THE AUSTRALIAN MESSAGE.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12159, 6 February 1908, Page 3

THE AUSTRALIAN MESSAGE.

SCENE IN THE SENATE. Received Feb. 6, 12.15 a.m. Melbourne, Feb. o. In the Senate the President announced tbat the Governor General, at the request of the Ministers, had sent a cable in reference to the as sassination in Portugal. Senator Stewart asked if the Governor had, in the name of the people of Australia, sent a message expressing abhorrence and indignation at the death of a King who had disso v- J ed his Parliament, had usurped despotic power, and bad taxed his subjests by decree. ■ ■ President interposed tbat ne could not aUow such a question. j Mr Stewart endeavoured to speak, j but the President cheoked-him. Another senator asked the terms of the mesage. The President: $ 'That the people of Australia desire to express their deepest sympathy with tbe widowed Queen, and abhorrence of tbe crime of last Saturday. " j Mr Stewart: *" What right have you to espress "sympathy with the death of a monster like that?" After some disorder Mr Stewart managed to ask whether the Govern? ment could send a message of sympathy in the name of the people of Australia to the people of Portugal whose rights had been grossly outraged. The President said the Government had no such intention. Mr Stewart: "You are the friends of tyrants.