The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-28

ing resources Of his country and the in
c~reasing demands Of the world he was en-
abled to make an argument that sup
ported by an oratorical ability which has
never been surpassed. proved to be ire
sistible. In and out Of Parliament he was
a tower of strength in support oil the
series Of measures by which the protective
system was broken down and England en-
tered upon that remarkable career under
free trade by which her exports have
grown from s237, 900, 900 in 1912, when the
first OF the free trade measures was en-
acted into law, to Sl,iS2, 100000 in 1850.
Mr.. Bright was during this time and up to
1856. a consistent friend OF Ireland, and
spoke and wrote and voted for every re-
medal measure proposed for the ameliora-
ton OF the condition Of the people Of the
unfortunate sister kingdom, and ho helped
in the accomplishment Of the d~isestablish-
ment Of the Irish Church, thus relieving
the Catholics and d~issenters from the sup
port Of the establishment. His voice was
always for reform, for expansion and adj
vancement and whenever necessary it was
the first for peace. lie was opposed to
wal as a relic OF the brute barbarism that
in the duel so long survived in individ-
ual cases, and he did not hest
tate TO break with Mr.. Gladstone
a few yean ago on the Egyptian
question and leave the Cabinet OF the Min
isier under whom in 1865 he first took
office. Mr.. Bright WAS a ine example Of
the sturdy Englishman, moved by the
energy Of his convictions, the tendency Of
which we've all in the direction Of liberty.
Il was this that made him so ardent a
friend Of the United States, especially dur
ing the civil war. To him the oit.re-
pcated saying that this country is the
hope OF humanity was a truism, a verify.
Opposed to slavery, as the Quakersof North
Carolina and every other State and place
were, he also loved the Union as the n
open asylum for the oppressed OF the world.
Divided, he felt that liberty would be cur
tailed and human progress for a time
DO stayed. Ho therefore became an
ardent friend Of the Union in oppo-
siiion to tho Conservatives who supported
the Coniederacy. Ills e~loquence and
influence were never more conspicu-
Gus than during this epoch which brought
to the South utter ruin and the complete
demolition Of a system Of labor built up by
more than 200 years Of effort aud friendly,
i~avoring legislation. But in this Mr..
Bright was consistent. He had always
been for liberty, and freedom and free
trade, and our system Of slavery repre-
sented protection In its highest form and
its worst ways. and II was, so far as
tho slave was concerned, opposed TO lib
erty and freedom. We can afford to say
things now that after the lapse Of
thirty years we are again asserting our
in the Union, in possession Of ma
torial forces that must minister TO our
ascendancy as well as growth, and We can
afford TO pay tribute OF admiration TO the
British statesman whose life was devoted
TO the bottermept Of tho people for whom
lac was called 10 legislate. We can afford
to pay tribute Of respect 10 a great orator,
some think the greatest Of modern orators,
tho man who was the constant, earnest
and unyielding advocate Of liberty and
freedom, and spoke rs a true Christian for
peace as essential TO the elevation Of the
masses out Of brute conditions, and 10 the
spread Of civilization.