Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-21
N|KADO OPENS DIT
Converting of Japanese Parlia-
ment's Special Session to Pro-
vide Money For the War
TRIBUTE TO JAPANESE FORCES
Emperor Expresses Appreciation for
Their steadfast Loyalty and vaior in
the Presence Of Hardships and Pri.
vations--Russia Scored as Treaty
Rreaker-The Imperial Procession.

| Toxic, March 21.-With stately cere-
tmony, the special session OF rarlia-
ment, convened to provide the money
ineeded to wage war against Russia
1 was opened Sunday. The en-
lperor, clad in the uniform of a general
issimo. 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 to his sub
jects.
| The emperor left the palace al 10:30
O'clock, accompanied by a group of i'm
perials. princes. aides and members oI
the imperial household. His escort
consisted of two troops Of lancers. ore
preceding the other. Following came
the coaches carrying the emperor,
princes and staff. The brilliant uni
forms. coaches and pennants of red ami
white sill0 carried by each lancer.
made the imperial procession an at
tractive picture. Lines of police and
gend' armes kept the streets clear and
walled back the. populace. which re-
Iceived its ruler in absolute silence, the
highest mark Of respect.
| Long before the emperor reached the
peers chamber, the members We're In
| their places. The peers, all uniformed,
occupied the right side of the chan-
Der, and the commoners, all in evening
dress, filed the left. The seats which
occupy rising tiers. had been removed.
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 posi-
ton on the right platform, close to the
| throne
The diplomatic gallery was filed.
nearly every legation and stat. being
present. Sir Claude Macdonald, the
British minister, General Hamilton and
Colonel Hume represented Great Brit
! ain. Minister Griscom, Colonel Wool.
Commander Marsh and Secretaries
Ferguson and Laughlin of the United
States legation were also officially
present. The other gallaries were fill
cd with Japanese civil officials and
military and naval officers. No women
Were present.
When the emperor entered the mem
hers of parliament bowed low The
emperor, advancing to the from. of the
PLATFORM bowed to them and imme-
diately assembled the throne. Premier
Katsura advanced to the throne and
handed the address to the emperor.
The latter read 1t in a voice low bu.
firm, which carried to every corner Of
the chamber.
The address was as follows:
I'VE hereby open the Imperial diet
and address each and all the mem
bers of the house of peers and the
house of representatives. We an
nounce with high satisfaction that our
relations with the treaty powers are
steadily growing. in cordiality and I'M
derstanding. Prompted by an earnest
desire to maintain a permanent peace
in 1.-The extreme east. our government
by our command, entered into legotia-
lions with Russia. but We regret that
owing to an absence of sincerity or
the part of Russia in her peaceful pro-
LESSONS, we have been compelled to
appeal to arms. and having taken that
step, we cannot hesitate until the OBJ.
ject of the war is attained.
Our forces in the presence of un-
wonted hardships and privations are
now displaying their steadfast loyalty
and valor, and we hope that all our
subjects will CO. cooperate in perfect un-
ity for the enhancement of tsle glory
of the empire.
I'VE trust that you will in compl:-
ance with our will, fulfill the luty in
eumbent upon you and give cordial
consent to these budgets and bills
which are specially urgent In connec-
ton with the situation and which we
have ordered the ministers of state TO
lay before you."
The members remained with bowed
heads until the reading was conclud-
ed. The president of the house of peers
then assembled the platform, advanced
to the throne and received the address
from the emperor. The emperor then
stepped to the front of the platform
bowed, left the chamber and returned
to the palace.
In view of the extraordinary reply TO
the address from the throne, passed at
the opening of the last session in De
cember, wherein the house Of repre-
sentatives condemned the policy of the
cabinet, which was declared TO be in
compatible with the progress of the
empire, and to be temporizing, the
house of representatives yesterday
appointed a committee to prepare a
response After the joint session the
committee met, prepared and present
ed the following:
I'VE, your majesty's humble servants
of the house of representatives, re-
spectfully express our gratitude for
your majesty's gracious action in OPP
ening the imperial diet and for the
words addressed to us by your maj
esty
This empire has invariably endeav-
ored to maintain the peace i'll the far
east, but Russia has violated her treaty
with China and repeated declarations
to the powers.
sNe are extremely impressed with
clared war. The executive arms at the
front are repeatedly obtaining victor
les. This is solely due to your imper-
ial majesty's influence.
1T shall be our constant enieayor to
bring to the discharge of our legisla-
tive duties the utmost care and cir
cumspection, SO that your majesty's
august instructions may be obeyed and