The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-16
How M. Bri9b, seeame "a Minister.
From the Liverpool Ne. tury.l

The public have been informed by Mr.. Bright
himself that it was with reluctance he accepted
office, and that at last he consented only in conse-
quence of the great pressure brought 10 bear
upon him. few particulars concerning the
character of this ''pressUre" and the mode OF its
application have come TO our knowledge, which
the public will be interested to learn. When
Mr.. Gladstone received her maJestys commands
TO form ministry-conveyed we may say, in the
most gracious terms aud in the most cordial man.
ner-one of those with whom the right honorable
gentleman first communicated was Nc. Bright,
requesting that he would take Office in the new
government. Mr.. Bright, who was not in London
al the time, returned answer IN which he &C
BnOwledged the compliment paid him by Mr.
Gladstone, but positively declined to become
member OF the new ministry. lt was subsequently
arranged that personal conference should take
place. and Mr.. Bright proceeded to London for
that purpose. At the interview the tender of
Office was again made and again declined.
Mr. Bright does not belong to the class OF men
who, like coy maidens, refuse consent in order
that they may be pressed TO yield. He had eyi-
deDtly made up his mind not to act in an of1olal
capacity, and was not TO be moved from his pur-
pose by eny ordinary pressure. A discussion
commenced Mr.. Bright stating his reasons for not
accepting office, and Mr.. Gladstone combating
these objections, and advancing arguments In sup
port of the view that 1t was the duty OF the men,
ber for Birmingham to take an active part in the
government of the country. AS the discussion pro-
ceeded it gradually lost its conversational tone,
and assumed the character of formal debate, In
which the two greatest orators OF the day were
the friendly disputants. Warming with the sub
iect each strove TO give force to his views by
bringing into play all those charms OF diction, OF
elocutiOn, aud of gesture with which both are
abundaDtly gifted; and we can readily believe the
statement OF the few who were privileged to wit
ness this remarkable intellectual encounter that
il surpassed the finest orstorical displays re-
| Gently witnessed in the House of Parliament. Mr.
Bright urged. among other things, we understand.
| that he had objection TO the receipt OF
public money; that he had served the
| country hitherto without reward, and would
prefer TO continue TO do SO; that the acceptance
| of Office might possibly place him in an uncom-
| Portable and restrained position and that he be-
| lieved he could render more efficient aid to Mr..
| GladstODe's government, as an Independent SUP
porter, than a member OF the Cabinet. To
these objections Mr.. Gladstone replied by mas
| terIy review Of Mr.. Brights career, pointing out
| that many of the principles which he had espoused
| had come TO be recognized as the true and legit-
| nate policy of government. The opportunity,
Mr.. Gladstone further contended, was now aford-
ed Mr.. Bright TO give effect to his views as mem-
| ber Of the government, aud with all the force OF
! bis eoquence, the premier urged that 1t was the
| duty of Mr.. Bright not to shrink from a responsi-
by which the acceptance OF office would cast
| upon him. The discussion lasted from o'clock
| in the evening until O'Clock in the morning, and
at last Mr.. Bright yielded-chiefy influenced, no
doubt, by the strength OF the arguments advanced
| by Mr. Gladstone, but also swayed, it may be i'm.
| agined by that powerful personal charm which
| the new premier exercises over all with whom
be is brought in contact. Such is the story of the
mode in which Mr.. Bright became minister. and
IT is probably without parallel in the history Of
forming Cabinets.