The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-02-15
KING OPENS PARLIAMENT.
ADDRESS READ IN PERSON IN
 HOUSE OF LORDS.

HOUSE OF LORDS.
 the Interest of the Former Republics
 Plans for Visit by tho Duke of Corn
 wall to Australia Confirmed and Es
 tended to Canada Grown Not Wor
 by the King.
 London, Feb, 14.---The first parliamer
 of the reign of King Edward VII. wa
 opened this afternoon by the king
 person. He did not wear the crowl
 He was accompanied by Queen Alex
 andra, the Duke of Connaught an
 many others of the royal family. N
 ceremony of this kind has taken plac
 since 1861, when Queen Victoria opene
 parliament, accompanied by the prime
 consort.
 After the oath had been administere
 the speech from the throne was read b.
 the king in the house of lords. It wa
 as follows:
 My Lords and Gentlemen-I addres
 you for the first time at a moment 0
 national sorrow when the whole coun
 try is in mourning for the irreparabl loss which we so recently sustained ant
 which has fallen with peculiar severit!
 on myself. My beloved mother, during
 her long and glorious reign, has set al
 example before the world of what { monarch should be, and it is my earnes desire to walk in her footsteps
 Amid this public and private grief il is satisfactory to me to be able to as sure you that my relations with other powers continue to be friendly The war in South Africa has not entirely terminated, but the capitals of the ene- my and his principal lines of communi- cations are in my possession, and meas ures have been taken which will, I trust enable my troops to deal effectually with the forces by which they are still opposed. I greatly regret the loss of life and expenditure of treasure due to the fruitless guerilla warfare maintain ed by the Boer partisans in the former territories of the two republics. Their early submission is much to be desired in their own interest, as until it takes place 1t will be impossible for me to es- tablish in those colonies institutions which will secure equal rights to all the white inhabitants and protection and justice to the native population.
 "The capture of Pekin by the allied forces and the happy release of those who were besieged in the legations, re- suits to which my Indian troops and 1or +yi1. <7N have been followed by the submission of the Chinese government to the de- mands insisted upon by the powers. Ne gotiations are proceeding as to the manner in which compliance with these conditions is to be effected.
 "The establishment of the Australian commonwealth was proclaimed at Syd- ney on the first of January with many manifestations of popular enthusiasm and rejoicing. My deeply beloved and lamented mother had assented to the visit of the Duke of Cornwall and York to open the first parliament of the new in her name. A separa- tion from my son, especially at such moment, cannot be otherwise than deeply painful, but still desire to give effect to her late majesty's wishes and as an evidence of her interest, as well as. of my own, in all that concerns the welfare of my subjects beyond the seas, I have decided that the visit to Aus tralia shall not be abandoned and shall be extended to New Zealand and to the Dominion of Canada.
 "The prolongation of hostilities in South Africa has led me to make fur ther call upon the patriotism and devo- tion of Canada and Australia. rejoice hat my request has met with prompt and loyal response, and that large con- .ingents from those colonies will em- park for the seat of war at an early | late.
 '..The expedition organized for the | suppression of the rebellion in Ashanti | las been crowned with signal success. The endurance and gallantry of my na- i've troops ably commanded by Sir James Willcocks, and led by British ,ficers, have overcome both the stub- porn resistance of the most warlike ribes in West Africa and the excep- ional difficulties of the climate, the sea- on and the country in which the opera ions have been conducted. The garri- on of Kumassie, which was besieged y the enemy, has been relieved after a and gallant defense, the prin- ipal kings have surrendered and the hief impeachment to the progress and evelopment of this rich portion of my Vest African possessions has now, I ope, been finally removed.
 ''The suffering and mortality caused y a prolonged drought over large ortion of my Indian empire has been realty alleviated by seasonable rain- Ill, but regret to add that in parts of le Bombay presidency distress of se- Ious character still continues, which " officers are using every endeavor to litigate.
 Gentlemen of the House of Con- lons-The estimates for the year will 3 laid before you. Every care has been lken to limit their amount, but the na- al and military requirements of the )untry, and especially the outlay con ,quent on the South African war, have volved an inevitable increase. The smise of the crown renders it neces- try that renewed provision shall be . ade for the civil list I place unre- rvedly at your disposal those heredi- ny revenues which were so placed by q y predecessor, and have commanded 1, lat the papers necessary for full con- : iteration of the subject shall be laid :, fore you.
 My Lords and Gentlemen-Proposal ill be submitted to your judgment for creasing the efficiency of my military ' rces. Certain changes in the consti- l,