The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-03-22
CHARGES RUSSIA WITH lNsIN-
CERTIFY AND APPEALS FOR Ac-
cEPTANcE OF. BUDGETS.

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stood close by his right side while he
read his appeal to his subjects. The
emperor left the palace at 1890
o'clock accompanied by a group of
officers, aides and members of the i'm
perial household. Lines of police and
gendarmes kept the streets clear and
held back the populace. which received
it's ruler in absolute silence-the high
est mark Of respect.
Long before the emperor reached
the peers chamber, the members were
in their places. The peers, all uni
formed, occupied the right side Of the
chamber, and the commoners, all in
evening dress, filled the left. The
members of the cabinet, headed by
Premier Katsura, occupied a position
on the right platform, close to the
throne.
The diplomatic gallery was filed,
nearly every legation and staff being
present. The other galleries were
filled with Japanese civil officers and
military and naval officers. No Wo-
men were present.
Read His Own Speech.
When the emperor entered the mem
bers of parliament bowed low. The
emperor, advancing to the front of the
platform, bowed to them and imme-
diately assembled the throne. Pre-
mier Katsura advanced to the throne
and handed the address to the en-
peror. The latter read it in a voice
low but firm, which carried to every
corner of the chamber. Following Is
the speech from the throne:
1--WE hereby open the imperial diet
and address each and all the members
of the house Of peers and lower
house. We with satisfac-
ton that our relations with the treaty
powers are steadily growing in cor
diality and understanding. Prompted
by an earnest desire to maintain a
permanent peace in the extreme East,
our government by our command en-
tered into negotiations with Russia,
but we regret that owing to an alb
sence of sincerity on the part of Rus
STA in her peaceful professions we have
been compelled to appeal to arms, and
having taken that step we cannot
hesitate until the object of the war is
attained.
"Our forces. in the presence of IN
wonted hardships and privations, are
now displaying their steadfast loyalty
and valor and we hope that all our
subjects will cooperate in perfect
unity for the enhancement of the
glory of the empire.
Eve trust you will, in compliance
with our will, accomplish the duty de-
pendent upon you and accept the
budgets which are urgent in accord
ance of the situation and which we
now lay before you"
In Respectful Attitude.
The members remained with bowed
heads until the reading was concluded.
The president of the house of peers
then advanced to the throne and re-
ceived the address from the emperor.
The emperor then bowed and left the
chamber and returned to the palace.
In view Of the extraordinary reply
to the address from the throne, passed
at last session in December, wherein
the house of representatives con-
demned the policy of the cabinet, de-
claring it to be incompatible with the
progress of the empire and to be
temporarizing, the house of representa-
tives Sunday appointed a committee
to consider the address.
After the joint session the commit
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thanking the emperor and saying:
This empire has invariably en-
deavored to maintain the peace in the
far East, but Russia has violated it's
treaty with China and its repeated
declarations to the powers.
Eve r extremely impressed with
the fact that your majesty has de-
clared war. The executive arms at
the front are repeatedly obtaining vic
tories. This is solely due to your i'm
perial majesty's influence. It shall
be our constant endeavor to bring to
the discharge of legislative func.
lions the utmost are and circumspec.
ton, SO that your majesty's august in.
structions may be obeyed and the i'm.
portant trust reposed ia us by the ma.
tion may be complied"
The peers will meet today to pre-.
pare a response to the speech from the
throne.