Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-04-25
ThA Late Richard Cabden.

AT a time when the heart OF the American
neople wa, less profoundly moved with sorrow
than at this moment, the death Of Richard Cob
den would be mourned as national bereavement.
Ia him England has lost one of her best and
gsest statesmen, Amenci her frmest and most
influential European friend. Other men have
read our history as truly and have sympathlzsd as
heartily in our trials, but no man in England
spoke for u. with such weight as Mr.. Cobden.
There is more z low and fervor in the speeches
Of John Bright but he has had much less iniiu-
ence with his countrymen than Golden, though
the sharor Of all bis opin ms.
Ia the light of history Richard Golden will be
regarded as the foremost Engshmsn OF his time.
England may not. yet be ready to admit II, out
the time is not far distant when such will be the
verdict, not only OF Engtshmen, but OF the
world. lie was the representative man OF the
whole race which governs England now from
her workshops and her marts Of commerce, with
| out casting many votes in her arstocratic parla-
menl BY and by it will have more votes and
iieer speech but at present It must be content 10
rule through the instincts OF the Il easury bench
| In form, the Engfsh government is evidently feu-
dal, aristocaat and exclusive; but IN substance
it ia popular, flexible, commercial.
| No country lays its traditions more remorse-
| essly on the alter OF selfinterest than Great
Britain. All the sympsthes OF the governing
class we're with the land owners and protsctionists,
and against the manufactures and free traders,
n the struggle for repeating the corn laws, but
| the necessities OF the exchtquer and the lnexor-
able logic Of self interest won q speedy victory
| for the democratic side.
Richard Golden was the apostle Of Manchester.
lie came into parliament in 1887, as representa-
tive Of the manufacturing borough OF Stockport,
and was one Of the earliest acvocates OF free
trade. The anti-corn law league, which agitated
England out OF a professional into free trade
policy, was IN great measure Of his creation.
Never in the history Of commercial politics was
so complete and signal victory won, and that IN
the main by private men, acting on and through
constituencies hardly represented In parliament.
From that day Richard Golden was power, not
admitted TO a social equality with the technically
nober classes much sueered at then, and always
as cotton lord" brt not to be ignored or
counted out in any future arrangement OF parties
ln 1859, being at the time IN this country no
was selected by Lord Pailmerston as cabinet
minister. To the regret OF all his friends on
this side Of the water, he declined the seat. HIS
political principles we're probably not flexible
enough to carry him always into the same lobby
with the easy golrg premier
The second great public &C Of his life was tho
negociaton Of the French treaty, contaminated
three or four years ago. This most important
commercial measure was almost wholly tie work
of two unofficial persons, Michael Chevaier on
the part Of France, and Richard Golden on the
part Of England. Each was implicitly trusted on
the part Of the government, and they met n'or-
mally in Paris and elaborated the treaty, asd
turned il over TO their soverigns completed
work.
Mr.. Golden WAS several times in America, the
last lime in 1850. lie had soma interest 10 the
illinois central railroad, and he was intimately
known to many Of our public and business men.
Ae studied our country both politically and com
mercialy Politically he judged US IRON the
elevated standpoint Of an enlightened popul'r re-
former, and all its instincts and influence were on
t e side Of free mea and free labor, OF popular
education and popular government, CONNER
ciaIly, he looked at US IS an EnglIshman. with a
judgment warped by habit aud the life long study
OF the peculiar interests OF his country. he
knew that free trade h,d made Eng land rich he
knew the adoption Of it IN the Uui,sd States
would make her richer; and he persusded him
self that our well being would also be promoted,
lie was loo honest to wiliully defend fssehood,
but te was too in,ular to comprehend the posi-
ton OF nations, whose interests we're antagonistie
to those Of his own country Springfield hs-
publican.