The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-24 00:00:00

(Applause.) Mr. Cobden was elected by the bur-

gesses of St. Michael's Ward a member of the Coun-
cil at the first municipal election in 1838, and in a
day or two after was elected by the Council one of
the first aldermen of Manchester, and held that office
for some time after ; and he took his seat in Parlia-
ment as member for Stockport when he was an
alderman in the City Council. Though, from death
and other causes, there was but one gentleman (Mr.
Alderman Willert) left who was one of the first
councillors, the Corporation entertained a great re-
spect for the memory of a man to whom they were
so much indebted for services rendered to the town.
(Applause.) To himself that ceremony had more
than ordinary interest. Exactly 21 years ago he pre-
sented, ou behalf of the working men of Manchester,
an address to Mr. Cobden encouraging him in his
labours for corn-law repeal. That was the first
public act of his life ; and now
,he was by virtue of
his office appointed to receive, on behalf of his
fellow-citizens, that monument to the memory of
the same distinguished man. He thanked the sub-
scribers for that valued gift. It should be cherished
as a sacred inheritance ; the whole community
would be its guardians. ( kpplause.) The inte-
rest felt by the people of Manchester on the
question of free trade was for some years of
the most intense character. Thousands flocked
to the Free-trade Hall whenever it was
announced that the great leaders of the movement
were to speak. How well many of them recollected
those stirring tittles when they listened to the speeches
of Mr. Cobden, cleat, logical, and convincing, saga-
cious and far-seeing in their application and ten-
dency. When the history of Manchester came to be
written, no name would figure more honourably, and
none so prominently during those years of municipal
and commercial reform as the name of Richard
Cobden. (Cheers.) But the name and fame of Cob-
den were not confined to Manchester. His great and
memorable services in the cause of free trade had
made for him a world-wide reputation, and there
was not an individual in these islands who had not
benefited by the labours of Cobden. Some of the
men on that platform fought the battle against
monopoly and prejudice, and to them the honour
was due ; but Mr. Cobden was their acknowledged
leader ; he was entitled to, and received the largest
share of the credit attaching to success, but as he
was earnest and unselfish in the cause, so was he
modest and unaffected in the hour of triumph, and
continued to be honoured and trusted by the people
in whose service he had spent his life. (Cheers.) The
site given by the corporation for the erection of the
statue was in the very heart of the commerce of the
city ; from the new Exchange it would be a promi-
nent object, and would be pointed to with pride as
a tribute to the memory of a fellow citizen whose
great abilities, untiring energy, and practical states-
manship enabled him to confer inestimable benefits
on his country, benefits only equalled in their im-
portance and value by the disinterestedness with
which they were accomplished. (Cheers.) The statue,
which was the work of Mr. Marshall Wood, a native
of Manchester, was a beautiful and faithful repre-
sentation of the great free trader. The likeness was
good, and the attitude characteristic. None who
knew him would fail to recognise it; its beauty and
simplicity harmonised with the character of the man
whose memory it was intended to perpetuate.
(Cheers.) On behalf of the city and corporation he
again thanked the committee and subscribers for
their highly esteemed gift. The town would be
gratified in possessing so pleasing a memento of a
man whose name was so intimately associated with
much that the people of Manchester had reason to
be proud of. (Applause.)
Mr. T. BAZLEY, M.P., proposed a vote of thanks
to the committee. He said that Mr. Cobden was an
advancing man ; he was in advance of the age in
which he lived, and he (Mr. Bazley) trusted that his
statue would be a continual mentor to teach what
good had been done by perseverance and goDd com-
mon sense, and by those other attributes possessed
by Mr. Cobden, and which were within the reach of
every man. He looked on Mr. Cobden as the great
benefactor of the age, and his reward was in the
luxury of having learned to do good.
Mr. it. GLADSTONE, of Liverpool, seconded the
motion. He said that he saw before him a banner
ou which was inscribed the names of " Cobden,
Bright, and Gladstone." He considered it to be
one of the greatest honours that could be conferred
on the family of which he was a member to be asso-
ciated with two such distinguished men. (Applause.)
Though Manchester scarcely held the political posi-
tion that it occupied years ago, he wished that some
of the feeling that he still saw exhibited in this city
could be transferred to Liverpool. He regretted the
present divided condition of the Liberal party, and
the insincerity of many of its professed members.
He wished that Liverpool possessed a Mr. Bazley,
but unfortunately the people there were not their
own masters ; and till they had manhood suffrage
and vote by ballot it would be vain of any commu-
nity such as theirs to attempt to boast of freedom.
(Applause.)
Brief addresses were also delivered by Mr. Jacob
Bright, Mr. Hugh Mason, and Mr. J. B. Jeffery, of
Liverpool.
Mr. JEFFERY said he hoped that on the first oc-
cm:ion the electors of Manchester would show Mr.
James that he was no more their representative.
He should rejoice in Manchester again becoming
worthy of the name of the " Manchester school."
The political position of the city was once lcoked up
to as a guide to other towns ; he was sorry that was
not the case now to the extent that it had been.
The motion was adopted, and on the proposal of
Mr. Alderman HEYWOOD, seconded by Dr. J.
WATTS, a vote of thanks was passed to the Mayor
for presiding.