OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 825, 20 March 1871, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

London, Feb. 19. The Queen opened Parliament to-day. She was greeted with mingled cheers and hisses, the latter predominating. The cheers chiefly were given by Germans. Extraordinary police precautions prevented any disorder.

On the return of members to the House of Commons, Mr Gladstone rose and gave notice of a bill altering religious tests. Card well gave notice of a bill providing for a reorganisation of the army.

Disraeli made remarks on the address and criticised the policy of the Government. He advocated armed neutrality, and a final pacification, which would exclude all germs of hostility. He lamented the inertia of Government last July, when it was able to influence the belligerents, and was severe in his comments on the course which England was made to take in the Black Sea Question. Referring to American topics, he denounced the hostile attitude of Senator Sumner and others towards England, unlike the attitude assumed towards the offier Powers, and recommended it should be encountered with forbearance and contempt; yet a passion might be aroused which could not Easily be allayed, therefore he hoped for a resumption of negotiations for the settlement of all questions between England and America. Meantime, in view of the relations of England with foreign - countries, he opposed the proposed increase of the military forces of the kingdom.

Mr Gladstone made an able speech in support of the Address. He denied there was any need of an armed neutrality last year. To have advised Prussia against the Hohenzcllern candidature was going to the extreme limits of international right to interfere. The neutralization of the Black Sea had lost its importance to England since the Crimean war, and its maintenance had been abandoned by France. He believed England's true policy was non-intervention abroad, and thb study of domestic questions and obligations. He begged the House would not fetter the Government in liberty of action, or doubt for a moment its aim to secure peace with honor and safety to the country. The Address was agreed to, and the House adjourned.