The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-17
OPENING OF PARLIAMENT
HISTORIC PAGEANTRY marks
THE CEREMONY.
King Edward Read His Speech from
the TElrone-Only Slight Reference
to the Russo-Japanese Wharf.-The
Government ASsaiIed for its Eyas-
ion of the Fiscal Question.

London, February 1.-THE sixth
session of the first Parliament of his
reign was opened this afternoon by
King Edward, with all the historic pa
geantry which has marked the cera-
mony since his accession. The sover
eign himself read the speech from the
throne to the assembled lords and COM
mons in the upper chamber. The doc
ument Vas commonplace. The .oaly
reference to the Russo-Japanese war
which the king said "Unhappily con-
tinues" was to announce that my
government has been careful to observe
in the strictest the obligations
incumbent upon a neutral power"
At the royal entrance beneath the
Victoria tower of the House of Lords,
The king was received by the nlga
officers Of STATE and passed in process
sion to the robing room. Thence, AZ
companied by the queen, his majesty
repaired to the house Of lords, preceded
by the crown and other regalla, car
r:ed by their hereditary boarer, and
by the heralds announcing the ap-
proach Of the sovereigns.
The scene on the arrival Of their
majesties was most picturesque and
U0 a. HAVING ISu Ia AuCCI L
a seat ON his left, the king seated him.
self ON the throne and commanded The
attendance of the speaker and members
of the house of m Upon the
arrival of the latter the king rose and
e the speech in a Clear, firm VOICE.
The short ceremony then ended, the
king. and queen retired to the roblng
room, the procession was reformed a1d
their majesties returned to the palace
Inv tho nm, ~C,,f WA urn;oI tnaxr nod
arrived.
AT the resumption OF business in the
house OF lords, Lord Chancellor Has
bury read the kings speech and the
Marquis of Winchester Conservative
moved the address in reply.
Earl Spencer, the Liberal leader, re-
ferred to the wal in the far east. He
said it was the most earnest desire
Of the people of Great Britain to see
the end of the conflict and he trusted
his majesty's government would no.
lose a fair and proper opportunity to
bring the conflict to a, close.
Referring to the North Sea incident,
Lord L~ansdowne said that once and
only nee were they near being drawn
into the vortex OF war. He need hard
say that it arose in connection with
the North Sea incident.
The address was agreed to and the
lfOuSC VI III uS dOJoUlIfCu.
In tire house of commons Sir Hen
ry Campbell-Bannerman, the Liberal
header, assailed the government wh:th
he said was evading the fiscal ques-
ticn as shown by the failure Of the
mover and seconder OF the address 10
mention this important subject. He
adde's that the opposition would short
ly endeavor to secure a straight ans
wer from Mr.. Balfour showing whether
~ W.T. ha --A q ~ -s+L IN
seph C~hamberlain's proposals.
Sir Henry Campbell anrferman
spoke at length attacking the govern
ment's policy in Thibet n South AZ
RIGA and In fact a t all points.
Replying to Sir Henry Campbell Ban
nerman's assertion the government was
too feeble to carry out an effective
policy, Premier Balfour said the does
ion lay entirely with the house of COM
mons whether it could effectively car
ry out the mandate Of the poop aid
the duties entrusted to it by the SOW
ereign. Mr.. Balfour protested against
bringing the fiscal question before this
parliament and aid it was entirely
to make his position clearer than he
already had done. He tainted the cp-
position On the existing confusion co1-
corning its future program.
The house Of adjourned at
11:12 p. m.
III. H. Asquith tomorrow viii move as
the official amendment to the address
in reply to the speech from the throne,
the following: w humbly represent
to your majesty tha.the various as
poets Of the fiscal question nave been
fully discussed IN the country for near
ly twenty years, and that the time
has come for submitting the question
to The people without further delay.
1t is under stood that the leaders OF
the opposition to government favor
conclusion OF debate on this resolution
on February 16.