Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-21
JOHN BRIGHT.
why Hc Retired from the English
cabinet.

taDlnets
In conversation with Mr.. Bright about
his reported resignation, telegraphs DIR.
Smalley to the Tribune from London, he
said that the true cause of it was the Egyp-
tian policy of the government eliminating
in what Mr.. Bright considers an unjustifia-
bic Use of force in Alexandria. He was
opposed TO sending u fleet to Egypt origin
ally for any political purpose. lie consider~
cd that England had no business 10 interfere
with the internal affairs of Egypt, having no
clioris interest there except in the Sucz canal,
and the canal was never mcnaced by Arab
or anybody else. lie believes that the mas
sacrc on the lth of June was largely
provoked by the presence of the Eng
fish fleet. lie regards the continued
presence of the feet with constant
of-war in a friendly harbor, as in itself
menace and an unfricndly act. The motive
OF sending them, namely, the protection of
English subjects, was a good motive, but
matters were so managed that the fleet be-
came source of danger rather than OF pro-
lection. The true course would have been to
carry away such English subjects us wished
to depart, and then to leave the khedivc and
Arab to settle their own disputes. The Sui
tan, as the sovereign, might properly have
interfcred. Mr.. Bright admits that the res
toration of Turkish authority in Egypt would
have been n misfortune, but England would
not have been responsible, and Europe would
have required adequate guarantees for the
| departure of the Turks when order was re-
stored. He also admits that English inter-
vention would have been beneficial
to Egypt, but he repeats that England
has no business there. When asked to
fix the point where his mind parted compa-
ny with the minds of his colleagues, he replied
that, though unable TO approve the general
course pursued with reference to Egypt he
always hoped they would stop short of the
employment of force. lie ridicued the
notion that the fleet was seriously menaccd
by the forts, aud dwelt strongly on the state
| ment of the Standards correspondent and
one other, that before the bombardmcnt be-
gan, but after the expiration of the time fixed
by Admiral Seymour, the Egyptian authori-
ties offered to dismantle the forts He was
not aware that the statement was officially
confirmed, but should it prove true
he thought that the beginning Of
hostilties, after such an offer, was
Whether this report was true or not, he was
unable to continue as a member of Govern
ment sanctioning the bombardment. When
asked what the fleet should have done after
Admiral Seymour had delivered the ultima
tum and Arab had promised to discontinue
the ornaments and then broke his promise,
he answered that we have as yet heard only
one side of the story, and he seemed inclined
to discredit the evidence that theelcctrlc light
showed that the troops were continuing the
: works. He insisted, however, that these de-
, tails were comparatively unimportant. The
, real cause of his resignation was the
USE of force, which was not defcn-
sibe on moral grounds. For 40 years,
said Mr.. Bright. 81 have told my
countrymen that morals were the true basi.
of politics. have denounced war, and
5 should have been false to my principles had
, become party to war which was begun
, without necessity" He proceeded to cx
press his profound regret at parting from
his colleagues and his chief, and at taking
the step which, as have said, must serious
ly harm the ministry, and, perhaps, will di
vide the Liberal party. lie dcplored it, bu
TO abandon his principles he could not iron
: any regard to the party or any affection TO
1 persons,