The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-04-11

was formed, in 1888, he was made a
member of its council. Soon the Mar
chester Association expanded into the
Anti-Corn Law League, with all Eng
land for its stage, and Mr. Bright was
quickly recognized as standing next to
Mr.. Golden IN the great work thai was
doing. No two men could be more I'M
like in some important respects, Mr.,
Bright being as ardent az Mr.. Golden
was cool. He was all for aggressive
war, and carried it on by series of i'm.
FASHIONED assutS. The league held
meetings all oyer the Empire, and Mr..
Bright was prominent at most Of them.
1t was seen that he was born oratc r,
who moved and swayed the masses: and
it was believed that he would be as ef-
fective in Parliament. In the spring OF
1913 be was put up as a cand date for the
representation of Durham, " here a va.
cancy had occurred, the Parliament then
sitting being but in its second year. He
failed of an election, but, hissOppOnent
having been unseated for bribery, he
contested the place second time in the
following summer, and was chosen. He
took his seat as an Independent tmember,
so far as parties were concerned, hut de
voted TO reform, aud a free trader. he
early distinguished himself in the House
Of Commons as an oppont NOT the game
ws and as a supporter Of cotton cult
va N in India. Soon came The potato
OF crisis, which led to the overthrow Il
ne corn law and to the placing of Eng
Land on The side of free trade. thus re
versing her old policy and position.
T.. Al 81 hat N
elected in 1S47, after the breaking up OF
the Tory party in the consequence Of the
abandonment of protection by Sir R.Peel
Mr.. Bright was chOs en- one Of the mem
bers for Manchester, securing the sup
po-t of all r IDEALS He devoted m
self TO the Irish quesIi, II. as concerned
free trade in land, and he continued tC
agitate the subject of India cotton, and
was appointed one of the select commit.
tee to which that subject was referred
In 1852, when the first Darby Ministry
was in existence, he was again tCted
for Manchester, the free trade question
having been revived in consequence Of
the return of the ToIies to power. His
course In regard to the Russian wal
gave great offence to hiS constituents
aud for time his popularity was shaken
At the election of 1857 he stood lowest
on the poll and lost his seat, but va
cane occurring in the Birmingham rep
resen'a ion he was chosen to ill it. and
h. supported the movement which in
1858 led to the fall of the first Palmer
ton Ministry. He did not support the
second Derby Ministry which wss then
formed, but confined his action gener'
ally to the presenting of measures calcu'
lated TO advance Liberal principles
through their success,
The second Palmerston Ministry wat
formed in 1859, and to that Mr.. Bright
gave his support, though he, like other'
Of the Liberals, was dissatisfied with the
moderation of its course with respect tC
political reform. But Lord Palmerstor
had succeeded in establishing a sort Of
political dictatorship in England. and
nothing could be done in that country
without his consent-and he was ben
upon keeping matters as they were dur
ing his life-and so he kept them; for il
any effort was made by any radca
member o. his party to advance matters
the Tories came to his support, anC
with the aid of the moderate Liberals
in the House of Commons formed {
majority. So firm was the PREMIER
position that all thought Of getting {
new measure of reform through Pdrlia-
ment was virtually given up. SO clever
ly did Lord Pdlmerston play his game
and so completely had he obtained sur.
preme power. that there was every rea
son to suppose his system would endure
for years, and that it would Outlast som,
of the men who were looking forward
to his death, after which event theI
would be able to accomplish something
Lord Palmerston died suddenly il
1865. The Russell-Gladstone Ministry
was formed, and MIR. Bright was fore
most among ITS supporters. 1t was has
ed on an admission that reform wa
nece sary, and bill was agreed upon
This measure was defeated through tn,
action of certain Libe -als, who did no
like Mr.. Gladstone. The Ministry re
signed and the third Derby Ministry wa
formed, Thus Mr.. Bright found him
self one of the leaders of the opposition
and second only to Mr. Gladstone. Tn,
Tory Ministry carried on the Govern
ment with a House of Commons il
which the Liberals had majority, anC
they led the way in passing reform
bill more demOcratic.in its characte
and dttails than that which had beef
prepared. with Mr.. Brighl's approba
tion, by Earl Russell and Mr.. Gladstone
The Irish Church bill was then brough
forward by Mr.. Gladstone, though in
directly, and the House of Common
was pledged TO its support. No maj
was more earnest in support of the new
ecclesiastical policy than Mr.. Brigh
who long had urged that justice SHOULD
be done to Ireland, as well in regard t.
the land question as in regard to tn,
religious questions,
The Parliament of 1S65-6S was dis
charged in 1868, and the election result
ed in the return OF more than an hun
bred Liberal majority to the House o
Commons. The Tory Ministry resigned
and Mr.. Gladstone became Premier. Il
forming his Ministry Mr., Gladstone wa
anxious to obtain The assistance of Mr.
Bright but that gentleman would hav,
preferred unofficial life. He WAS how
ever. prevailed upon to take the plac,
Of President of the Board of Trade
though the choice of Office was at hi
command. In consequences Of i'll heslti
he resigned his place in March, 1871
For a time he was debarred from hi
customary activItyin public sffairs. Al
he rec ,vered his health he delivered oc
casional speeches, marked by all bis ole
power, on establishment, electora
reform, the land question, Il 9 Cover
meut OF India and others Of his favoli,,
topics.
In 1872 Mr. Brightr turned to Parli-
ment, and year later was appointed
Chancellor Of the Duchy Of Lancaster
holding that post until the resignation
of the GIads'one Ministry in 1874. o.
the return of the Liberals 10 power il
1880, Mr.. Is light again became Cbancel
lor of the Duchy, bur, two years after
ward, taking the ground that he coul,
not support his colleagues in their Egyp
tian policy (which had led TO the bonn
bardment Of Alexandria, he resignet
his Office and retired from the Cabine,
Since then Mr.. Bright has seldom spnke
in the House VI Commons, but IN 1888
. he defended himself from an attac
made upon him by the Irish member
for his support OF the policy Of L1r
Spencer. In 1856 he opposed The HON
iQsss Pain INSTANTLY