Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1900 — PARLIAMENT IN SESSION. [ARTICLE]

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

England’s Law Makers Convene for a Memorable Meeting. ! s The British Parliament assembled Tuesday for a session which will prove memoaible in Britain’s history. The mepibers gathered at Westminster at an early hour. Speaker William Court Gully arrived at the House of Commons on time, and there was a large attendance of members. Before the opening of the session there was the usual inspection of the vaults for gunpowder, which formality hns been observed since the days of Guy Fawkes. Queen Victoria’s address gives no hint of a desire for the war’s end. She expresses grief over the great losses sustained, speaks of her pride for bravery of British soldiers'and asks more* money for continuance of the conflict. Not since the Crimean war has Parliament met under similar circumstances. Not since the days of Parnell has there been as much excitement attending its assembling. There was bungling in the Crimean war, and for it the Aberdeen ministry was overthrown. There has been bungling in South Africa now, but unless signs fail the present ministry will stick out if it h'as to elect a new Parliament to do it. The Liberals found themselves stronger than since Gladstone’s retirement, and, a correspondent asserts, if they had a leader knee high to Gladstone they could seize the opportunity. Rosebery would be the man. but he believes by waiting longer lie will get all he wants without fighting for it, so he remains in half retirement. Campbell-Bannermnn is only an amiable figurehead. Sir Edward Grey is too young. Sir Charles Dilke was mixed in a scandal some time ago, and the nonconformists who are the backbone of the Liberal party won’t walk on the same side of the street with him. It is Dilke, however, who will openly try to overthrow the Salisbury ministry. His resolution is couched in moderate terms. Bannerman, Asquith and Fowler are expected to support it on national grounds disavowing partisan motives and demanding in the name of the country a ministry which will do something. In this way they hope to recruit from disgruntled Tories and Unionists enough to form a hostile majority. Should the attempt succeed, Salisbury will obtain an order of the Queen dissolving Parliament and calling a general election. It would be one of the most exciting elections in recent English history, but the ministry appealing to patriotism apd waving the union jnck would probably win. Should the ministry lose it would immediately resign. The country, however, while indignant at bungling and luck of preparation, is not anxious to swap horses. They are afraid it would be taken to moan that the country was tired of the-war and wanted to quit. The first enthusiasm, it is true, is gone, but except for a few irreconcilable*, the country, while disappointed and chagrined, is by no means ready to quit. It hns its second wind now, and will stand a lot more punishment without wincing.