The Express.
London, England, 1859-04-14 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 14, 1869.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

MR. BRIGHT AT ROCHDALE.

Last night Mr. Bright, M.P., addressed a large
audience in the rub Rochdale, on behalf of Mr.
Cobden, who is a cuidklate for the representation of that
borough in parliament. A resolution having been moved,
seconded, and carried with soclametbn that Mr. Cobden was
a fit sad proper pence to represent Rochdale In parliament,
Mr. Bright, who was loudly cheered, after a few introduc-
toty observation', proceeded to give • brief sketch of Mr.
Cobden's career. Ile mid he (Mr. Cobdea) was one of
themselves, and that it wee quite likely that his insotetry were
seated in one of our English counties at the time of the Nor-
man conquest, bat be zever boasted that three aecestors wale
over here with the Conqueror. (Laughter.) He (Mr.
Cobden) begas by agitating the anti-own law ques-
tion, and they knew what bad been the result. When Mr.
Cobden was first sent to parliament, there wee necessarily,
owing to his fame as an agitator, tome snsiety in the house
to hear what be hod got to say. On the occasion upon
which he made his first speech, he (Mr. Blight) woe in the
gallery of the bees% not then being a member of parliament,
sad Aiwa is eft by the side of a gentleman, Mr. Hone r
Twin, who the. wrote a sessesary of the debate for the
Tian newspaper. The &Jed of Mr. Cobden's
speech was the cone laws, end after he bed
dose, he remembered that Mr. Horace Teri. said.
there Is nothing is kiss, hip is only shaker, and has no harm
fa MM. (Laughter.) This better became a great person in
the homes, so greet that in ISO Loed J. Russell, who sae
than about to form an adminiallstion, wrote to him and
offered him a seat in bie cabinet. Mr. Cobden, however, did
not accept the offer, and went abroad. When abroad be dis-
covered what was rotten in all the governments to Estop,
and what necessitated their most ready and most menacing
armaments. They would remember how much of
what he said of theme armaments was ridiculed by
them knowing scribes who knew the pest, but were
not able to furetel what is to coma (Laughter and cheers.)
With regard t, armaments and fleets, the nations of Europe
foryeare past had been playing the game of beggar my
wishbone. (Chan.) Weil, what was the result now
Why, we taw between tines and four millions in Europe
thaws from their occupation and private life, and armed with
weepers to make war upon each other, At this moment the
state of things upon the continent yea such that we feared
that every flash of the electric wire would brier; us
intelli-
gene* that the a' orm had burst, end that the plains and val-
leys of Italy were deluged with blood. With regard to
the question of reform, they knew well how far Mr.
Cobden went, and that his programme was the raw as his
(Mr. Bright'.). (Cheers.) With regard to Lord J. Smell
he brought the question of reform before the house year after
bar, when nom but himself sincerely advocated it. He
(Lord John) bed then shown a reel sympathy for reform,
although he was not born down here, but in the ducal
pekoe. They must therefore mats an allowance for his
sbortcominge, if he did not parch at the speed they
c Add wish. The bon. gentleman then spoke of Mr. Cob-
den's visit to ea United States, which be said wee mainly
on his own private business; end he concluded by saying
that, although he should give Lord John Rumall's bill a
favourable consideration, he (Mr. Bright) had not given up
the thought of bringing in, at some future day, his own, if he
were again returned to parliament.