NEWS BY MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11367, 9 May 1900, Page 7

NEWS BY MAIL.

THE QUEEN'S ENTRY INTO DUBLIN.

TEN MILES OF CHEERING- CROWDS. The Queen, amid a roar of welcome from tho thousands gathered on the wharf at Kingstown on April 4, after a lapse of 40 years, set foot on Irish soil for tho fourth time, and drove to the Vice-regal Lodge, Dublin, through a roll of cheers which never for a moment ceased or slackened throughout tho 10 miles of route.

Never before has Her Majesty met with such a loyal and magnificent recaption. It was as great as the Jubilee for enthusiasm, and more wonderful even than Her Majesty's recent visit to London for depth and warmth of feeling.

Tho Queen had brought her weather with her. The day dawned gloriously, as it should. tt The sun came up over the Black Hill to Howth, and a fresh wind chased the clouds westward over the mountains of Wicklow. Out in the bay the dark blue water told of the wind's strength, and even in the harbour tho little waves were flecked with foam. From eight o'clock onwards life in Kingstown grow and grew. Tho huge crowds had a brilliant setting. Countless scarlet poles were linked together with swings of bunting. The whole air scorned full of colour, and looking upwards the blue sky was speckled with thousands of little fluttering flags. In tho distance one could hear bands playing, the tunofl coming up gustily against the wind. Now and then one could pee scarlet coats and sunlit bayonets wriggling through the crowds upon the hill, as tho troops marched to their positions. At halfpast ten the guard of honour, 500 strong, and composed half of marine artillery and marine infantry, swung down the wharf behind their gaily-playing bands, and a few minutes later a second guard of honour, consisting of bluejackets drawn from the vessels of tho Channel Fleet, marched on to the green to join them.

Just before eleven o'clock the special train bringing the Duko of Connaught and tho vice-regal party, came down the siding. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught, tho two princesses, and Prince Arthur, walked down to tho pavilion with Lord and Lady Cadogan, and stayed there till tho Queen came ashore.

Just before Her Majesty came ashoro she asked for a spray of shamrock. There was none on board, but some was sent for. This tho Queen pinned to the front of hor gown. Directly afterwards the Royal party landed, and the carriages were formed up. AH wero drawn by four horses, and the postilions wore the blue and scarlet Jubilee uniforms. In the first carriage wero Lord Denbigh, Sir Fleetwood Edwards, and Sir James Roid. In tho next were tho Countess of Antrim, the Hon. Harriot Phipps, and Sir Matthew White Ridley. Next came the Duchess of Connaught, Prince Arthur, and the young princesses, end then the Queen, with Princoss Christian and Princess Beatrice. The moment Her Majesty appeared the bauds struck up the National Anthem, and tho crowd took up the strain. Then the Kingstown Urban District Council presented a loyal address, bidding Her Majesty welcome to Ireland. Her Majesty the Queen said:--"I am very pleased to find myself in Ireland once again,' while the Home Secretary handed to tho chairman a written reply, in tho following terms: — "I thank von for your loyal and dutiful address, and for tho warm welcome with whioh you have greeted mo on setting foot again on Irish soil. , . " I receive with heartfelt satisfaction your assurance of devotion and of affection towards me. lam looking forward with much pleasure to my visit to this part of my dominions. " I pray that Cod may bless Ireland with increasing welfare and prosperity." The bands once moro played the National Anthem, and the cavalcade started. The people on the stands on the wharf burst into a cheer, and the Queen turned, with a bow and a smile. Beyond the gates there wero thousands on thousands banked up upon tho hill. When tho Queen's carriage came slowly into view, arid Her Majesty was in tho arms of her Irish subjects, with the Duke of Connaught riding by her side, there came crisp and clear, as though 50,0'00 people had settled it among themselves, " Hip, hip, hip I'' followed by a cheer, which rose and swelled like a long peal of thunder. It was absolutely spontaneous; absolutely uniform. But it was only tho beginning. It roso and rolled on, sweeping everything before it. No English crowd could have cheered with the whole-hearted enthusiasm, the utter abandon, the wild delight of that great concourse. So it was along the whole route. At Leeson-street Bridge the principal ceremony of the day occurred. Here a representation of the old city gates had been put up, and a very fine effect of solidity and picturesque dignity had been obtained. On a huge stand were gathered the members of the corporation and their friends, with the Lord Mayor at their head, in scarlet and sable.

Intimation having been received that the Queen was well on her way, Ulster ordered the gates to be shut to keep Athlone Pursuivant outside the city until the time came for his ceremonial admission.

This was duly roiio through, and then, in bright sunshine, the Queen arrived. The band of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers played the National Anthem, and everybody joined in singing with fervour. Bringing the 10 heavy, great, rust-eaten keys of the city on the green cushion, which was ornamented with a shamrock pattern, the Lord Mayor said : " I humbly tendci to Your Majesty tho keys of the ancient city of Dublin."

