The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-20
POLICY At Tackled
by CHAMBERLAIN
Unionist Leader Makes Bril-
liant Thrust at tile British
Government.
STEP TOWARDS HOME RULE
Speaker, Throws Down Gauntlet
Regarding the Kings Recon-
mcndation for Ireland.
STEP TOWARDS HOME RULE.
{By Associated Prc.s.s

LONDON, February 19.--,rhe po,r,-..
reference to Ireland contained IN Kim.
Edwards speech to the House of .,ar,,,
incnt to-day, coupled with the announce.
inent Of. the determination to grant con.
s'itutioiiai government to the Transyaul,
Drought these two questions immediately
to the forefront in tho debte In thn um,s.
OF Lords and the House OF Commons IN
tne motlons on the address in reply to
the speech from the throne. In the for
mer house the dcbtc was almost No rf,inc
tory except where Lord Lansdowne. arr
slming his new role OF leader OF the oppo-
sltion III the upper house pointed out dun
gers connected with the proposed changes
ana incidentally commented on the Alr,-
ciras conference and the situation In Mac.
edonia, warning the government of nos
slnic uliiicnlties arising in the near cast
unless Great Britain maintained n firm
attitude. 1t was In the House az Con-.
mons that the debate on the address he
came Interesting. when Joseph Chamber.
lhln, In the absence OF former Premier
Baifour took the place OF the leader OF
the opposition. and In n brilliant ana
lengthy speech attacked the government
on all points. and especially on Its South
African policy.
He threw down the gauntlet regarding
nome rule for Ireland. Regarding tariff.
reform. Mr.. Chamberlain promised 10 piv,
the government several ban quarter hours.
Cheers Greet Sentiments.
Mr.. Chamberlain.s speech undoubte,Iy
was the feature OF tile first day in IN,
House of Commons. The small ooteric OF
unionlsts took heart under his spirited
leadership and his brilliant thrusts and
sarcasm were greeted with the hearticst
cheers
Premier Campbell Bannerntans rcnly
was lengthy and perfectly good-humored.
the speaker assuming that his position
was one OF such strength that he could
afford to be generous.
The reference To Ireland I'm tbn tSint,.,
speech is received with mingled feelinrs
and some degree of doubt The Natiot,ai
lists are non-committa and decline to a.-
cept as more than n possibility this seent-
ing step towards home rule John Red
mond, who followed Premier 6,ampbeIj
Zimmerman at the night session. boldly
announced that the. Natlonalists would
not be satisfied with anything short of
complete sclf-government.
King Edward opened ParIiamen, Win
the customary ceremonial. The absence
of Queen Alexandra and the mourning
INTO which the court had been thrown
by the death of King Christian. detractnd
somewhat from the brliancy OF the
peageant King Edward read the speech
from the throne. II contained no SUP
prises. The usual reference to the con-
tinuance Of friendly relations with for
cign powers was followed by n para
graph rejoicing over the fact that the
Russo-Japanese War had been brought
to an end.
Reference to Morocco.
Ref tn
the King remarked: 1T is earnestly TO he
hoped that the result of these negotia-
tons may be conductive to the maln-
finance of peace among all nations
The speech announced that the idea of
an intermediate stage for represents
tive government of the TransvaaI had
been abandoned and that a new consti-
tuition would be drawn up as cxpeditious-
| ~ as possible.
| The speech closed with mention nj
| prospective legislation. An important
paragraph devoted to Ireland was as
| follows:
My ministers have under considern-
ton plan for improving and crecting
| economies in the system of government
| for Ireland and for Introducing there
Into means for associating the people
| with the conduct of irish affairs. IT
is my desire that the government of the
country In reliance upon the ordinary
law. should be carried on so far as ex-
| listing circumstances permit in spirit
regardful OF the sentiments of the Irish
| people and trust that this may con-
| ducc to the maintenance of tranquility
and good feeling between the different
! classes of tho community
II was noticeable that the King is stlll
suffering from the injury to his knee.
sustained while out shooting November
10th last. He walked haltingly, aided by
n stick. His speech was clearly audible
everywhere in the hall despite occasional
huskiness.