New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-02
MIR BRIGHT.

VINO could nave moved mems hearts to such q
demonstration as that which has 6lied the streets
and balls and thoughts Of Birmingham this week.
Mr.. GLADSTONE. of course, s the other, but neither
in Mr. Gadstones could it have been quito the
Same thing It is Mr.. Bright's political silver
wedding which 10 celebrated this year; his
twenty five years of unbroken parliamentary ser
vice as the representative of Birmingham which
Birmingham now commemoratss. Mr.. Gladstone
during these twenty-five years has wooed and woE
and lost again three separate constituencies, and
sits now for fourth. The continuity Of the rela-
ticns between the great orator and the great city
which is proud to be identified with him. is remark
able enough and deserves in these volatile days ell
the honorable mention that can be bestowed on IT.
But there is. of course, something in these rea-
tions far more remarkable than the mere duration
OF tine. Mr.. Bright in any would have been
great figure in the public life OF England. Bir-
mingham, in any case, would have had an influence
on the course of political events. But Mr.
Bright without Birmingham. or Birmingham with
out Mr.. Bright, would each have lost something
of their authority. Birmingham during the greater
part of this quarter of century would have been
force but an inarticulate force With all her pcwe
of organization with all her political activity, her
courageous thinking. her position Of leadership, 'hs
faculty of speech was denied her. She had 70 sum-
mon Mr.. Bright. not himself Birmingham man. to
be her voice to the of the kingdom She had not
asingls orator who had the ofthe general public
outside her municipal boundaries. Not till Mr..
Chamberlain came tho front would any single
man. except Mr.. Bright, who assumed to express the
wishes of Birmingham have been listened to. Mr.
Bright had colleagues before Mr.. Chamberlain; able
and sincere men, but they would have got no atten-
tion If they had contradlcted him. and it mattered
little if they said ditto to him. He had, therefore,
throughout one long and important portion Of
his splendid career the reinforcement of strength
which accrues to a speaker behind whom lies .
known, definite, powerful and concentrated body
OF public opinion. Scattered over the kingdom. tho
individual units who made up the three or four
hundred Thousand composing the population
Of Birmingham would have been of slight
avail Collected into single municipality.
single Parliamentary borough, and pe iking to all
England with single voice. they have como to DO
known as a centre Of Liberal thought They have
given a name to an energetic section OF the Liberal
party, and they have supported with unfaltering
loyalty the orator between whose ideas and their
own neither they nor anybody else ever dreamed OF
setting up divorce or distinction.
If other people have not fully recognized the mu-
tuality of the obligation between Mr. Bright aud
Birmingham, Mr.. Bright has recognized it over and
over again. He has affirmed it this week in lam
guage beitting the occasion, deficient neither in
cordialty of acknowledgment nor in dignity There
is dignity, is glad to say on both sides. The
people of Birmingham are lot the least AFRAID OF
being charged WITH adulation or servility.
million of them and of their neighbors poured into
the streets to receive the to whom they meant
to do honor They ranged themselves into an ave-
nue. five miles long for him to pass through. They
cheered him as all Englishmen know how to cheer.
They hung their city with Aags. They marched in
procession before him al. the way from the station,
and then filed past him as he stood at
public window A none too friendly chron-
jcler has described the scene having
rather the character of q royal progress than
political welcome. They organized festivals and
entertainments out of doors-gigantic garden par
ties popular concerts balloon ascents. illumina-
tions fireworks. and know not what else. They
gave him his portrait by Holl and silver service;
not to speak of medals aud addresses. They held .
meeting of 20 900 people to hear him once more on
platform. They gave him dinner in the Town Hall.
with Lord Granville, hereditary chief Of those
Wings on whose Liberalism Birmingham has done
most to cast suspicion, to propose his health and
pronounce his euogy. Mr.. Chamberlain, who Is as
much more advanced than Mr.. Bright as Lord Gran
vile is less had delivered the niaht before In
Bingley Hall. a not less admirable tribute Of de-
England delight to honor. Last vf all, Birmng-
ham in its Official capacity welcomed him. Tho
Mayor and Town Council as the authorities of the
municipality and speaking in its name, presented
him fervid address at breakfast Friday IN the
Council House. don't know that the amplitude
and variety Of these 0utp0urings OF grateful well
come could be better indicated than by this dry
enumeration which, long is. omits half the de-
tails it might include.
And yet 80 true is 1t that Birmingham was
through it all mindful of what due 10 herself that
the Birmingham Liberal Association declared in
so many words in its address of congratulaton that
the connection between the borough aud its menu
ber "was one honorable alike to you aud to u.s."
They tell their representative that neither upon
his part theirs has there been shadow of wav-
ering or dlslrust. That is the spirit which ought
to exist on both sides, absolutely free from
shade Of syoOphancy; self-respect gong hand In
hand with respect for others.
The part which the rest of the country took in
this Birmingham demonstration is not the least
striking feature OF the whole business Every con-
siderable journal reported the speeches full That
is not " y wonderful for Mr.. Bright is one Of tho
few men in England to whom for thirty years past
the papers of both parties have been obliged TO give
all the room he cared to take. What is more
derful is the substantial unanimity of tue estimate
they form of his character and services. Here aud
there an exceptionally bitter or exceptionally stu
pid (it comes to much the thing Tory Journal
has seized the occasion to revive some OF the cid
reviLngs with which it was once the fashion to
assail Mr.. Bright That also In its way. Is .
testimony aud tribute. Mr.. Brights services
TO Liberalism conspicuous aud 50 lasting, his
influence has been so damaging to the domination
of the Tory party, that the less generous souls In
that company could not be expected to forgive him.
Perhaps it was hardly to be desired that they
should But taking as q whole what has been said
of him by the nation, it constitutes such body
of magnificent panesy ric few men IN auy age
have earned and fewer still have been permitted 10
hear in their lifetime