The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-02-05
JOHN BRIGHT'S SYMPATHY FOR
AMERICA.

leans is his eloquent and effectual defense
of us during the trying period of the
Rebellion. 1t must not be forgotten how
| dark our cause often looked even to our
selves, and it is easy to conceive how
much darker it must have looked to our
friends in Europe. But during the whole
of that long period Mr.. Bright never
faltered in his words of advocacy and
encouragement. We cannot forget that
in the very depth and crisis of our strug-
gle he nsed such words as these:
81 cannot believe, for my part, that
such fate will befall such fair land,
stricken though it now is with the ravages
of war. / cannot believe that civilization,
in its journey with the sun, will sink into
endless night in order to crafty the am
bition of the leaders of this revolt. who
seek to wade through slaughter to a
throne, and shut the gates Of mercy on
mankind / have another and far
brighter vision before my gaze. 1t may
be but vision; but will cherish it. l
see one people, and one language, and
one law, and one faith, and over all that
wide continent, the home of freedom,
and refuge for the oppressed of every
cline.
One cause, indeed, Of the unpopularity
Of Mr.. Bright and Golden in England
was their undisguised friendship for and
faith in this country; they were contin-
ually tainted with a desire to American
ize English institutions. Jokes at their
expense on this point were very common
in the press and in Parliament. Thus
once in the House of Commons, when
Golden had spoken of "Rule Britannia"
as the creed of the Conservatives, Mr..
Disraei replied by saying that, while the
House might not be over partial to the
strains of the British pecan, it could
hardly be expected to encore yankee
Doodle" But Mr.. Bright reaped in the
end the reward of that sagacity and
fidelity which he exhibited upon the
question OF our great struggle. The
liberal party of England owed its long
lease of power, after 1868, more to the
triumph OF the Union than to any other
couse. Such, at least, is the opinion of
many of the leaders of that party.
Mr.. Bright is, before ali, an orator.
What his capacities are as an admins
traitor, the world has not had much
means of judging, though there can be
little doubt that they are excellent. But.
as an orator, he stands unquestionably
among the two or three first which Eng
land has produced in this generation
His style combines energy and elegance
to high degree. In his eloquence dig
nifty is united to the simplicity and
naturalness of conversation. His genius
is expressed in his person. He has the
nervous and sensitive features OF the
born speaker. The tones of his voice,
even IN conversation, attract and fascin-
ate. A gentleman, himself distinguished
literary man, who once lunched with
him, told the writer that, on this occa-
sion, Mr.. Bright repeated stanza from
Whittier with such expression that it
seemed to him, as he said, s'the finest
thing he had ever heard" The qualities
which most strike one in meeting Mr..
Bright are his simplicity and gentleness.
Within the past few months he has taken
a more leading part in public affairs than
it has been his custom to do of late
years. For some time past his health
has not permitted him to be very active,
and we imagine that his disposition does
not lead him to prefer, for its own sake,
the excitement of a public career. He
seems to have little ambition, and he is
certainly averse to Office. He has reason
tie be abundantly satisfied with that posi-
ton in the respect and affection of his
own country, and we may add, of this,
which his genius, his patriotism, his
high character, and his great services
have won.