The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-05
John Bright.


II viii crafty every loyal American TO
know that that great English Orstor and
statesman, that foremost friend of human
liberty everywhere, that unfinching cham
piOn, in its darkest hours, of the Union
cause, JOHN BRIGHT, is soon to become the
guest of the United States. He visits ibis
country at the Invitation of President
johnson, who has placed the national
frigAte, Colorado, at his disposal. He will
be welcomed to our shores with an enthu-
sisstic unsnimity for which the history of
the country affords but one para lel-the
greeting which America extended to her
champion Of the sword, the gallant La
fsyette. John Bright the man of peace,
has not indeed, earned the gratitude of
the nation by martial service under her
flag, but by his unfinching and unfailing
and powerful advocacy Of republican iDsti-
buttons and Of the cause of the Union
and Liberty, during the dark days OF our
struggle for national existence, he has done
more to deserve the greeting which will be
proffered to him than Lafayette, or Roch-
ambeau, or De Kslb, or Steuben. Like
those heroes he was our friend when all
the world was against us, he maintained
the justice of our cause when its failure
seemed Inevitable, and, even when his own
faith in our success failed him, he never
ceased to declare that our struggle was
holy and that it ought to succeed. He
early recognized the fact that the fate Of
-l---U " OHIseu Otabes Ous
ultimately throughout the world, Was wrap
ped up in this conflict and he threw all the
energy and devotion of his freedom-loving
soulinto the scale in favor of Liberty. As a
manufacturer and q Lancashire man his
interests were imperilled by the war, and
he might have followed the hnlL
of his class in efforts 70 close 1t
by recognizing the independence of the
South, but, d~isdsining such mercensry con-
siderations, he declared aft all other
tongues are silent, mine shall speak for
that policy which gives hope to the bonds
men of the South, and which tends to gen.
erous thoughts and generous deeds
between the two great nations which speak
the English language, and from their origin
are alike entitled to the English name
He begged the working men of London
not TO 'give the hand of fellowship to the
worst foes of freedom the world has ever
,eer," and so bring down a curse upon
thsir cause, (which no after penitence can
ever lift from it"
Suck is John Bright and such has
bean his devoted championship of oul
interests. He has suusruu III our suner.
ings, and it is well that he car
in our triumph. 1t is well
tbss he can now visit the country
rights he has so bravely defended
and whose institutions he SO greatly ad.
that he should join with US in ou1
rejoicings over q land redeemed, a race
emancipsted, a nation regenersted, and
that he should receive the thanks of the
rendered to him, IS they will be, by
the country st large and by men of every
shade of political belief. 1t is fitting, toe
at this period tn our history, that the
presence of a man like John Bright shotld
remind US that there are men in England
who have always been our friends, and
thst whatever msyhave been the course Of
the ~aristocrstie and time.serving govern.
ment of Great Britain, the great hesrt o.
its people has always beat in unison with
tho principles for which we fought