Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-28
Wonderful Life Work.

whlcn the sons developed
John Bright's earnestne,s, common sens
estimate of every question, aud his msrAe
fscuit, Tor impre ssing the common peopl
with hOmelH arguments have been wi1el
sltribu ed to his Quaker training and sim
pllcity of early mani ers. He was in par
educated at Ackw orth. a well known Friend.
school, aud later went to school at \ ork ant
at Newton. In February, 1927, when IA lit
tie more than fifteen years old, he entere,
his fathers business, but was already $,
much interested in public affairs that in 50,
he began 10 speak at temperance meeting
near ROchlale, His earnest speeches wer,
written out and committed TO memory.
| When the question of national education
came before the public in 1885, Mr. Brigh
| took warm interest in the movement al,
was first brought into contact with Richart
Golden of Manchester, Up to the time OF
Cobden's death, in 1865, the great free-tradt
leader had no more enthusiastic ally thar
John Bright Bright was the orator of the
free trade cause; he was master of Sax N
English.
AT first the work of Bright and Golden
was directed TO the extension of primary ed
ucation. la ls4l, at Cobden's invitation
Bright entered the struggle against the Corn
Laws, which first brought him prominently
before the public. He attacked the problem
on moral rather than on political grounds.
In lSi3 he was nominated for Parliament as
representative of Durham. and though at
first defeated, he vas elected al a second
contest after his opponent had been unseated
for bribery. On the 7th of August, lst3.
John Bright delivered his first speech in
Parliament. Mr.. Bright was largely instru-
mental in winning over Sir Robert Peel and
securing the abolition of the Corn Laws
Mr.. Brights next work was in opposition TO
movement upon behalf of operatives in
factories proposing TO fix the legal day i
work at ten hours.
Mr.. Bright shared with Golden the abhor-
renee of war which led to the Peace Con-
gresses of that time. He also opposed the
demand for increased armaments which fol
lowed the coup d'efdt of 1852 in France.
When England driflel into war with Russia
Mr.. Bright opposed the government anl his
own constituents, and in 1855 he made some
memorable speeches against the conlinuan e
of the war. In 1886 he retired from Par.
lament but was returned by Bir,u, CHAM in
August, 1851 The bill for the abolition of
the East India Company and the transfer of
the government of India to the Crown had
long been suggested by Mr.. Bright, and was
introduced in that year.
While actively at work in favor of the er-
tension of the franchise, the civil var in this
country divided England. John Brigh, was
conspicuous in support of the Union. though
his own business and that of the whole cot.
ton manufacturing districts suffered terribly
At banquet given in December, 1861
to Mr.. Bright in recognition of his services
he also spoke as follows concerning the
great contest "Ho~, rely upon it, that
wherever Christianity lives and flourishes
there must grow up from it. ueoessarily, a
conscience hostile to auy oppression and to
any wrong; and, therefore, from the hour
when the United States Constitution was
formed, so long as il left there this great
evil-then comparatively small, but now SO
great-it left there seed of that which an
American statesman has so happily described
as that 'irrepressible conflict Of which now
the whole world is witness 1t has heen q
common thing for men disposed 10 carp al
the United States to point TO this blot upon
their fair fame and to compare it with the
boasted declaration of freedom in their De-
clsratiOn of independence. But We must
rec0ileet who sowed this seed of trouble
and how and by whom it has been cherished.
At this very moment then there are millions
10 the United States who personally or
whose immediate parents, have at one time
been citizens of this country. They have
found home in the far west
They have subdued the wilderness; they
met with plenty thee which was not afford
ed them IN their 0en country and they have
become a great people. Now, whether tn
union will be r stored or not, or the south
achieve an unh onored indie pendence or no,
| know not, and predict nat Bu, this
think | knp~ - thaf in few years, a VERY
few yeafs the wenty million of free men il
the north will be thirty million or even fifty
million-s population equal to or exceeding
that of this kingdom. When that time comes
pray that it NAV OF be -ai among them
that in the darkest hour of their country
| trials, England. the land of Il cir fathers
| looked on with icy cOldnt.s and saw un
moved the perls and ealsmities of theil
children. As for me, | have but this tc
say; | am but one in this audience. and bu
one in the citzenship of this country; but il
all other tongues are silence1 mine shal
speak for that policy which gives hope TO tht
| bondsman of she south, and which tends 4
! generous thoughts and generous words snC
| generous deeds between the $50 great ma
tons who speak the English language, an,
from their origin are alike entitled to the
| English name"
| After the close of the war Mr. Bright re
turned to his labors on behalf of extending
the franchise In December, 1868. Mr.
| Bright became president of the bard o
trade. under Mr.. Gladstone, and proved u
| be less of fire brand in office than lis op
ponents had predicted. In 1870, i'll healtl
compelled him to resign his post. In Az
gust, 1873, Mr. Bright was appointed chan
cellor of the duchy of Lanes ster. which pos
he held until the defeat Of the Glahst0n,
party in the following year, He again be
came a member Of Mr. Gla1stone's cabine
in 1880. but resigned in 1882
The separation of John Bright from tn
bulk Of the Liberal party on the Irish cues
tion 10 the only noid mt in his career vhc
really dimmed its splendor Almost from hi
| entrance into the House Of Commons he mad
himself the outspoken and uncompromisin
chsmdion Of Irish wrongs. He boldly Just
fed, or at all events excused Irish turbu
lence and disorder, In view of the cruel an
| oppressive character of the landlavs, an
the existence Of an alien church establish
ment. at a time when the Irish Catholics ha
in the House of Commons few or no otbe
defenders. He vas one of Mr.. Gladstone
most vigorous ana eUectINe supporter
disestsblishing the Anglican Church IN l172
and he sss equally .taunch in assisting i
the passage Of the Land Acts Of 1870 an
1881. But further than this he was not pre-
pared to go. With the Irish national de
he never appears to have had much symps
thy.
He finally became completely ALLEVIATE
from the Irish and proved one of the mo.
powerful and even turbulent opponents Q
Glsdsione's scheme Of Home Rule. His il
ritability under the criticism which his abar
donmeni of his old friends excited sometime
led him into utterances of such inconsisten nc
a. to give color to the charge that he ha
! changed his earlier political opinions; b,
the general disposition of Englishmen hs
been TO remember only the great service
had rendered to the Liberal cause in ,t
days of his vigor and 10 set down his latte
day alterations to age and i'll health.
Notes.
Sculptor Bruce Joy has taken a cast
Bf shts face
Only personal friends will be admitted