The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-15
KINGS SPEECH
EDWARD VII OPENS HIS FIRST PAR
LAMENT IN PERSON.
Enthroned I'm the House of Lords, with
Queen Alexandra by His Side,
He Reads His Address.
SPEAKS OF vICTORIA'S DEATH
AND THE IRREPARABLE Loss TO
THE EMPIRE AND HIMSELF.
Regrets the Disastrous War In south
Africa and Hopes Oppositio,
VIII Soon BE Overcome.
HE PRAISES HIS COLONIES
AND SAYS HIS SONS VISIT TO THEM
WILL NOT BE POSTPONED.
| Tribute to Officers Who Conducted the
Ashanti CampaiGn-The Process
sion and Scenes in the Lords.
| LONDON Feb 14-Amid almost unprece-
Regrets the Disastrous War in south
Africa and Hopes Opposition
VIII Soon BE Overcome.
HE PRAISES HIS COLONIES
AND SAYS HIS SONS VISIT TO THEM
WILL NOT BE POSTPONED.
Tribute to Officers Who Conducted the
Ashanti CampaiEn-The Process
sion and Scenes i'm the Lords.

LONDON, Feb. 14.-Amid almost unprece-
dented pomp and spectacular display King
Edward VII this afternoon opened his first
Parliament in person. Queen Alexandra ac-
companied his Majesty in the gorgeous
state coach. Other members of the royal
ty were in the procession from Bucking-
ham Palace to the Parliament buildings.
The Mall, the Horse Guards parade, White
hall and Parliament street, through which
the royal party passed, were guarded by
5000 troops. The state coach was drawn
by eight cream colored Hanoverians. An
enormous crowd viewed the procession.
King Edward bowed frequently in response
to the shouts Of the spectators, who were
very enthusiastic.
When the Parliament buildings were
reached the King and Queen quickly got
out of the state coach, which came to a
standstill at the royal entrance beneath
the Victoria tower. and went up the mar
hle stairway into the robing ROOM Outside
the robing room in the royal gallery. which
leads to the House OF Lords were about 500
persons, chiefly women, who had been wait
ing patiently for hours on stands especial
ly erected for the ceremony Among them
were many peers and commoners who had
been unable to get places within the cham
ber. After some delay the robng room
doors swung open and the procession, al
ready formed up. moved slowly ahead
through the dingy gallery. No funeral
could have been quieter. The aristocratic
spectators were perfectly still. The King
was half down the gallery before the
women remembered to courtesy, and then
black skirts rustled ceaselessly and noble
heads were bowed. Smiling genially, the
King bowed right and left. He never looked
better. His huge ermine cape gave an enor-
nous breadth to his shoulders and set off
the healthy color of his face.
QUEEN ALEXANDRA.
Queen Alexandra, wearing an ermine cape
and with a small diamond crown, formed
a remarkable contrast to her husband. The
pallor of her face and her downcast eyes
enhanced the idea of mourning given by
the long crepe veil hanging down her back
and hiding the costly ermine. The ladies
of the bedchamber, walking two abreast
directly behind and deeply yelled. added a
touch of sadness to the scene. This was
quickly dispelled. however, by the gilt
tering uniforms of the gentlemen-at-arms
and high officers of the army.
Before the end of the procession had
passed out of the royal gallery the King
had entered the House of Lords and the
central feature of the day commenced The
peers and judges occupied the front
benches. The United States ambassador.
Mr.. Choate, as usual, was prominent on ac-
count of his plain evening dress. He was
accompanied by Mr.. Carter, the second
secretary Of the embassy, and Mr.. Cutting.
private secretary of the ambassador. SINH
larly attired. Mrs. Choate was with the
ambassadors wives. All rose as the pro-
cession approached and all eyes centered
on the Queens dress, which was of deep
black and glittered with Jewels. while
across her breast was the ribbon of the
Order of the Garter, her husbands latest
tribute.
When their Majesties reached the throne.
the lord chancellor stood on the Kings
right. On the Queens left was Lord Lon
donderry. Lord Salisbury stood at the foot
of the throne. In the state chairs were the
Duchess of Cornwall and York, Princess
Charles Of Denmark, Princess Christian of
Schleswig- -Holstein, and the Duchess of
Connaught. Fife and Argyll. The Dukes of
Salisbury. With a motion of his hand the
King signaled that the distinguished gath
ering should sit and the Queen. whom his
Majesty had CALAMITY led TO the throne
by the hand, was the first TO do so. Her
example was followed on all Sides
Then the gentleman usher of the black
rod, after deep obeisance, hurried to the
House OF Commons. and in few minutes
the speaker, wearing his state robes. and
attended by the sergeant-at-arms and chap
lain, appeared at the bar. Behind them
surged members of the House of Conn
mons. Seldom had Great Britain's Iegfs-
lators presented such a turbulent spectacle.
Several hundred of them struggled fierce
ly to get in space which could scarcely
hold fifty persons.
THE KINGS SPEECH.
In solemn tones the lord chancellor ad-
ministered the oath. with the King sitting.
The lord chancellor then. kneeling, handed
the King a roll, which he signed, after
which all present once more stood up and
the King put on his field marshaTs plumed
hat. rose and in clear, ringing tones, read
his speech, as follows:
My Lords and Gentlemen-I address you
for the first time at a moment of national
sorrow, when the whole country is mourn
ing the irreparable loss We have so re-
Gently sustained. and which has fallen with
peculiar severity on myself. My beloved
mother. during her long and glorious reign
set an example before the world of what
a monarch should be- IL is my earnest de-
sire TO walk in her footsteps.
Amid this public and private grief IL is
satisfactory to me TO be able 10 assure Won
that my relations with the other powers
continue friendly.
'sThe war in South Africa is not yet en-
treiy terminated, but the capitals of the
enemy and his principal lines of com
munication are in my possession and meas
ures have been taken which will 1 trust
enable my troops TO deal effecfually with
the forces by which they are still opposed.
sI greatly regret the loss OF life and ex-