Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-04
DEATH OF JOHN BRIGHT.
The Old Commoner Summoned to
His Long Rest.
sketch of Ills Life.


RoChdale, Lancashire, November 49, 1911.
He was the son of Jacob Bright, cotton
spinner. After receiving substantial
English education he entered his fathers
business. While yet young man no be
gan TO address local audiences on social and
politico economical topics, and took an ac-
tive part in the reform agitation OF lo3l-2;
he first distinguished himself, however, in
1889 when he became member OF the anti
corn law league, and with Mr.. Golden, en-
gagged in an extensive free trade agitation
throughout the kingdom. He entered par
lament in 1913, representing the city OF
Durham. He continued to sit for Durham
/ till 1914, when he was returned for Man
chester He made his maiden speech in
parliament on motion for extending the
/ principles of free trade August Z, lS4i.
During the interval between his election
/ for Manchester and the accession Of tho
first Derby ministry TO power, MIR. Brights
activity in parliament and on the platform
WIS varied and continuous. Being, Ike
his father. a firm and consistent Quaker,
John Bright with the beginning of his pub
lie career, became sturdy advocate of
peace, and he heartily co operated with Mir.
! Golden in the movement which the latter
sought TO create in favor of financial reform
mainly with a view to the reduction OF
| England's naval and military establish
ments. In 1852 he took a prominent part
in the welcome given 10 kossuth, the Hun
garian patriot, by the advanced liberals Of
/ Lancashire.
In the general election of 1859 Mr.. Bright
was re elected for Manchester, and with
the accession of the Aberdeen Ministry
took an active part in the discussion of the
eastern question, which occupied the at
tenton OF parliament and the country at
that time. He denounced the policy of the
. Russian war with great energy, but his
protests against it were stopped by an at
tack of illness, and iusta the war had been
Vs..11
ed to retire temporarily from public life.
/ He passed some time upon the Continent
and was in Italy when Lord PalmcrstOn
/ was defeated on the question of the Chi
nese war. In the general election that en-.
sued Mr.. Bright lost his seat for Manches
ter, being re ected by a large majority, his
| course on the eastern question having alien
| ated many of his former supporters \
few months afterwards death caused a
vacancy in the representation of Birming.
ham; the constituency invited Mr.. Bright
TO become candidate, he was elected in
August, 1857, and has represented that
borough in the house of commons ever
since. Mr. Bright became prominently
identified with movement for the reform
OF parliamentary representation by WIDE
extension OF The suffrage. While actively
at work in this cause the civil war in this
country divided England. John Bright
was conspicuous IN support Of the union,
though his own interests and that of the
whole cotton manufacturing districts sui
fered terribly. Mr.. Bright first spoke
publicly on the subject at a meeting Of his
townsmcn at Rochdale on the LIST of Au-
gust.
"No man" he said, sis more in favor Of
peace than | am; no man has denounce
war more than 1 have, probably, in this
country few men in their public life have
suffered more obloquy-l had almost said
more indignity-in consequence Of IL. But
l cannot for the life of me see, upon any OF
those principles upon which states are gov
erned now say nothing Of the liberal
word of the New Testament cannot sec
how the state Of affairs in America, with
regard to the United States government
could have been different from what it is
at this moment. We had a heptarchy IN
this country, and il was thought TO be a
good thing to get rid Of, and have united
nation. If the thirty three or thirty fouI
states Of the American union can break OF.
whenever they like, | can see nothing bat
disaster and confusion throughout the
whole of that continent. l say that the
war, he IL successful or not, be IL Christian
or not, be it wise or not, is war TO sustain
the government and 10 sustain the authori
~ of a great nation, and that the people OF
England, if they are true 10 their own sym
pathies, b their own history, TO their own
great act OF 1924, 10 which reference has
already been made, will have no sympathy
with those who wish to build up a great EN-
pire upon the perpetual bondage of millions
OF their own fellow men,.
After the close OF the war Mr. Bright re
turned TO his labors on behalf OF extending
the franchise; he spoke at meeting after
meeting, and had the satisfaction of seeing
the minority in favor of this reform grow
steadily, until even the conservative party
party finally passed bill which was II
some respects beyond what the liberals haC
at first proposed. In December, 1865, Mr.
Bright became president of the board o
, trade under Mr.. Gladstone and proved e
be less of a fire brand in Office than his op
ponents had predicted. In 1870 i'll health
compelled him to resign his post though fol-
q few years he followed the work of parlia
ment more or less actively. IN August
1873, MIR. Bright was appointed Chancellor
7 of the Duchy of Lancaster, which post h,
held until the defeat of the Gladstone part,
in the following year. Mr.. Bright again
: became Chancellor of the Duchy of Ian
: caster in 1880, when Gladstone returned L
power, but resigned in 1SS2, when the gov
= ernmcnt began war in Egypt. Mr.. Brigh
, felt that he could not couscentiously con
tinue in Office and countenGnce bloodshed
= The separation Of John Bright from tn,
: bulk of the liberal party on the Irish que s
ton is the only incident in his career which
, really dimmed its splendor. Almost from
his entrance into the house of commons hi
made himself the outspoken and uncom
4 promising CHAMPION Ol lTlSu wrongs. III
boldly justified, or at all events excused
: Irish turbulence and disorder, in view
= Of the cruel and oppressive character fth,
land laws, and the existence of an aliei
church establishment. at time when ia,
1 Irish Catholics had in the house of com
mons few or no other defenders. He wal
one of IIr. GladstOne's most vigorous an,
} effective supporters in disestablishing TIT
Anglican church in 1872, and he was equal
l ly staunch in assisting in the passage Of thj
= land acts Of 1870 and 1851. But furthe
than this he was not prepared 10 60 Witt
| the Irish national idea he never appears e
, have had much sympathy, and when tn
franchise bill of 1884 brought into TN,
: house eighty-siX Irish members, he becam,
completely alieDated from the Irish an,
proved one of the most powerful and ever
, truculent opponents Of Mr.. Gladstone
scheme Of home rule. His irritability
= under the criticism which his abandonment
, of his old friends excited sometimes lee
him into utterances Of such inconsistcn
I cy as TO give color to the charge that he hat
changed his earlier political opinions; bu
the general disposition Of Englishmen has
been TO remember only the great service h,
had rendered TO the liberal cause in tn
] days of his vigor, and TO set down his lat
ter day alterations TO age and ill health.