Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-05
DEATH OF JOHN BRIGHT.
The Old Commoner Summoned to
His Long Rest.
sketch of itlsI.Ife.

John Br' ght died in London March % He
had been IN n comatose condition Tor two
days before his death, and passed away
without regaining consciousness.
John Bright was born at Greenbank,
Rochdale, Lancashire, November Ii, 1911.
He was the son of Jacob Bright, cotton
spinner. After receiving subst tntial
English education he entered his fathers
business. While yet young man he be-
gan 10 address local audiences on social and
politico economical topics, and took an ac-
tive part in the reform agitation of 1881 2 /;
he first distinguished himself, however, in
1889 when he became "A 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 10 sit for Durham
till ls47, when he was returned for Man
chester. He made his maiden speech in
parliament on amotion for extending the
principles of free trade August Z, ie43.
During the interval between his election
for Manchester and the accession of the
first Derby ministry 10 power, Mr.. Brights
activity in parliament and on the platform
was varied and continuous. Being, like
his father. a firm and consistent Quaker,
John Bright, with the beginning of his pub
lie career became "A sturdy advocate OF
peace, and he heartily co operated with Mr..
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 u kossuth, the Hun
garian patriot, by the advanced liberals Of
Lancashire.
In the general election of 1852 Mr. Bright
was reelected 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
tention OF parliament and the country at
that time He denounced the policy of tho
Russ an war with great energy, but his
protests against IL were stopped by an at
tack OF illness, and just az the war had been
brought to close Mr.. Bright was COMPEL
ed 10 retire temporarily from public lfc
He passed some time upon the Continent
and was in Italy when Lord Palmerston
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 large majority. his
course on the eastern question having alien
ated many of his former supporters. A
Few months afterwards death caused q
vacancy in the representation of Birning.
ham; the constituency invited Mr.. Bright
to become a candidate, he was elected in
August, 1857, and has represented that
borough In the house of commons ever
since. MIR. Bright became prominently
identified with "A movement for the reform
of parliamentary repl esentation by wide
extension of he 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 suf-
fered terribly. Nj. Bright first spoke
publicly on the subject at q meeting of his
townsmen at Rochdale on the 1st of Au-
gust.
mo man." he said, lis moro in favor OF
peace than | am; no man has denounced
war more than / have, probably, in this
country: few men in their public life have
suffered more obioquy-I had almost said
more indignity-in consequence Of il. But
! cannot for the life of me see, upon any OF
those principles upon which states are gov
erned now-l say nothing Of the liberal
word of the New Testament cannot SEQ
how the state of affairs in America, with
regard 10 the United States government,
could have been different from what il is
at this moment. We had "a heptarchy in
this country, and it was thought 10 be a
good thing TO get rid of, and have united
nation. If the thirty-three or thirty four
states of the American union can break oil
whenever they like, | can see nothing bat
disaster and confusion throughout the
whole OF that continent | say that the
war, he II successful or not, be IL Christian
or not be il wise Or not, Is war TO sustain
~ Of a great nation, and that the people OF
England, If they are true TO their own sym
pathies, 10 their own history, To their own
great act OF 1884 20 which reference has
already been made, will have no sympathy
with those who wish TO build up great EN-
pire upon the perpetual bondage OF millions
Of their own fellow men,
After the close Of the war Mr. Bright re
turned 10 his labors on behalf of extending
the FIR nchise 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 IN
some respects beyond what the liberals had
at iirSt proposed. In December, 1868, Mr..
Bright became president of the board OF
trade under Mr.. Gladstone, and proved TO
bc less o a fire brand in oLice than his op-
pCucnts had predicted. in 1870 i'll health
compelled him 10 resign his post though for
"a few years he followed the work of parlia-
mcut more or less actively In August,
1873, Mr.. Bright was appointed Chancellor
OF the Duchy Of Lancaster. which post he
held until the defeat Of the Gladstone party
in the following year. Mr.. Bright again
became Chancellor Of the Duchy of Ian
caster in Is o, when Gladstone returned TO
power, but resigned ia 1,>2 Waen the gov
ernmeut began war IN Egypt MIR Bright
felt that he could not couscieutiously con
tinue in Office aud couutenancc bloodshed.
The separation Of John Bright from the
bulk Of the liberal party on the Irish cues
tion is the only incident in his career which
really dimmed lis splendor Almost from
his entrance into the house Of commons he
made himself the outspoken and uncom-
promising champion Of Irish wrongs Ho
boldly justified, or at all events excused,
Irish turbulence and disorder, in view
OF the crueI and oppressive character of tn O
land laws, and the existence of an alien
church establishment, at time when the
Irish Catholics had in the house Of com
mons a few or no her defenders He was
one OF isr. Gladstone's most vigorous and
effective supporters in dsestablishing the
Anglican church in 1872, and he was equal
ly staunch in assisting in the passage Of the
land acts Of 1870 and ISL. But further
than this he was not prepared 10 20. With
the Irish national idea he never appears 10
have had much sympathy, and when the
franchise bill of 1884 brought into tho
house eighty.six Irish members, ne bcc@ no
completely alienatcd from the Irish nj
proved one OF the most powerful and even
truculent opponents of Mr.. Gladstone
scheme of home rule II irritablity
under the criticism which his abandonment
of his old friends excited sometimes led
him into utterances Of such incou sistcn-
cy as TO give color 10 the charge that ne had