New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-29
4 oUAKER GRAHE.

John Bright loved simplicity in life, and it
is meet that he should have it in death. West
minister Abbey, with its traditional glories aud
inspiring associations, would be an incongru-
Gus burying place for his ashes. stately
funeral ceremonial would not be in keeping
with his unaffected and transformations manner
of life. A Quaker meeting In his library at
One Ash and grave in the Friends burying-
ground at Rochdale harmonic with the unique
genius OF the tribune OF the English people
The overcrowded factory -tenanted district of
Lancashire where he lived and died is one Of
the least attractive spots In England; but he
loved it because he was born there. When he
became Cabinet Minister he told bis c0nstit-
uents the brief story of the Shunamite woman
who Hospitality entertained the prophet and
declined to be rewarded. When the prophet
asked: Shall l speak for thee TO the King or
to the captain of the host r' she replied, az
dwell among my own people" MIR. Bright said
that when he was invited 10 go up higher the
answer from his heart was the same az wish
to dwell among my own people.n Westminster
Abbey is filed with hallowed dust consecrated
to the genius Of the English people, and the
lion-hearted, sweet-souled John Bright deserves
to be buried with the greatest and noblest of
the Nations Pantheon. But the place of his
choice is the trim grass plot burying-pround
inclosing the stone meeting house in an unpre-
tending Rochdale street. There he will remain,
In death as in life, among his own kin and
people.
Far differently have other tribunes Of the
people been followed to their graves. Mira
beau was one, an emb odiment of the genius of
democracy at momentous period of national
history; and royalty and the privileged classes
We'd with the plain working people in honor
ing his memory and lamenting his loss as a
catastrophe Gsmbetta was another. and Paris
accorded to him the glory Of funeral pageant
OF unique character. They, like Mr.. Bright.
were matchless orators, and endowed with orig
inel genius of the highest order, and they made
the cause OF the common people their own.
Like him they seemed to have a secret under.
standing with the nation at large, and 10 speak
Tor it in tones OF authority; and when they
passed away there were stately ceremoniaIs
and memorable pageants. The English naonla
have loved Mr.. Bright as in q peculiar sense
taeir personal representative; and the impulse
70 oner the browning honors of burial In West
munster Abbey, among kings, statesmen, poets
ana heroes, Is q natural one, But he would
not himself have chosen that as his last rest
ing-place, TO his last conscious breath he was
2 plain man with simple tastes, a home body J,
with an inherent love of Lancashire soft and
an instructive aversion to display and oere-
mony. The little unpretentious meeting -house
IN Rochdalc, where he was accustomed b wor.
snip, was without architectural beauty, sculpt-
urea ornament or painted windows, but Il was
Hooded every day with sunshine as prre ana
wholesome as bis own lie. Outside its uaodest
walls were the grassy mounds covering his dear
ones That was his place.
~ may be that the Lesson Of the Quaker
srafoTs noble life can be preached from that