The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-21
THREE ENGLISH EVENTS.
The Tribute to John Bright at the
End of Twenty-Five Years Service.
Tho Agitation for Repeal of the Law Against
Marriage with the Sister of a Deoeas-
ed Wife-The Dynamite Trials.
orrespondence of the Indianapolis Journal

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal
LONDON, June eli no change OF pro-
gramme occurs, Monday the 18th of June,
will be in the nature of a red-letter day in
this country, for there will transpire on that
day three events which will command the
attention of the whole nation, and in all of
which, moreover, other nations will feel an
interest, particularly the United States. One
Of these events will be the tribute which Bir
mingham will pay to John Bright in COM
memoraton of his twenty-ffth year of serv-
ice to that town as its representative in Par
lament A monster procession will open
the festivities aud after garden party, and
great banquet in the town hall, with the
most magnificent display of fireworks the
midland counties have ever beheld for the
delectation of tine masses, the affair will cul-
inmate on the third day in a grand public
meeting at which presentations of various
kinds will be made to Mr. Bright. including
his own portrait painted by Mr.. Frank
Holl, r. A, a splendid dessert service of oxi-
died silver which has cost s., 000 and last,
though not least in the sentiments of esteem
and affection they will express, large num-
Der of the kind of testimonials in which En-
glish enthusiasm is always so prolific, viz:
eulogistic addresses from societies. guilds,
corporations, etc. With the datails of this
celeb ration the American people will not
much concern themselves, but with the OBJ
ject of it, which is to do honor TO a great and
good man, they will feel a sympathy
scarcely less intense than that which will
throb in the breasts of all liberty-loving
Engishmen. Considering the lively and in
telligent interest which Mr.. Bright has al
ways taken in American affairs, especially
during the civil war there is a marked ap-
propriateness in the contemplated participa-
ton in these festivities of the American Min
lister, and it is earnestly hoped nothing will
occur to prevent Mr.. Lowell from being pres
ent.
Mr.. Brights chief services in Parliament
have been in connection with such measures
of reform as free trade the repeal of the
corn laws the abolition of slavery the puri-
fcation of the Indian service and the extern
sion of the franchise. Such a statement as
this however represents but small part of
his life work, for his voice and influence
have been given to many other causes.
Agreeably with his Quaker proclivities he
has always advocated peace between nations,
and has been a constant and at times bitter
opponent to the established church. His con-
tempt for royalty was very marked in his
early career, and the Queen for long time
entertained great dislike for him. But the
splendid character of the man softened her
animosity, and, in fact changed it to admit
ration, SO that now it is an open secret that
Mr.. Bright is one of her Maj
esty's favorites. How much this
change in the Queen has had to do
in modifying the views and tempering the
criticism of her whilom adversary it would
be difficult to determine, but that such
change has really taken place is unqueston-
able. The royal family have hold on the
affections of the English people viii ch is con-
stantly strengthening, and as for constitu-
tional monarchy restricting the liberties of
Its subjects, that notion has been exploded
SO far as the English government is concern
ed long ago. Possibly Mr. Bright perceived
the destiny OF events and as the mountain
would not come to Mohammed, he concluded
to adopt the other alternative. In other
matters, however, the great reformer has had
the pleasure of seeing the mountains give
way, for from having been, in regard to
some of his cherished views, in an apparent
1y hopeless minority, he has stood his
ground until the mass of his countrymen
have planted themselves on the same plat
form, and has thus. on more than one occa-
sion, become the adored leader of majorities,
most of whom formerly almost despSed him.
So goes the whirligig of timel Twenty years
ago there was not to all appearances, in the
entire arena of British politics, a man less
likely to ever fill cabinet position than John
Bright, and one who should have predicted
that such a thing would come to pass
would have been regarded as a dreamer of
absurdities, doubtless by even Mr.. Bright
himself. Since then, however, he has been
several times one of her Majesty's ministers,
and has several times, without detrment to
his availability for ministerial timber, re-
signed this place of power.
MR.. BRIGHTs RANK AS A STATESMAN
Considered as statesman, Mr.. Bright must
be given rank by the side OF Mr.. Gladstone
though he has not shown the practical quail
ties which distinguish the latter, and has not,
therefore, rendered his country nearly as
much hard service in the routine work of
putting reforms into operation. As an ora
tor he is the superior of Gladstone, whether
in Parliament or before the people, for the
Prime Minister commits the fault, for which
q great American statesman is notorious, of
taxing the comprehension of his hearers
with lengthy sentences, whereas the man
whom Birmingham delights to honor chops
up his ideas into well-sized, clean-cut express
sions, whose meaning sparkles on their sur
face, and which carry conviction alike to the
thoughtful aud the thoughtless. In their
popularity with the masses, these two men
are excelled by no other two in the
country-perhaps by none in the whole
world. Gladstone is THE Peoples William"
and Bright has long been called The Peo-
Piles Tribune" and both have earned these
soubriquets in the most honorable manner.
They have resorted to none of the tricks of