The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-17
KINGS SPEECH
UIYIMPO ANT
Parliament Opened With
Ancient Ceremonial.
BURST OF APPLAUSE
Unprecedented Procedure in ths
House Of Lords.
HUMANITY OF BRITISH SOLDIER
Kings Reference to It Brought Out Round
OF Cheers Earl Spencer Criticised the
Speech, and Urged That Bce,s Be
Granted Autonomy Similar
to That OF Aus
trnIla.
III MAINLY OF BRITISH SOLDIER
Ry Associated Pres5.l

| LONDON, Jan. licking Edward open
| ed Parliament to-day with a ceremonial
| in all essential respects similar to that
| Of February last The procession to the
| House Of Lords was OF the same char
| acter as that witnessed on the occasion
| of the opening of the first Parliament OF
King Edwards reign, while within the
Upper House were seen the same State
| pageantry, the historic dresses anu the
| same revival Of ancient forms.
After robing, King Edward and Queen
| Alexandra entered the House of Peers
| ana occupied their thrones beneath a
canopy, with the Prince and Princess of
| Wales on either side of them. The other
members Of the Royal family were seated
| on chairs at the foot of the steps lead
ing to the throne. The gentleman usher
| OF the Black Rod, General Sir Michael
! BidduIph, having summoned the Speak
| er and the members of the House of
| Commons, his Majesty read the speech
| from the throne. The speech was not an
| important utterance.
His Majesty referred in terms of graft
| fication to the world tour of the Prince
and Princess of Wales expressed regret
| at the fact that the war in South Africa
| was not concluded, said he trusted the
| decision of the sugar conference would
| lead to the abandonment of bounties and
noted the conclusion Of the ISthman
Canal treaty.
Referring to Great Britain's relations
| with foreign countries, the King said:
| My relations with the other Powers is
| of a friendly charlcter.n
REFERENCE INDEFINITE.
Contrary to expectations, tho Kings
reference to the war was just as indef-
mite as the statements on the subject
| made in the last half a dozen messages
! from the throne. 81 regret" said his
| Majesty, "that the war in South Africa
is not yet concluded, though the course
| of the operations has been favorable to
our arms, the area of war largely reduced
| and industries are being resumed in my
| new colonies. In spite of the tedious char
acter of the cammpaign, my soldiers
| throughout have displayed a cheerfulness
| in tho endurance of the hardships Incl
| dent to guerrilla warfare, and a human
| ity even to their own detriment,, in their
| treatment of the enemy, which are de-
| serving of the highest praise. The
| necessity for relieving those of my troops
| who have most felt the strain OF war has
afforded ne the opportunity Of again
availng myself of the loyal and patriotic
| offers of my colonies, and further con-
| +ingents will shortly reach South Africa
from the Dominion of Canada, the Com
monwealth Of Australia and New lea-
land
In regard 10 tho sugar conference the
| speech says:
ST trust its decision may lead to the
| abandonment of the system by which the
1 sugar producing colonies and home man
rfacturers of sugar have been unfairly
| weighted in the prosecution OF this in
I portant industry.
CANAL TREATY.
Then came the following clause: "I
! have concluded will, the President of
! the United States a treaty. the provisions
! of which will facilitate the construction
| Of an interoceanic canal under guaran-
| tees that its neutrality will be main.
| tained, and that it will be open to the
| commerce and shipping Of all nations.
| Next followed references to the Anglo
Brazilian treaty: to the referring OF the
! British Gr1iana-BraZiiian boundary cues
| tons; to the arbitration OF the king
! of Italy; to the necessity for contin-
! uance OF famine relief measures III IN
| dia, and to the death OF the A,neer.
whose son. Habib Ullah, has expressed
| an earnest desire to maintain the friendly
| relations OF Afghanistan with my Indian
| Empire
| After announcing that the estimates
| have been Framed as economically as
| due regard for their efficiency renders
| possible in the special circumstances OF
the present exigency," the speech con-
| Guided with mentioning proposed legis-
/ lation, of solely domestic interest, with
/ the exception of bill to facilitate the
sale and purchase OF land IN Ireland.
/ Their Majesties then retired amid a
fanfare of trumpets, and attended by
/ the same regal ceremony as accompanied
/ their entry into the House.
/ The crowds which lined the route from
| Buckingham Palace to Westminster TO
| view the procession were not nearly SO
large as on the occasion OF the last
l opening of Parliament For once Roy
| atty was late, and when the King ard
I Queen drove out from the courtyard il
i front OF Buckingham Palace they were
i twenty minutes behind time and King
Edward was still struggling with an un-
ruly. glove.
BURST OF, APPLAUSE
/ Their Majesties were greeted enthu-
siastically AS they sat in the great
/! state coach, whose gilded pinnacle
brushed the boughs OF the trees in the
i green park, King Edward and Queen
1 Alexandra looked for all the world like
/ a dattering painting of Henry VIII, and
/ one of his better-looking spouses. They
bowed somewhat wildly from their huge
] gold and glass frame, which shook and
] reeled on Its ancient springs like d ship
/ In g storm.
i The only departure from the extremely
/ tsdecorous character OF the proceedings
occurred when the King referred to the
i humanity OF the ritish troops in South
i Africa This led to an Unprecedented
scene in the House of Lords Peers ane
=I peeresses and high officers of State broke
out into a long cheer. which was repeated
4 again and again to the evident satisfac.
q ton OF His! Majesty, but the apparent
disn1ay OF the officials OF. the House
9tswhose signalie deprecaion of departure
4 from ancient traditions We're fneffectua
q to- stop the soutburst ofsenthusiasm.
q ADDRESS SCRITICISED.