The Queen merely touched the keys, and directed the Lord Mayor to resume charge of them, and thon the Lord Mayor took the sword, saying to the Queen: " I also humbly tender to Your Majesty tho civic sword." The presentation was mado with tho Lord Mayor kneeling, holding the weapon horizontally, the hilt towards the Queen and tho point towards himself. It used to bo not unusual for a Sovereign on such occasions to take tho opportunity of knighting the Lord Mayor. Tho precedent was, however, departed from in 1849, and the kneeling liege yesterday wan still an esquire when he rose. From the Lady Mayoress the Queon accpted a bouquet. It was made of lilies of the valley, white and damask roses, and asparagus ferns, arranged in a handsome silver basket.

The reading of the address oi welcome from tho municipality followed, and thon came the Queen's reply, which was as follows : —

" I thank yon heartily foi the loyal welcome and good wishes which you have tendered to me on behalt ot yourself and fellow citizens on my arrival in tho ancient capital of my Irish dominions. " I come to this fair country to seek change and rest :n<\ to revisit scenes which recall to my mind, among thoughts of the losses which years must bring, the heartiest recollections of the warm-hearted welcome given to my beloved husband and children. "I am deeply gratified that I have been able at this time to revisit tho motherland of those brave sons who have recently borne themselves in defence ot my Grown and Empire with a cheerful valour as conspic ms as ever in their glorious past. " I pray thai the Almighty may eve. .dess and protect you in the high functions which you exercise for the benefit of yom fellow citizens."

There was cheer upon cheer during this speech, and many ladies were affected to tears, so transparently did the personal references to tho Queen's own sorrows show the words 1c be her own, and not the mere graceful periods ot a Minister or a secretary. The Queen had overnight particularly asked to he furnished with a parade state, a toblo showing the strength, commands, and so on of tho troops on duty, and Her Majesty had requested that the names of the regiments should be recorded thereon in tho ordei in which sho would moot thorn.

This parade state had lxien printed in green on a gilt-edged card, and it was noticed that Her Majesty had it with hoi in tho earriago and frequently referred to it to noto wiiat contingent of hor brave soldiers would next come within hot purview. The 21sl Lancers looked very smart in thoir new uniforms, and they had their share of the cheering yesterday, for Omdurman vas remembered without (lie aid of the Soudan medals most of thorn wore.

In Fitzwilliam-strcot the girls of the Drummond School _ for Soldiers' Orphans, conspicuous in their .ed oloaks and hats trimmed with rod, white, and blue, managed to attract the Queen's glance by the- vigour with which they waved thoir little Union Jacks and yelled with excitement, and it is safe to say they will novcr forget their Sovereign's gracious bow. At Collogo Groon tho Trinity graduates mado a special demonstration, ( and all tho way to the Vioo-rogal Lodge it was cheer upon choor, and crash upon crash of shouts of wolcomo. _ . „ On inquiry at Dublin Castle it was officially stated that the Queen had borne tho journey to Dublin well, that slio was in good health, and that she ha/1 been dooply impressed by the enthusiasm of tho Irish people. , In reply to a talegram of inquiry, Sir Arthur Bicco sent the following message to the Lord Mayor of London i— •■ "I am commanded to thank you; Lordship and the citizens of London for their kjpd inquiries, and to add'that tho Queen is , not

over-fatigued after Her Majesty's most enthusiastic reception to-day." Dublin can remember nothing more- brilliant 11 "the illuminations. , Every building, from the Castle to the meanest house along the a°rth "Wall, was illuminated. fne Castle- looked like an enchanted palace. The main gates were outlined in every feature by thousands of tiny lights. Above the main entrance gates a huge transparency, representing the Queen, looked down upon the loyally cheering crowds. The frontage of the Vice-regal Lodge wan also outlined in flame. The banks especially were elaborately decorated, and the pulilio buildings were also brilliantly illuminated. The fireworks were postponed, but crowds watched tho great battleships from Kingstown Pier. One item in the illumination of tho Hoot which especially delighted the crowds was the representation of a gigantic shamrock hung between the masts of the flagship, Telegrams were despatched to the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke of York, announcing Her Majesty's arrival, and expressing her gratification of her reception. The Queen also intimated to the military authorities how pleased she was with the admirable arrangements. There had not been a single untoward incident.

T".i Phoenix Park the school children assembled in thousands, in stands erected in the shape of pens, which, in the interest of safety, prevented more than 200 crowding togother. All kinds of popular airs wero played by the bands before tho arrival of tho procession, but in no single instanco was the " Wearing of tho Green " heard.

LORD ROSEBERY ON THE LNITY OP

THE EMPIRE.

