THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1899. OPENING OF THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 33, 9 February 1899, Page 4

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1899. OPENING OF THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

To colonial observers the most striking feature of the Speech from the Throne in the British Parliament is the prominence always given to Foreign and Imperial topics. With us, politics are almost exclusively domestic, and it is somewhat difficult to obtain even a back place for such subjects as a Pacific cable, or our commercial relations with a Federated Australia. In the United Kingdom, on the other hand, the attention of the Legislature is mainly directed to relations with other countries' and with other portions of the Empire. Extended politics, transoceanic trade, the development of China, the civilisation of the Soudan, and the condition of India and the colonies, loom large in the eyes of Home politicians, and, if our legislators err from a tendency to excessive parochialism, the Imperial Parliament seems at times to unduly subordinate internal reforms to questions of world-policy. The enormous responsibities entailed by an Empire such as ours no doubt demand the most serious attention of statesmen, but there is a danger lest too much care be devoted to the outside world, and too little to the social abuses in the Motherland itself. This characteristic of Imperial politics is reflected clearly in the Queen's Speech, which was summarised in our cable columns yesterday, and in the speeches of the Party leaders published to-day. The Egyptian campaign naturally occupies a foremost position. The Royal Message pointedly states that the Sirdar's signal victory at Omdurman has led to the settlement of the Soudan question, while Lord Salisbury, dots the "i's" and crosses the 't's" of this declaration by significantly announcing that the Soudan is held by title of conquest. This can only mean that the British have seized the Soudan, and for the present at least, mean to hold it against all comers. It is small wonder, therefore, that the Imperial Premier at a later period of his speech should have admitted that the causes of war still existed, although he did not believe that war • itself was so imminent as during the recess. France is necessarily aggrieved at the Anglo-Egyp-tian successes, and the internal affairs of that country still make it a menace to international peace. Mr. A. J. Balfour, it is satisfactory to observe, is more sanguine than his uncle, and he sees no reason why peace with France should not be permanent. Sir Henry Campbell-Ban-nerman, the newly chosen Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, also expressed his belief in the manifest improvement of Anglo-French relations. A still more convincing proof that the extreme tension is now over is to be found in the fact that the Imperial Government does not propose to make any increase in the army or navy. Although the Queen's Speech appears to have re-fen-ed in no more than general terms to the pacific relations of Great Britain with other Powers, Lord Salisbury spoke freely of the Anglo - German agreement, and hinted that it would make for peace. The agreement is probably for some specific objects, such as the relations of the signatory Powers in Africa and in Syria, and no doubt carries with it no general obligations, such as the Triple Alliance imposes upon its members. There seems to have been no mention of the Far East in the Speech itself, but Lord Salisbury stated, apparently with reason, that Great Britain had gained in China as much as other Powers, but that the future development of that Empire would prove a severe strain upon Britain's financial resources. This is a point of view that deserves to be taken into account by those who clamour against the investment of foreign capital in China. The rest of the foreign . matter, in the Speech was mainly formal, and threw no direct light upon the future policy of Her Majesty's Government. As for the. domestic legislation shadowed forth, The Times styles the Government programme colourless, and predicts a "tame and tranquil" session. Judging from the Bills it is proposed to introduce this criticism is not without foundation, but it must be remembered that The Times is preeminently the organ of the comparatively well-to-do trading and landed classes, and when it terms the Government progi'amme "colourless" it probably means merely that it is not aggressively Conservative. The amount of legislation promised is not large, but such as it is it is of a distinctly progressive type. The only argument of importance that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman has been able to advance against the programme is its omission of Bills dealing with overcrowded dwellings and with old age pensions. Mr. BalfQur - intimated that the Government would legislate before the close of this Parliament for the aged poor, but it is obvious from previous utterances of Cabinet Ministers that the present Government is rather chary of attacking such a serious problem as that presented by old age pensions. From the new Liberal leader's attitude it would seem that his. future policy would largely be one of social reform, and since the present Ministry has also embarked upon a similar course Aye may before long find the two great parties in the Imperial Parliament racing hard for the first place in ameliorating the condition of the poor. The chief measures proposed in the Queen's Speech — the amendment of the municipal government of London, the organisation of secondary education, and the provision of facilities to enable workmen to purchase their own dwellings — were all under discussion last session, and, indeed, Bills dealing with these subjects were actually introduced. With regard to London, it is proposed to elevate certain Parish Councils to the dignity of Municipal Councils, with Mayors and other officers, and so in a measure to decentralise the work of the London County Council. Secondary education is in a very unsystematic state and badly needs reform, but it will prove a difficult task for the Government to effect changes in old educational institutions. Among other measures proposed is the creation of an Agricultural Department for Ireland. This should prove a boon to Irish peasant farmers, and if properly conducted might make the agricultural industries of the country as successful as they ought to be. from its natural resources,