
provision for military expenditures must
be largely increased on account of the
charge for military operations in South
Africa. The experience of a great war
must necessarily afford lessons of the
great est Importance to the military ad-
ministration of the country. You will not,
am convinced, shrink from any outlay
thai may be required to place our defen-
sve preparations on a level with the re-
sponsibilites which the possession Of so
great an empire has laid upon US. Al
time when several other nations are per-
focting their naval preparations a the
cost of increasing efforts and sacrifices,
the solcitude with which you have pro-
vided for the efficiency of our navy and
our coast defenses will assuredly not be
relaxed"
The rest Of the speech. recognizing that
the time Is not propi,ious for domestic re-
forms involving large expenditures. recon-
mends amendments 10 the agricultural
educational, company, railway and acci-
dent laws, and concludes:
ut appears thai service In South Africa
may have the effect of disfranchslng
those taking part in it, and you VIII be
asked to sanction a measure by which this
injustice viii be prevented
II commend your deliberations at this
anxious time 10 the DiebslnB ana Suludnce
of Almighty God"
Reply by Somerset.
The Duke Of Somerset made the adj
dress in reply. He said he looked for
ward confidently to a successful ternina-
ton of the war. lie urged the necessity
for reform in the military administration,
and said that hitherto the army seemed
10 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 ad-
verse criticism 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,
emphasized the debt OF gratitude which
Great Britain owed to her colonies and
expressed satisfaction at the settlement
Of the Samoan question.
The Liberal leader in the House OF
Lords, the Earl Of Kimberley. followed.
His lordship congratulated Lord Sails