Lord Rosebcry made another important speeoh in Edinburgh on April 4, at the annual meeting of the Scottish Unity of the Ihnpiro Association.

The question of the unity of the Empire, said Lord Rosehery, had taken a broader and more rapid stride within six months than it could bo said to have taken within the whole of our preceding historv. (Cheers.) He thought that those who did not glory and rejoieo in our Empire were now a small and, if ho did not fear to bo offensive, ho would say a comparatively insignificant minority. The fundamental qualities of this Empire, of which we spoke so loudly, and which wo had so much at heart, were that it, was free, unaggressive, and tolerant. (Cheers.) He believed that could be said of no other Empire under the sun. (Cheers.) Whore in any other Empire Would wo find such freedomfreedom, in the first place, of trade, and freedom in the next place of tho individual? Where else would we find sjicli universal toleration, such, a refuge for tho persecuted and afflicted in other lands, .such broad and wise toleration of nil churches and all «ects ? And where again would we find an Empire which was so essentially unaggressive? The war in South Africa was not a war of aggression. (Cheers.) Who was it, Lord Roselwry proee.edod, who declared war in this instance ? Into what State was it that the ultimatum was sent, and what is a groat State to do when it receives an ultimatum from another State ? (Hear, hoar.) We have had in this war to sustain and ward of? aggression. Wo have not been the aggressors. (Cheers.) Wo have, in all conscience, enough of tho world's surface. Wo do not wish, so far as I know, to increase by an aero, or even by a rood, the territorial extent of our Empire. What we do wish is to maintain and consolidate that Empire which we have. (Cheers.) I know at this moment (His Lordship proceeded) that our Empire is regarded with great jealousy, and even with great dislike, throughout the earth. It is vain to shut your oyes to these things, and those who are cognisant of the spirit which inspires not the Governments but the nations of large parts of Europe—tho great majority of the countries of Europe— fool, without charges of panio or pessimism being brought a.pinst them, that our country cannot bo too prepared for ovory emergency—(cheers)—when it has so large an army abroad. (Cheers.) My view of tho situation is this, that while the Empire is at war in South Africa, that is only one of her interests, and that she should not allow her other interests spread'all over tho world to bo weakened in any way, or' to be neglected in any way, by the fact that other countries believe that you have hoth you■fists tied up in South Africa. (Cheers.) We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that our Empire is an object of suspicion, jealousy, and hatred of the great mass of nations of Europe at this moment. I think it is an un instructed mass. I think if thoy knew the merits of the dispute better than they do; I think if their press was not so uniformly biassed, they would come to a different conclusion. (Cheers.) But I often wonder when I read those fiery articles against Great Britain, proposing a league to stamp this pestilential country off the face of tho globe—a leaguo which could be much more easily planned than executed—(laughter)—what would the world gain by the extinction or obliteration of Great Britain ? Have shoy ever realised what that country is to the world— when tho balance hangs between peace and war, the interest and the policy of Great Britain always cause ita weight to be thrown in the balance of peace ? (Cheers.) Havo thoy realised what the free trade of the Empire means to their merchants ? Why, we know in how many parts of the world, partly owing to our free trade, partly owing to our gonerous encouragement of othor nations, their commerce is beginning to push ours out; but in any case a country like ours, whioh depends for its prosperity on peace and on commerce, is an ehment in the universe at large that not our most arrogant enemies could afford to eliminate. (Cheors.) But we on our side cannot afford to rest on moral aphorisms or tho logio of evonts. We have to bo ready and to be prepared. We havo already borno great sacrifices for the Empire, but are willing to boar greater still. Wo are ready to do all that in us lies to promote the unity of the Empire, to strengthen that Empire, and wo in this association shall watch and foster and encourage every symptom, hopeful and encouraging, from any quarter that it may come, which may justify us in hoping that before long we may see tho Empiro united not merely in sontiment, but in constitution and in fact. (Loud cheers.) THE ATTEMPT TO SHOOT THE f'RINCE OF WALES.

