Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-02-15
Historic Pageantry Marks the
Grand Occasion.
Crowd Cheers vociferousIy As Roya
Personages Pass In Review.


dlftlburtlon of states and Premier Bal
fcurs tirmness in their useing in the
fiscal problem. all will tend in the same
direction On the other hand. the liber-
ais appear to he as distant as ever
from any approach 10 unanimity on the
VcXed question Of the leadership. Sir
Henry Campbell Bannerman. Earl
Spencer, Herbert Henry A. South and
Sir Henry Hartley Fowler all are spok-
en- of as possible leaders Of the next
Liberal ministry, to say nothing Of
Lord ROsebery's even superior claim to
that position, should ne be inclined to
exert his undoupted influence. Every
thing will depend upon Mr.. Balfour's
success III holding his followers togeth-
er and overcoming the apathy born Of
the knowledge that the whole country
is looking for and expecting a general
election.
London. Feb 14.-The sixth session
of the first parliament of his reign was
opened. this afternoon. by King Ed
ward 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 commons in tho
upper chamber. The document was
commonplace. The only reference to
the war; which His Majesty said "un-
happily continues" was to announce
that my government has been careful
to observe on the strictest manner teh
obligations incumbent upon a neutral
power"
The longest paragraph devoted to
the Balkans, says the situation con-
tlnues to give cause for anxiety. The
measures adopted at the instance of
the Austro Russian governments have
been instrumental in bringing about
some amelioration in the state of the
disturbed districts but these meas
ures have still to be supplemented by
radical reforms, especially of the finan-
clal systems before any permanent i'm
proVements can be effected in the ad-
ministration of these provinces of the
Turkish empire
The speech noted with satisfaction
that the Austro Russian governments
had addressed to the Porte proposals
Tor this purpose and added that the
British government was in communi-
cation with the powers concerned upon
this import lnt subject.
Congrdtulatory references We're
made to the visit of the King and
Queen of Portugal to England. to the
ratification of the Anglo French con-
Nentlon. and TO the arbitration agree
ments with Sweden and Norway.
Portugal and Switzerland.
The speech also mentioned the inter-
national commission entrusted with
the investigation of the circumstances
connected with the disaster to both
traWlers which resulted from the ac-
ton of the Russian fleet in North sea
and of apportioning the responsibility
for this deplcrable incident"
Th" King expressed the hope that
the steps to establish a representative
constitution for the Transvaal would
result in substantial progress towards
the ultimate goal of complete self gov
ernment.
His Majesty referred to the Thibetan
expedition, to the exchange of visits
between representatives of Lord Cur
zon Of kedleston. the viceroy of India
concluded with mentioning the propo-
sails of redistribution of parliamentary
seats to be laid before the Commons.
the alien bill to be introduced and ex-
change dealing with the unemployed
beside other unimportant domestic
legislation.
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 govern
ment escape defeat it is thought that
Premier Balfour will voluntarily dis
solve Parliament in the autumn and
take the opinion of the country on fis-
ca! and other questions now agitating
the electorate.
Good weather favored tO-day'S pa
seant 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 usu-
al interest was shown in the time hon
ored search of the vaults beneath the
houses of parliament by the yeomen of
the guard with the lanterns and hall
boids. Between this ceremony and the
appearance of the procession a constant
stream of carriages containing peers
and pearesses in robes of state and in
the brilliant uniforms enlivened the
somewhat tedious wait.
The Prince of Wales and the Princess
of Wales were present at the resumption
of business in the House of Lords
Lord Chancellor Halsbury read the
Kings speech and the Marquis of Win
chester Conservative moved the address
in reply to the speech from the throne.
Earl Spencer, the Liberal leader, re-
ferred to the war 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 Maj
esty's government would not lose n fair
and proper opportunity to bring the con-
fict to a peaceful solution.
Foreign Secretary Lansdowne expressed
his sorrow and concern at the continuance
of the war in the Far East, and added
that should an opportunity for bringing
If to a close present itself. the govern
ment would avail itself thereof with alac-
rity. but an attempt at intervention now
would mean retarding the very object de-
sired.
Great Britain had endeavored, not un-
to maintain the Strictest