The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-12-30
FREMONT SANDUSKY COUNTY OHIO; FRIDAY DECEMBER 80 1870
The Resingnation Of John Bright

When John Bright, the Radical,
entered the British cabinet, and be-
came one of her Majesty's ministers,
the circumstance was noted, and
Justly, as marking a new era Of pro-
gress. Mr.. Bright has been for years
the avowed and principal Chamion in
in Parliament of the. poorer clas-
ses, the disfranched, and the leading
advocate of popular suffrage, the
ballot, and those other reforms in
the science of government which
pave the waY so directly for a Re
public. He was equally noted, dur
ing our late war for the Union for
the earnestness, constancy and abili-
ty with which he stood up for the
United States in England, through
all that dark and terrible struggle.
His coming into the cabinet was a
recognition of extreme Liberalism
which marked the great advance of
England since the days of 1910. His
resignation, which is announced by
cable dispatches, will not, it is to be
hoped, be taken as a retrogade step.
Itis probably occasioned by his in
creasing i'll health, and not by any
political differences with his collea-
CUES or, if there have been diaicul-
ties, they are certainly not upon
those questions of reform of which
Mr.. Bright has been the distinguish
ed and special advocate.
The public career of John Bright
has been marked by two very silent
eharacteristics-his devotion to the
cause Of the people, and his stern op-
position, derived from the Quaker
sect in which he was bred, to war.
But his main work and his main use
fulness has been as the Peoples
champion. As long ago as 1880
when the Reform agitation was con
vulsing England, Mr.. Bright was an
eloquent advocate of the people
But he first came prominently be-
fore the public in connection with
Mr.. Golden as a leading member ol
the Corn Law League, and the two
together, more than any others, may
lie said to have secured the success
of that great measure. He was moi
less successful in his advocacy O
English free trade-the two grea
concessions to popular demands
which commenced that undermining
of patrician ascendancy which ha
since been steadily going on. Il
the interval between that period anC
the present, Mr.. Bright has eve
steadily been found insisting on tn,
Increased political power of the mas
ses. And he has always been sub
stantially successful. He has livet
to see, in a great measure through
his own exertions, the balance o
political power taken from a privil
eyed class and transferred to th,
bulk of the people. the "rotten Dor
ough" system has been exploded
and something practically approach
ing universal suffrage, at least in tn
centres ofpopulation, has been re
cognized.
/ But any sketch of the work o
John Bright, from an American pen
which failed to emphasize his stead
fast faith in and championship ofth
cause of the Union during the rebel
lion, would be incomplete and IN
grateful. John Bright recognized at
glance the identity Of the cause t.
which he had given his life, and tina
for which the loyal people of thil
country were struggling. He saw
in our victory the triumph Of Liber
ty everywhere; in our defeat a seri-
Gus check to its progress. His sd
vocacy Of the Union was powerful
as well as zeolous, and he was able
to do good service to our cause.
Ifthe news of Mr.. Bright's failing
health is correct, his retirement from
the ministry also involves his retire
ment from public life. He has nov
nearly reached the scriptural limit
oflife, he has spent forty years il
active and useful service, and he has
not only won from the English peo
pie, but from lovers of liberty owe
all the world, the commendatiOn
"Well done, good and faithful serv
ami" ClerelGnd Leader.