The story of the dastardly attempt on the lifo of the Prince of Wales is told by the Brussels stationmastcr, who, in an interview with tho Morning Post correspondent, says: -"Tho Vienna train-do-lroco, to which tho Prince of Wales' saloon was attached, arrived at the station at 4.46. During the shunting operations necessary for attaching tho saloon to the train for Cologne, which was due to leavo at 5.15, the Prince alighted on tho platform with two mombors of his suite, and engaged in conversation with them. No special police arrangements had been ordered, but several inspectors were pre-. sent on duty. No particular incident occurred during this period of waiting, the prosenco of the Prince appearing to pass unnoticed by tho many passengers on the platform. When tho shunting of the Royal saloon had been completed, the Prince ro-enterod it with tho members of his suite. I had just given tho signal for the departure of the train when I heard the report of a revolvor, followed by the breaking of glass, and I saw a young man standing on the step of tho Royal saloon and brandishing a revolver. I rushed at him, together with several other persons, and at (ho same timo gave the order to stop the train. A short struggle took place, ending in the assailant falling bock into our arms. At the same moment, howovoi, he fired a second shot. Tho excitement which followed was naturally intense. Everybody was anxious to know if the Prince had been injured. His Royal Highness, however, at once appeared at the doorway of the saloon, and asked for particulars of the affair, which I hastened to give him. The Prince's only reply was 'Pouvro foul* and ho mado this remark without the least apparent emotion. Then, at the Prince's request, tho train resumed its journey. Tho young assailant wat immediately taken under strong guard into one of the oflicoi, and shortly afterwards magistrates arrived and proceeded to interrogate him. Sipido (for that is the assailant's name) appeared to be a respectable and intelligent young man. In reply tc the questions submitted to hiin ho said: 'I wanted to rid the world of one of the authors of the crimes in tho Transvaal. I liavo done my duty. I regret nothing.' It was not boliovcd that he war. an Anarchist, but that he had been greatly excited by a public mooting at which ho was present.' Tho Patriot* says that tho examination of Hie prisoner, which lasted from seven o'clock to eleven, elicited tho fact that tho crime was preinoditnted. Sipido, it appears, was instigated by a person unknown, on whoso advico ho bought a revolvci at the Old Market last Sunday, paying three francs for it. He went to Tuesday's meeting at tho Flemish Theatre with this' unknown person, and afterwards visited tho Maison do. Peuple, where ho had a drink. Finally, ho went to tho St. Gilles publio-houso and wrote a letter to inform his parents that he had obtained tho situation lie was after. On Wednesday, after making inouiries at tho Nord Station respecting tho time of the arrival of the Royal train, ho left the station and entered a cafo in tho vicinity. Ho loaded his revolver in tho lavatory. Sipido refused to divulge the namo of his mysterious companion. The latter, ho said, was a young man, but some years oldor than himself. Sipido was consigned to gaol at midnight. An hour previously tlv magistrates called upon his paronts at their home. According to the Etoile Beige, Sipido spoko to the following effect regarding the motivo of his crime:~" I have foil for a long time past that the ambitions of the men who, by lotting war

loose, were sacrificing'so many human lives, i deserved to be punished/ and that these men, I should suffer from the lex talionis. "lien l saw in the newspapers that the Prince ot j Wales was going to pass through Brussels 1 at ones decided to make myself the avenger of humanity and kill this assassin. Last Sunday I went to the Old Market and bought a second-hand Lefaueheux revolver and some cartridges. I wag absolutely determined to carry out my plan, and I regret not having accomplished it as I intended." Ilia magistrates are said to have remarked on the incoherent character of Sipido's replies to the questions put to him, and to bo convinced that he was not speaking the whole truth, and desired to screen someone else. Sipido was present during Wednesday afternoon at the sitting of the Chamber of Representatives. When he reached the station ho asked the first person he met where the Princo of Wales was, and the Prince was pointed out to lum. His Royal Highness was just taking his seat in the carriage. A servant handed him some tea, and Sipido waited until the servant hud gone before rushing forward to the carriage. The magistrates do not bolicvo all the statements made by the prisoner, and are taking stops to verify them. The warrant issued by the police charges the prisoner with attempted assassination. People in Brussels at night could talk ci nothing else but tho attempt on tho Prince of Wales' life. It was the solo topic of discussion in the streets and at the restaurants and other public- places. Expressions of indignation and regret were heard on all sides, coupled with satisfaction that the assailant had failed in his purpose. As soon as King Leopold was. informed of what had taken place His Majesty sent a telegram to Queen Victoria in Dublin reputing what had occurred, and reassuring Ecr Majesty as to tho safety of tho Princo of Wales. The King also telegraphed to the Prince of Wales expressing tho utmost regret for tho outrage, which had been attempt ofi,and his heartiest congratulations upon the Prince's happy escape. The news of the outrage was. received everywhere in tho British Isles with the profoundest expression of sympathy and regret, and when communicated at Marlborough He use it created a feeling of tho deepest pain. Tho Kaiser, directly he heard of the attempt on tho Prince of Wales at Brussels, wrote with his own hand a telegram to Copenhagen, congratulating the Prince on hi? escape. King Humbert has telegraphed fro Princo of Wales congratulating him upon bis escape. Tho Queen of tho Netherlands charged her Equorry to express, in her name, to Sir Henry Howard, the British Minister, her congratulations upon the failure of the attempt to assassinate the Princo of Wales. The Minister immediately telegraphed Her Majesty's congatulations to Queen Victoria. President Ix)nl)et and M. Deleave both sent sympathetic messages to Lord Salisbury for conveyance to the Prince of Wales, expressing their gratitude at his having escaped