From a Photograph] [by Valentine & Sons, Dundee.
THE ROYAL PROCESSION ON JUBILEE DAY PASSING HYDE PARK CORNER.
[CHAPTER XVII.]
1887–1897.
Adoption of the Closure by the House of Commons—The Queen’s Jubilee—Thanksgiving Service in Westminster Abbey—The Imperial Institute—“Parnellism and Crime”—Appointment of Special Commission of Judges—Their Report—Fall of Parnell—Disruption of the Irish Party—Deaths of Parnell and W. H. Smith—The Baring Crisis—The Local Government Bill—Establishment of County Councils—Free Education—Death of the Duke of Clarence—General Election—Mr. Gladstone’s Fourth Midlothian Campaign—The Newcastle Programme—Victory of Home Rulers—The Second Home Rule Bill—Its Rejection by the Lords—Parish Councils and Employers’ Liability Acts—Mr. Gladstone Resigns the Leadership—Lord Rosebery becomes Prime Minister—Disunion of Ministerialists—Defeat and Resignation of the Government—Lord Salisbury’s Third Administration—General Election—Unionist Triumph—The Eastern Question—Massacres in Armenia—Lord Rosebery Resigns the Leadership—Trouble in the Transvaal—Dr. Jameson’s Raid—The German Emperor’s Message—The Venezuelan Dispute—President Cleveland’s Message.
THE session of 1887 was an exceedingly laborious one in the House of Commons. The debate on the Address, prolonged by all the arts of obstruction to inordinate length, furnished a convincing argument that further changes in the rules of procedure were indispensable if the House were to retain any control whatever over its own business, and these rules, including that regulating the application of the closure, were remodelled and adopted after long and heated discussion.
In pleasing contrast to the heat and rancour of proceedings within the walls of Parliament were those organised throughout the country to celebrate the completion of the fiftieth year of Queen Victoria’s reign. |The Queen’s Jubilee.| The weather throughout the summer months was of exceptional splendour, as if to give emphasis to the popular term “Queen’s weather.” London lay for weeks under a cloudless sky, and no day in the year was more perfect than Jubilee Day, June 21. |Thanksgiving Service in Westminster Abbey.| On that morning the Queen went in procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey to attend a thanksgiving service, accompanied by a number of European monarchs, princes, and distinguished persons, as well as by many Indian potentates, gorgeously attired in many-coloured silks and jewels. Temporary galleries, fitted up in the abbey church, afforded seats for peers and members of Parliament and officers of the Army, Navy, and Civil Service, and, as the wearing of uniforms was obligatory, the display of bright colour was such as may very seldom be seen in Great Britain. The coronation chair was set on a daïs covered with red cloth, between the sacrarium and the choir, and here the Queen took her seat with the robes of state placed on her shoulders while the service, which lasted just an hour, was performed.