Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-01
GLADSTONE ON BRIGHT.
The Grand Old Man Speaks Elouuently
I'm Memory of the Dead Statesman.

The English house of commons was crowded
with strangers Saturday, and the attendance of
members was very great, and all was expectancy
for the speech which it was expected Mr.. Glad
stone would make in memory Of the late John
Bright. The cable dispatch to the New York
Herald SAYS:
MIR. Gladstone came in at quarter to 4, look
ing wonderfully fresh and vigorous, and he at
once entered into conversation with Harcourt
NO nervous fumbling for notes, no signs OF
intense preoc cupation are ever visible when
Gladstone has to speak. One moment he is
talking In lively manner to the person nearest
rolling forth his mellow periods. The miseries
OF public speaking have long since passed out
OF his recollection, even if he ever experienced
them. Questions to ministers were tedious and
dull, as they generally are, the Irish contingent
being obstinately pertinacious about certain
reverend fathers whom the wicked Balfour APP
pears to be prosecuting. Considering that the
house was packed and ready for a special pur-
pose, 1t was generally felt that we were hearing
something too much of the Irish priesthood.
GOVERNMENT SYMPATHY.
At last even the irrepressible Mr.. Gill ceased
from troubling, and Mr. w. H. Smith rose to
address the house, every head being instantly
uncovered At the outset the conservative
leader made unfortunate slip by referring
to the death Of the member for West Birming-
ham, who happens to be Mr.. Chamberlain, and
who was at that moment favoring Mr.. Smith
with stony British stare through the medium
OF an eyeglass. This caused Mr.. Smith mo-
ment's confusion, but he soon recovered and
delivered very appropriate and sympathetic
speech. in which there was not word calcu-
lated to excite party feeling or to revive the
memories of old hostilities except in a manner
that was favorable to the great man who has
just been taken from us.
GLADsToNEs EU1oaY
Mr.. Gladstone Immediately followed, and his
first few sentences showed that he was rather
hoarse, as well he might be, considering the ex-
posure to the bitter Scotch weather which he
has had to go through this week. But whether
his voice be hoarse or clear his style is always
UNNECESSARILY superior to that Of any other
man in the house. as we were well able to Judge
before the proceedings were over. The COM
parlson must have convinced the most con-
trmed opponent of Mr. Gladstone that there is
no one who can distantly approach him in elo-
quence.
He brought into prominence with equal
skill and feeling the marked features of Mr.
Brights public life, dwelling much upon the
moral elevation of his character Full of
generosity, too, was his eulogium, for it gave
the heartiest praise to Mr.. Bright for those
very passages in his career in which he had
been opposed by Mr.. Gladstone, the Crimoan
war. the war of secession and so forth. Mr.
Gladstone and Mr.. Bright held conflicting
views on these events, and now the venerable
leader of the liberal party admitted that Mr..
Bright had shown true foresight.
All through the address was couched in that
elevated strain which alone is tolerable on such
an occasion and in which Mr. Gladstone is abso-
lutely without rival. He came to an end
much too soon, to the general regret of the
house, which had listened to every word with
admiration.
WANING ELoQUENCE.
Lord Harrington spoke next, briefly, and in
his usual manly and unaffected manner. 1t
was impossible to keep the tone exactly where
MIR. Gladstone had left it, but Lord Harrington
at least did not disturb the effect which the
eloquent old mans music had created.
Then, to the general surprise of the house,
Mr.. Justin NJ Carthy rose and paid very warm
tribute to the memory of Mr.. Bright on the
part OF the Irish party. This, too, was good
and seemly in every way, and perhaps it had
been well if here the house had returned to its
ordinary business, but Mr.. Chamberlain got up
and made what people called characteristic
speech. That is, he quickly brougha things
down to the level of these prosaic days.
AWKWARD JOE.
We could now compare the new school with
the old, Chamberlain with Gladstone. Broad
and deep, indeed, is the chasm which divides
them. Mr.. Gladstone talked of Mr.. Bright's
exalted purity and noble aims. Mr.. Chamber
lain began TO tell of his pecunary relations
with , constituents. / have heard or read
some strange funeral orations, but that a gentle
man should rise up on such an occasion and
say In effect, Our organization which called
into existence was perfect, and we never let the
deceased pay his own election expenses" this,
l think Is something new in neurological
literature.
HE who drinks beer viii! think beer" was
the dictum Of DIR. johnson, and suppose that
he who loves money dearly will think money,
but at such time and over such man to talk
of election expenses! Mr.. Bright was a good
man and we sent him here free of cost" After
that epitaph the famous ''She painted in water
colors, and of such is the Kingdom of Heaven"
fades away into insgnifcance. Thus it came to
pass that smiles might have been seen on the
lips of many members as they left the house, in
spite of the sadness and solemnity of the occa-
sion.