The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-04-10
Mr. Brirht's Career.

John Bright, the second son of Martha and
Jacob Bright, was born at Greenbank, near
Rochdae, Lancashire. November 10. lSll.
Far back in his stock there were Jews. but
his near ancestors were stanch Quakers His
hatred of civil and religious oppression had
its birth in the experiences of his own family.
As a Quaker, his father perSistently refused
to pay church rates and was habitually the
victim Of distress warrants, which were satlS-
fed by seizures of the cotton goods he dealt
in.
The circumstances Of his boyhood strength
ened John Bright in the sentiments which in
spired his political career. His earlier years
were spent at Rochdale. which was the thea
tire of constant agitation for Parliamentary
reform. The first exercise of his oratorcal
talents was in literary and phl!osophlcal
society that had been organized at Roch-
of Millions paradise Lost and the Bible.
He had become local celebrity, when, at
the age of twenty-siS, he formed an &C
quaintarce with Richard Golden that did
much, no doubt, to direct his intellectual en-
ergies into the course they took. In lsoo ne
took part in open air Ant!-Corn law met
ings, and against tie Corn laws and the
church rate he subsequently, delivered Sc
ries Of powerful speeches.
In 1913 he was elected to the House Of
Commons as member for Durham. The rich
harvest of the following year delayed the
success Of his crusade against the Corn law,
but the enthusiasm of his followers was not
abated.
Money poured in, tracts were circulated,
and trained speakers visited every village in
the country. Finally, in 1916, the import
duty OF corn was repealed upon the pro2o-
sition of Sir Robert Peel, the Prime Minis
ter On the last night Of the debate Mr..
Bright eulogize, Peel for the stand he had
taken in terms that affected the Premier to
tears.
= II 1861 Bright was associated with Cob.
den in the negotiation of the commercial
treaty between France and England. He
supported the repeal Of the paper duties,
which made the penny newspaper press of
England possible. During the American
Civil War he was friend Of the North, both
lin and out of Parliament. In 1855 he took q
the extension Of the elective franchise, which
ended with the passage of the Reform bill
of Aug. Is, 1867. He also urged reform in
Ireland and the disestablishment Of the Irish
Church. The latter was accomplished in
1860.
Mr.. Bright had now reached the zenith of
his fame He commanded the confidence Of
the Liberal party in no less degree than Mr..
Gladstone himself, and his name had been
linked with every great popular movement
of his time. 1t was therefore natural, when
Mr.. Gladstone was summoned to form
Ministry in 1865, that Mr. Bright should be
invited to occupy place in it. 1t was
natural too, that public sentiment should
require test of his ability to frame the leg
-. .'"+ion that he had so long advocated.
a'tf Tbess CO.. v-sderatioas influenced him to &C,
Board of Trade. He was W. W. hrst Quaker to
hold Office in the British Cablnee. ~ IS
'sDect Of achievement his political career end
sS With his acceptance of Office. He was
Hben ies' be- was VI W Wappoinfed Chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster. To this post he was
again assigned when Mr.. Gladstone was re.
stored to power after the six years interval
of the Beaconsfeld Ministry. He resigned
in 1882 because he disproved the Govern
ment's Egyptian policy, which eliminated IN
the bombardment of Alexandria.
AS an orator John Bright produced with
the simplest aids the greatest effects His
mind was free from the classical associations
that have exercised an influence upon the
diction Of other great English speakers, and
his speeches are splendid examples or the
possibilities Of the Angio-Saxon tongue He
was able to modulate his voice to suit the Sell
timent he expressed, yet his defamation was
never merely theatrical His words seemed to
reach the hearts as we'll as the heads OF those
who heard him. He knew we'll how to make
wit and humor perform the same service as
pathos and tragedy, and was almost as quick
as Disraeli in coming apt phrases.
During his later years he sgt in Par'ia-
ment for the most part in silence, appat.
entity living much in the past. When he did
speak, constant allus:on to his own triumphs
nlarred the effect Of his utterances. From
an early sympathy with the Irish, he fell
into the advocacy Of coercive measures.
When he took his stand against Home Rule
the friendship that existed between Mr..
Gladstone and himself for nearly half
century suffered shock whose effects were
never repaired. Nearly all his later public
utterances contain unkind references to his
former associate.
His last great speech was at Birmingham
against Irish Home Rule, and this greatly
damaged Mr. Gladstone's side. His last
speech in the Commons was on the Speakers
election in 1885, His last prolonged speech
in the Commons was on the franchise. This
was failure, showing signs Of his mental
6ecay