The weekly union record., 1865-04-29
Richard Golden.

A recent telegram announces the death Of
Richard Golden, the celebrated English poll
ticisn and reforner, and the earnest friend of
the American Union. Golden was born in
1904. Of humble parentsge and had few edG-
cational advantages excep. such as be derived
from a practical induction into commercial
business, through the kindness OF an uncle in
London, who took him in charge ST sn early
year after the death Of his father. As com
mercial traveller for the house of this relative
be visited Egypt, Turkey and Greece, in 1854.
and the United States in 1885. Possessed of
great natural ability, strong power Of cbsesvs-
tion aud reflection, liberal cas-, Of mind and
Z philanthropic nature. he was able, with the aid
of extensive reading. to acquire vast fund Of
information bearing directly upon lne affairs
Of active life, and took keen interest 10 all
public measures. While in the United States
he studied our institutions carefully, and laid
the foundations Of that intelligent appreciation
which made him, IN their time of peril, eloquent
I friend and defender against the hostility OF the
aristocratic and wealthy classes of his country
men. He became largely interested in the
cotton printing business, and was a successful
manufacturer. In 1885, he helped TO establish
/ the Atheuaum Of Manchester and delivered
I the opening address. At about the same time
! be 6rst appeared as an author, and published
some of the results of bis observations in
/ America 10 a pamphlet upon the subject of
manufactures In 1887, he made first and
unsuccessful attempt to gain scat in Parlia-
ment, and subsequently made tour OF the
continent. In 1889, be began his long and
finally successful agitation for the repeal Of the
odious cornaws, which discouraged BY heavy
taxes, the Importation of breadstuffs into Eng
land. He was one of the leaders in establishing
the famous anti corn law league. In lS4l, he
was elected TO Parliament from the borough of
Stockport. His wide practical knowledge,
especially in matters relating to trade and
commerce, bis positive opinions and oratorical
ability soon gave him leading position in the
House of Commons He continued, with in.
creased zeal, his efforts for the repeal of the
corn-laws, speaking with great effect on the
subject in Parliament and before the people in
most of the counties in England. The admin
istraton itself, under Sir Robert Peel, finally
favored the free trade policy, and the duties on
the importation of corn were repealed in 1876.
The operation Of this measure, by reducing the
price of breadstuffs and increasing their inpor-
tation in seasons of scarcity, was greatly bene-
fetal to the poorer classes, aud did not have
the effect apprehended by its opponents of dis
coursging and decreasing the home production. /
Sir Robert Peel acknowledged that its success
was mainly due to Mr.. Golden, and the latter /
was subsequently presented with a national
testimonial of $3.50, GOO, which enabled him TO
retire from his business and purchase the
ancient homestead Of his family near Mudhurst. |
He made another tour of the Continent in /
lS46-'7 and during his absence was reelected /
member of Parliament. This time, he repre-
sented the West Riding of New Yorkshire. (
and continued to represent it until 1856 I, when I
be was rejected on account of bis vote OF cen |
sure upon Lord Palmerston for entering into
the war with China. He was opposed to war
on principle believing it 10 be crime and
folly, a foe to progress, an afliicton and burden I
upon the people, and oftener the instrument of
personal ambition than the unavoidable defense
of nations honor and rights. As an active
member of the Peace Society he wrote and
spoke against war in much the same spirit as
did William Lloyd Garrison in the United
States, advocating the propriety and practica
bility of submitting all international disputes
to arbitration. He would have had England,
like America, avoid all entangliDg foreign ALI
auces. and he consistently opposed the late
Russian war. He earnestly advocated so ex- !
tension of the franchise and reform in the !
system of Parliamentary representation, and
often alluded TO the United States for examples /
to sustain his argument. His great popularity
secured his return to Parliament in year or
two, and continued him a member until the
time of his death. Within the last few years
he secured the negotiation of new commercial
treaty with France, which has greatly faci /
tated and increased trade between the two
countries, and resulted in much benefit to Eng /
land Since the outbreak of the American
rebellion he has been the firm friend of the
Union, and has labored with pen and tongue to
set our cause right before the English people, /
and to prevent foreign Intervention. One of
the big trees of Calaveras bears mar BILE tablet
inscribed with Cobdens name, and the fact
shows that even in the remote communities of
the Pacific, the sturdy English reformer and
champion of popular rights is sgratefully known /
and remembered. The work he began in Eng
land will not die with him. His labors for the
elevation Of the people and the extension of
political privileges, will be continued BY the
ardent liberals at whose head now stands John
Bright The reforms they sought may not be /
achieved rapidly, but they are certain; for
England is truly the nation that Tennyson
describes her:
a land of just and old renown,
Where freedom broadens slowly down,
From precedent to precedent"