Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-14
HISTORIC PAGEANTRY
SOVEREIGN READ HIS SPEECH
FROM THRONE TO LORDS.
Unusual Interest in Present Assem-
blage-Crowds Witness Splendors
of Royalty in PROFESSIONS.


LONDON, February 14-The sixth session
of the first parliament of his reign was
opened this afternoon by King Edward
with all the historic pageantry which has
marked the ceremony since his accession
The sovereign himself read the speech from
the throne to the assembled lords and COM
mons in the upper chamber The document
was commonplace.
The only reference to the Russo-Japanese
war, which, the king said, ''unhappily con-
tinues,' to announce that my govern
| ment has been careful to observe in the
| strictest manner the obligations incumbent
| upon a neutral power"
The Balkan Situation.
| The lengthiest paragraph, devoted to the
! Balkans says the situation continues to
| give cause for anxiety. The measures
| adopted at the instance of the Austro-Rus-
| sian governments have been instrumental
| in bringing about some ameioration in the
| state of the disturbed districts, but these
| measures have still to be supplemented by
| radical reforms, especially of the financial
| system before any permanent improve
ments can be effected in the administrati ton
| of these provinces of the Turkish empire.
| The speech noted with satisfaction that
| the Austro-Russian governments had adj
| dressed to the porte proposals for this pur-
| pose. and added that the British govern
| ment was in communication with the pow
ers concerned upon this important subject.
| Congra tulatory references were made to
| the visit of the King and Queen of Portu-
| gal to England, to the ratification OF the
Anglo-French convention. and to the arDl-
| tration agreements with Sweden and Nor
way Portugal and Switzerland.
The international Commission.
| The speech also mentioned the 1nterna-
| tional commission Entrusted with the in
| vestigation of the circumstances connected
| with the disaster to British trawlers, which
| resulted from the action of the Russian
| fleet in the North sea, and of apportoning
| the responsibility for this deplorable incl
dent
The king expressed the hope that the
| steps to establish a representative constitu-
| ton for the Transvaal would result IN
| substantial progress toward the ultimate
| goal of complete self-government.
The king referred to the Thibetan expe-
| dition to the exchange of visits between
| representatives of Lord Curzon of kedles-
| ton. and viceroy of India, and the ameer of
| Afghanistan to discuss questions affectlng
| the relations of the two governments, and
concluded with mentioning the proposals
| for the redistribution of parliamentary seats
to be laid before the commons, the alien
bill to be introduced and the legislation
| dealing with the unemployed, besides other
unimportant domestic legislation.
Last of Present Parliament.
| More than usual interest attaches to to-
| DAYS opening of parliament as the belief
| is practically universal that it will be the
! last session of the present parliament. Even
| should the government escape defeat, 1t is
thought that Premier Balfour will volun-
| tarily dissolve parliament in the autumn
| and take the opinion of the country on the
| fiscal and other questions now agitating
| the electorate
| Good weather favored today's pageant,
| which followed the procedure of former
occasions Big crowds were about from an
| early hour watching the assembling OF the
| troops which lined the brief route from
| Buckingham Palace to the House OF LORDS.
| The usual interest was shown in the time
| honored search of the vaults beneath the
Houses of Parliament by the yeomen OF the
| guard with their lanterns and haiberds.
| Between this ceremony and the appearance
| of the royal professions constant strearn
| of carriages containing peers and peeresses
| in their robes of state and officials IN bril-
| liant uniforms enlivened the somewhat te-
| diouS wait.
| Brilliant Royal PROFESSIONS.
The royal professions were the same as
last year That of the Prince and Princess
| of Wales from Marlborough House, consist
| ing of three carriages with an escort OF
household cavalry, preceded by few min
utes the cortege of the king and queen
from Buckingham Palace.
| State carriages. each with horses bearing
| state officials, preceded the royal coach
with the sovereigns drawn by the eight
oream-colored Hungarians which have f1s-
| l!red in all the state professions of recent
| years Household cavalry acted as body
guard while in pursuance of their privilege
| a detachment of peomen of the guard
| marched alongside the state coach.
| The scene in the neighborhOod of Buck
! ingham Palace was particularly animated.
Large crowds selected this point whence to
| view the pageant, and when the severelgns
| issued from the gates of the palace they
! were greeted with great burst of en-
| thusiasm which quickly spread the whole
| length of the fine, new professional road
| leading from the site of the Victoria me-
mortal to the Horse Guards parade, and
accompanied the monarch and his con-
sort throughout the route.
Approach of the sovereigns.
| At the royal entrance beneath the Vic
toria Tower of the House of Lords the
king was received by the high officers
| of state and passed in procession to the
| robing room. Thence, accompanied by the
queen, his majesty repaired to the house of
lords, preceded by the crown and other re-
| gala carried by their hereditary bearers,
| and by the heralds announcing the ap-
| proach of the sovereigns.
Scene in the Gilded Chamber.
The scene in the gilded chamber on the
arrival of their majesties was most pictur-
esque and brilliant. It's small compass was
| crowded to excess with members of the
| royal family, peers, peeresses. judges, bsh-
| ops ambassadors and the few privileged
members of the house of commons, of whom
some could be found all attred in the gay
est state costumes.
Having led the queen to seat on his left
the king seated himself on the throne and
commanded the attendance of the speaker
me house
On the arrival of the latter the king rose
and read the speech in clear firm voice.
The short ceremony then ended the king
and queen retired to the robing room the
procession was reformed and their majes-
ties returned to the palace by the same
route over which they had arrived.
The house of commons assembled for
business at o'clock. Joseph Chamberlain
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, Arthur ].