Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-03-21

personally read his address to the peers
/ ana cOnmOncrS.
| For the first time the crown prince at
tended the ceremony. He followed his
! father to all mDrUEiSed throne III the
| peers hail and stood close 10 his right
side while he read his appeal to his sub
| je"tS.
The Emperor left the palace at 1919
o'clock, accompanied by group of in
pelial princes, aides and members Of the
| imperial household. His escort consisted
OF two troops of lanccrs, brilliantly clad.
one preceding the other. Following came
the coaches carrying the Emrelor,
princes and staff.
Lines of police and gendarmos wall d
| back the ropulace, which received it,
ruler in absolute siience-the highest
long before the Emperor reached the
peers chamber the members We're in the!l
places. Tho peers. all unifOrmd, occupied
the right side Of the chamber ana III,
| CommCners, i'll evening dress, the LETT.
| The mCmberS of the cabinet, headed by
/ Premier Katsura. occupied 4 position on
the right platform close to the thIOn".
The diplomatic gallery Vas fi!lcd, near
| ~ every foreign representative h.inG
| present with his staff. Sir claud. Mas
| Hamilton and Col. Hume. represented
Great Britain. Minister Griscom, Colonel
Wood. Commander Marsh and Secretaries
| I1er@'jsun and L2ughlin of the tljtrd
states legation. were also officially pres
| Cnt.
When the Emperor entered. the ncm-
! rclS Of Parliament bowed lew. Thc En-
ptrur bowed to them ana Immediately as
| Crnded the throne.
Premier KatSura advanced to the throne
and handed the address to Tie Emperor.
The latter read it in low. hrm voice.
we hereby open the imprrial diet and
address each and all the members of the
linusc Of Peers and the House Of Repre-
Scnt4tiV,G. We announce with hlgu SAL
:..-'l Ii
tv powers arr steadily growing in cor
di4lity and 'ndcrstandin@. Prompted by
an earnest desire to m. .iEt1in Il p"rii!:,-
nent rcacc in the extreme East "ur GOV
CrIsmant. hy oar command. entered INTO
| lie :r0tiHtioHS with Russia. hut We regret
that owing 20 an absence Of sincerity on
| the part of Russia in her peaceful rio-
fcSSions. We have been compelled 70 ap-
| peal to arms. ANA having taken that St"p
/ We cannot hesitate until the object q tn
war j. attained.
our forces. in tho presence OF IN
wonted hard.hipS ard rriV"tions. are now
djspaying their stfadf"St loT"ltX ana ana
VIII co-oncratc in perfect unity t"r the
| enhancement Of the glory cf II" empire.
"Wc trust that you will. II compliance
with our Will. fulfill the dUty incumbent
upon Won ana give cordial consent ~
these budgets ana bills which are spec
tally urgent in connection with the sitUa-
ton and which we have ordered the nlII-
listers uf state TO !ay he ore Nou.''
The members remained with bowed
heads uitu the reading VI" concluded.
The rrcsid mt ~ the ltplIso Nc Peers then
advanced to the throne ana received tine
address from the i,Glps rOT
The Emperor then stepped to the front
Of the platform and bowed, loft the cham
hcr and returned to the. palace.
In view of the extraordinary reply to
the throne passed at the opening Of the
last session in December. wherein tho
House Of Representatives condemned tha
policy pC the cabinet, which was declared
iHcOrnDatlDlp
the empire and to he temnoiizinE. the
House Of Representatives. today. appoint
ed committee to prepare a response.
After the joint session, the committee
mt. prepared and presented the follow
We, Your Naicstv's humble servants
If the House cf Representatives, respect
fully express our gratitude for Your Maj
csty's gracious. action in opening the i'm
rcrial dict and for tho words addressed
to rs by Your Majesty.
"'fnis empire has Invariably endCavored
to mnint&tn peace in III" Far East. but
Russia. which lacks the sincerity to re-
spoct peace. has violated its treaty with
China ard its repeated -cia1ations to the
powers.
we arc extremely impr5 ssed With the
fact that Your Majesty has declared war
Tho executive arms Mt the front are re-
pcatodly obtaining victories. This is sole
" Que to Your Imperial EIajesty's influ-
ence.
1T shall he our constant endeavor to
bring to tho discharge of our Legislative
functions the utmost care and circum-
specti"n, 50 that Your Majesty's august
instructions may be Obcyed and tie i'm
rortant trust rcposcd in us by the ma
ton may be complied with.
with profound respect and humility,
the president of the House of Representa-
tiycs, Masahisa Matsuda. presents this"
rare q response to the speech from the
throne.