Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-02-03
W
Not An Oni.,-S Seeker.

An English correspondent writes
as follows To the New York Mcrcan-
tile Journal
returning to roccnt political events
in this country, the acceptance of
office 10y Mr.. Erightis Is generally con
slutrcd as the commencement of ::
new political era. 1t appears that
he Was with great difficulty pcrsuad-
eel to assume the responsibilities OF
Official life. | am informed that when
NT. Gladstone received her Males
~ : commands to form a new minis
try, Mr.. Bright was one OF the first
whom ne invited 10 become :: meni-
- vl iafo cabinet. TIC great tOHI-
mOner, who was then in \ Ork shire
returned a prompt answer TO the in
vItation, acknowledging the compii-
ment thus paid him, but positively
declining the honor The Premier
then induced the mem beF from Rirm-
in.ham To favor him with "A personal
interview, for which purpose Mr..
Bright proceeded to London. where
thc tender of Office was again made
and declined rs before, Mr.. BRIGHT
having, rs he believed, cogent reas-
Ous for not accepting office. lie
freely stated " hat these reasons were
ip WI 'alttStolt-, w no. III tbIiitJ.tt-
ting them, advanced still more pow
erful arguments To- prove that il was
the houndcn duty of his friend to
take an active part in the govern
mcnt of the country. What follow
eel is thus described by gentleman,
who was present at this, now histo-
rical, interview:
"AS the discussion proceeded, it
gradually lostitS conversational tone,
and assumed the character of a formal
debate. Warming with the subject, ,
each of the two great orators stroVc
to give force to his views bY bringing
into play all those cIOcutionarS gifts
with which both of these eminent
men are 50 abundantly endowed.
Among other things, Mr.. Bright
urged that he had an objection to the
receipt of public money, and that, as
he had hitherto served his country
I gratuitously, he would prefer To do
so still. He further urged, that the
acceptance of office might possibly
place him in an uncomfortable and
restrained position, and that hc felt
/ that he could render more efficient
aid to the new Government as an in
I dependent supporter than as one OF
/ lis members. Mr.. Gladstone replied
I ~ st SUI i'el'S4ii-i CIV IL II IL " va
Mr.. Bright's career, pointing out
/ that many of the principles which he
I had cspouSed had come To he recog-
/ nized as the true policy of Govern
ment. Mr.. Gladstone further con
+ tended that an oppOrtunity was now
! afforded Mr.. Bright to give effect to
his views a a member of the Gov
/ ernmcnt, and with al the force Ofhis
I eloquencc, the Premier urge! that ii
was the duty of Mr.. Bright not 10
shrink rom Il responsibility which
I the acceptance of Office would east
upon him The discussion lasted
/ from eight o'clock in the evening
until two in the morning, and at last
Mr.. Bright yielded chiefly infiu-
enced, no doubt, by the strength 0t
the arguments advanced by Mr.
I Gladstone, but also sWaycd, it may
he imagined,l by that powerful per
. sonai charm which the new Premier
exercises over all with whom hc i
brought in contact"
Such is the story of the mode il
which John Bright became a minis
ter of Queen Victoria, and as ii is
probably, without parallel IN the his
tory of cabinet making, | think i
will be read with a good deal of. in
terest by many of my fcIlow-Cit1Zen
+ Throughout the United States.