Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-17
Opening Of the
Canadian Parliament


the m9se Interesting msTna1 t ssn
l eler has witnessed here recently has
been the opening of the Canadian parlia-
ment at Ottawa by Earl Grey, his males
tvs representative In Canada. Indeed. this
pleasing little ceremony attracts the interest
of the native quite as much as the stranger.
Large crowds are always In attendance to
view the pageant. 1t is one Of the few
surviving relics OF the medieval days Of
..Merrie England" and is replete with SYM
ibolic interest to the Engaishman posted on
the history of his own country.
Here, of course, the ceremonies are less
magnificent than the elaborate and brilliant
proceedings which accompany the opening
of the imperial parliament by King Ed
ward in London. At the same time 1t Is
equally typical.
Earl Grey. exactly at o'clock. drove up
after an antique pattern. drawn by q dou-
Bile team of prancing high steppers. with
attendants In livery. His coach was es-
corted by his bodyguard of lancers. COM
of about fifty horse. At the parliament
building the party was received by a guard
Of honor composed OF the Governor General
Foot Guards. arrayed In their striking win
ter uniform with regimental colors and
their band playing martial music. From
Nepearl Point, opposite Parliament Hill,
doomed salute of nineteen guns announc-
ing the arrival OF the vice regal party.
Light flurries of snow were falling, max
ing the scene typically Canadian, and 1t
was very noticeable that Notwithstanding
the snow ladies arrayed In full dress, dis
daining the use of carriages In a most
democratic manner, were seen making their
way to the house through the crowd of
" foat olo &,
the clumsy Canadian oyershoe and in their
care TO keep out of the sfush, displaying
their pale blue, pink or green costumes
and neat while stockinged ankles In marked
contrast with the surrounding crowd. In
deed, the opening of parliament Is the
great social event of Ottawa.
The ceremony of opening parliament takes
place in the senate chamber The scene
tawa's -four hundred" were, as usual
present, attired in splendor seated In semi
circular rows around the senate chamber.
making the place a blaze of color and
beauty. This. with the military attaches
OF the governor general, gorgeous In gold
braided uniforms, the judges of the su
preme court in ermine. the Canadian bish-
ops in purple and other state diguitaries
appropriately appareled, and particularly
his excellency himself uniformed In the
style OF "ye olden time"-white knee
breeches. silk stockings. silver buckIed
shoes and cooked hat-made the scene GER
tainly a brilliant and impressive one,
Seating himself on the throne, his ex-
cellency dispatched the black rod to
summon the members OF the house OF COM
mons to his presence These presently
came trooping into the chamber behind the
speaker, r. r. Sutherland, and ranged
themselves at the bar of the senate His
excelleney then read the speech from the
throne in loud, vigorous tones, in English
and French. The speech from the throne
indicates the trend OF legislation during the
ensuing session and the matters of public
import with which It proposes to deal
X X
This session will be unusually short. per-
haps not more than three or four months,
as the house will meet again next Novem-
Der. Very little important legislation Is
foreshadowed. The engrossng subject of
tariff changes Will not be dealt with The
speech mentioned proposed action with re-
spect to Sabbath observance laws insur-
ance investigation, water powers at Nj
agara and reforestations On the whole
the program does not promise an exciting
session.
The average American probably regards
this spectacle with some amusement. as
the spectacle OF an arrogant monarchy
Haunting itself ostentatiously before a
rank-rtdden people. and an evidence that
the British mind Is essentially undemo-
cratic
Strange as the statement may seem to
American readers the average Engiishman
over the divine right of kings. He has in
mind that what Is now show was once a
stern reality, and meant the literal sub
mission Of the people 10 the power of the
monarch. Today it is the sign of the sup
preston of the power of kings before the
might of Demos, the transition through
long centuries of evolution of an absolute
ruler into constitutional representative of
the sovereign will OF the people. An Amer
lean wonders in that case why a change is
not made The Englishman wonders why
he should be expected to change: very
much as a man does not move from house
unless he has some reason for desiring a
change of residence.
In truth, the British and Canadian con-
stitution although termed "monarchial,"
IL as truly democratic in practical results
as that of the United States. The func-
ticFns of the governor general are purely
formal He has no official opinions
policy or party questions. In fact, 1t has
been suggested more than once that his
Office could equally well be performed by
the chief justice of Canada.
The constitutional form Is bequeathed by
history without the spirit of autocraey-
On all such occasions as the present We
have the fmpressiveness and pomp without
the prerogattyes of power. The figure Is
In the guise of king. but the voice that
speaks from the throne Is the voice of the
people, and s'vox populi' IN Canada, as
much as In the United States, 10 ''vog Del