The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-21
MIKADO OPENS
PARLIAMENT
Pagan POtentate travels in
State to House of Peers.
FOREIGN MINISTERS ATTEND
MEMBERS CALLED TOGETHER TO
LEVY WAR TAX.

Toxic, March 20.-With stately cere-
mOny the special session of parliament,
convened TO provide the money needed
to wage the war against Russia, was
opened this morning. The emperor,
clad in the uniform Of a generalissino,
rode in the great state coach from the
palace TO the parliament house and
personally read his address to the peers
and commoners. For the first time the
crown prince attended the ceremony.
he followed his father to an improvised
throne in the peers hall and stood
close by his right side while he read
his appeal 10 his subjects.
The emperor left the palace at 1890
O'Clock, accompanied by a group of i'm
perial princes. aides and members Of
the imperial household. His escort con-
sisted Of two troops Of lancers. one
preceding the other Following came
the coaches carrying the emperor
princes and staff. The brilliant uni
forms, splendid coaches and pennants
of red and white silk carried by each
lancer made the imperial procession an
attractive picture. Lines of police and
gendarmes kept the streets clear and
walled back the populace, which re-
ceived its ruler in absolute silence
Chamber of Pesrs.
Long before the emperor reached the
peers chamber the members were in
their places. The peers, all uniformed
occupied the right side of the chamber,
and the commoners, all in evening
dress. filled the left. The seats, which
occupied rising tiers. had been re-
moved and the members stood in semi
circles with the presidents and vice
presidents of each house in advance Of
each main group.
The members of the cabinet. headed
by Premier katsura, occupied a posi-
ton on the right platform, close to the
throne.
The diplomatic gallery was filled.
nearly every legation and staff being
present Sir Claude Macdonald, the
British minister, General Hamilton and
Colonel Hume represented Great Brit
ain.
Minister Griscom. Colonel. Wood.
Commander Marsh and Secretaries Fer
guson and Laughlin Of the United
States legation were also officially pres
ent. The other galleries were filed
with Japanese civil officials and mill
tary and naval officers. No women
were present.
Mikado's Address.
When the emperor entered the mem
bers of parliament bowed low. The
emperor. advancing to the front of
the platform, bowed 10 them and inn
mediately assembled the throne. Pre-
mier Katsura advanced to the throne
and handed the address to the emper-
or. The latter read it in a voice low
but firm, which carried 10 every cor
ner of the chamber.
The members remained with bowed
heads until the reading was concluded.
The president of the house of peers
then assembled the platform, advanced
10 the throne, and received the address
from the emperor. The emperor then
stepped 10 the front OF the platform,
bowed and left the chamber and re-
turned to the palace.
In view of the extraordinary reply
to the throne passed at the opening of
the last session in December. wherein
the house of representatives condemned
the policy Of the cabinet. which was de-
clared to be Incompatible with the
progress OF the empire and to be tenn
pOrizing, the house Of representatives
today appointed a committee to pre-
pare a response. After the joint ses-
sion the committee met, prepared and
presented the following;
Reply Of the House.
we. your majesty's humble servants
of the house of representatives re-
specially express our gratitude for
your majesty's gracious action in open
ing the imperial diet. and for The words
addressed to US by your majesty.
This empire has invariably endeav-
ored TO maintain the peace in the far
east, but Russia, which lacks the sin
cerity TO respect peace. has violated its
treaty with China and its repeated dec
laratiOns to the powers.
We are extremely impressed with
the fact that your majesty has declared
war. The executive arms at the front
are repeatedly obtaining victories. This
is solely due to your imperial majesty's
influence.
1T shall be our constant endeavor "a
bring to the discharge of our Legislative
functions the utmost care and circum-
spection, so that your majesty's august
instructions may be obeyed and the
important truss reTosed in US by the
nation may be complied with.
With profound respect and humility
the president Of the house Of represent
atives. NJ. Masahisa Matsuda, presents
this"
The peers win meet tomorrow to pre-
pare a response to. the speech from the
throne.