The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-17

Richard Golden, M. p, the EngltsH
Radical Ref0rmor.

est democrat, and firm friend Of the people Of the
United States, their government and rights
Mr. Golden died in Suffolk street. London, on Sunday,
the I'd Of April in tho sixty first year Of his age he was
in declining health for few years past and Of late
appearances in Parliament 1t public meetings out
side the house followed BY such bodily prostration
as to seriously impede the discharge Of his public duties
THE immediate cause Of his demise was prolonged
attack Of chronic spasmodc asthma
Richard Golden was a self made man. He was born at
Aidhurs Sussex England in the year 1904 His father
was small farmer In that neighborhood; 90 that the
early years Of the late legislator may be said to have
passed in struggle with poverty and there are few
passages in biography interesting than the account
OF his rise from the homo Of Sussex yeoman and from
the position Of boy in London warehouse, to place
In the British Senate, where he could command his
audience and influence the destiny Of nations Finding
there was no room for HIM in the contracted
sphere Of his native village, Richard left home
when very young and sought out a relative who
was engaged in tho manufacture OF cotton
in Manchester town destined to become the of
his greatest political trumphs He obtained employment
from his kinsman work. the energy tact and
assduty of young Golden speedily began to be felt and
he was promoted to the position Of traveller a. the
class was at that time termed In England, "a bag
man." In the commercial room Of the various hotels
young Golden always q welcome inmate; and there
were few years ago in his native island old ''road
sers who used to speak Familiarity aectionately Of
their old companion, and who recognized his free
arguments urged with much effect in St. Stephens
as having been many wears before empoved after
I in the trade travellers room.
Mr. Cobden like all men of his stamp, pushed his way
upward and secured partnership In a considerable
manufacturing firm and in the effort to extend his bust
he soon after visited the United States and
1empire OF Russia While mainly engaged in commercial
transactions he always kept his open to the broader
questions of the political and social condition of tho
1.-THE United States in their relations with England By a
Manchester Manufacturer contained the Of most
lof those free trade and opinions
/ which were developed by him in his future career
About this period General Peyronnet Thompson and
Mr. Charles Vers, NJ p, called in question the wisdom
Jof the English Corn laws, Mr. Thompson attacking the
3sysem in his 'Corn Law Catechsm, ari Mr. viers
aassang it in the House of Commons The Anti Corn
League organized soon afterwards in Manches
tier Mr. Golden did join the body immed s.ely but
when he did take that step he In conjunction with John
Bright infused vast amount Of fresh life and energy
into it, and, in fact gave the impetus which mainly
enabled il to attain its triumphant issue BY Golden
advice England was divided into districts, subscriptions
were raised lecturers appointed but there is no
question that these lecturers of comparatively little
value as the whole interest centered in the pergnaons
9of Mr.. C0bden Mr.. Bright and other men,
whose exertions at that time wholly disintercsted as
they were present an amount Of labor done and self
probably without parallel outside the religion
After time Mr. Golden sought seat in the House OF
Commons He offered himself for Stockport the dis
; solution which followed the death Of King William in
n 1881 but then defeated In the following dissolu
ton in 1s4, when Lord Melbourne made his appeal to
country In favor Of fixed duty corn, Mr. Golden
Honered himself again. and successful In the House
took evory opportunity Of advocating his peculiar
: vlews and one OF his impassoned speeches led to
singular Soon after Sir Robert Peel came into
power In that Parliament his private secretary, Mr.
4 Drummond ,cas SHIT BY a madman OF the name Of Nc
Naghten, mistake for Sir Roteri himsC The circum.
distance naturally made deep impression Sir Robert
mind and VIII in the OF free trade debate Mr.
HCobden warned the ministers Of the responsibility they
incurred by refusing the free importation
starving people, Sir Robert Peel great
excitement and accused Mr Golden OF melting
snaton The camor that rose hereupon the ordinations
and recminahons the explanations and apologies that
followed may be imagined by those who familiar with
l. the proceedings Of the body.
q In the year 1s46, Ave years after Mr. Golden en-
tered Parliament Sir Robert Peel introduced the bill for
the repeal of the law which is the law Of Eng
= land. Cobden's In every ones mouth and
perhaps the most graceful tribute that paid
public offered TO him by Peel himself when in
reviewing the Of the law agitation and its
success, he said the result mainly due his
efforts nor to the efforts OF any OF his colleagues, but
T. ito the unadorned eloquence Of Richard e. len"
q England was not ungraeful As the contest
was over proposal was made to raise fl0O 900 by
Of subscription In recognition OF the services OF Mr.
Golden, by which 1t well understood his private
affairs had become impaired through his neglect Of them
8Ths proposal warmly taken up and though the
gune anticipatons OF IT'S promoters realized
the sum Of f70 900 raised, with portion Of which
the small property at Mdhurst on which he had worked
when boy purchased for him. while the remainder
invested by Mr. Golden himself in American !way
stock
when Sir Robert Peel went out of Office Lord John
Russell became Premier and in the distribution Of his
Offices 1t understood he offered Mr. Golden some
subordinate ofce-we believe the Vice OF
VI the Board Of Trade-which Mr. Golden declined He
next sent TO Parliament for the Great West Riding
II OIL lorkvn: ms sea. nc retained LOT zen or eleven
ov1'Ing 70 the advocacy OF RADICAL reform
t. .s,S su Deios e"'o Ino power, IN looS ne
showed himself one oil the btterest opponents OF the
Isone' anu ne, IN conjunction Win Mr.
Dnsn' an" Ms ou iIiends Oh the oorn Law League
= threatened revival OF that body and the agitation IL
al ""rkeu. \, -,
Inc wa, WIN RUSSIA whlcn sooh mter followed, FOUND
n IN MI. OoDoen strenuous opponent
when the English Parliament was dissolved in 1851
n ~ consequence OF the vote conoennng pr John BOW
q ing .onu"s IN bringing on ,he Uhineae war hr COD
y den ala not oncr himself TOT the west Riding He be
came candidate ior the Town OF huddersned but was
81 beaten remain hg OUT Oh armament Tor two years
DurinR this per'od tloosl hf. Copden came 10 the
United states on some prVae business when ne PAID
3 VisH 70 the New iork hahALD Once When hr Cooden
n was IN the chteu Staies ms irlehds nominated
D nm TOT the borough OF hochdhe, and returned
Y MN Ior the seat inc Issue Oh tha' election
was unlsoaole 20 ,ne onse.vauve party ana Loru
Mmers,on resumed ounce IN ,he utriDuuon OF places
4 ms orashp avolueu the mistake whlch ms coiicague
Lo,u husee nau ihaue we've OF thirteen years before