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

hearts of the people and making them feel
at one with the speaker even Gladstone had
to yield precedence 10 John Bright
bright was tall, broad-shouldcred and
well-proportioned, of an appearance alto
gether imposing. When standing on the
platform addressing an assembly of his coun-
trymen, his eyes flashing with the earnest
ness of his conviction, his every limb and
muscle alive with the ardor of his soul, striv-
ing TO convince the world OF the truth OF his
opinions, an enthusiasm akin TO his own
would seize upan his auditory and the most
frantic outbursts of approval and applause OF
which an assemblagc of the vociferous spe-
cies of political creatures called Englishmen
is capable would greet that magnificent type
OF AngloSaXon oratory. And underlying
the beauty of his diction there was sound
ness OF common sense and an intelligent
grasp of the subject he dealt with which
rarely failed To carry conviction TO the minds
OF his hearers. A speech from Bright was
always considered delicious treat at any
place in Britain, and there is no doubt he
gained over to his mode of looking at things
larger numbers of his country men than any
other public speaker Of his time, with per-
hnps the only exception of Gladstone. For
while Bright held his fellow citizens by their
national or mental characteristics or idiosyn-
crasies Gladstone held them by their more
effective pursestrngs, being stronger than
Bright In the handling OF figures with an eye
to economy and retrenchment subject
than which there is none more congenial TO
the Englishman.
"John Bright was an autodidact-a self
taught man. IL is true he went TO some sort
OF school, but the measure of learning he
brought away from il was not great A
smattering OF what the English schoolmaster
calls the three RS was about all the intel
lectual gains his school life yielded him.
But he made up in after life for what he had
missed in his schooltime, and he became an
unusually well read man. He met In discus
| sion the treatest and the most learned men
of his country on the floor OF the House OF
| Commons aud came out of the contest II
not their superior at least their equal. His
mental powers were so great that he was
never made TO feel any deficiency In his edu-
| cation.
"Highly pronounced in John Brights dis
position was his chiyalry toward women. IL
| found expression In whatever lac said Of or
did with respect 10 the Queen. However
| dscided his advocacy Of all sorts Of popular
measures was. he has never been known to
say or write one word in disparagemcnt Of
the person OF his sovereign. Not even the
elevation OF the lady 20 the dignity Of EN-
press OF India-propOscd aud carried by that
1
consider u sufficient occasion for being hard
upon whimsical though laudably constitu-
tonal or inoilensiye old lady, and however
| ludicrous the transaction may have appeared
10 the old Quaker, he did not offer 10 II any
thing like determined opposition. lie ac-
corded the most kindly advocacy 10 all the
Queens little private bills, although In every
other respect he insisted upon rigid economy
Us the principle OF the financial business Of
the State To that feature Of his public
activity John Bright was indebted for the
distinguished and lattering reception his
| Queen vouchsafed TO him on the occasion OF
his presentation at court after lac had Joined
the Gladstone Government In 1868.
ellis friendship with Gladstone was most
cordial until In 1882 the latter was induced
to interfere In Egypt As at the beginning
Of the Crimean war in 1854, 20 In 1882
Brights quakersh conscience would not suf-
fer him 10 approve Of such n wnrlikc step.
His opposition being unavailing, he with
drew from the Ministry, aud the cordiality
Of the intercourse between the two great
men suffered a check. Nevertheless, Bright
still continued a member Of the Liberal par.
ty until Gladstone, two years ago, decided
that the time had come To restore Ireland Ia
her own Parliament, In which policy Bright
refused 10 follow his old leader. In the
whole career Of the popular tribune as
Bright has been called, there Is no step NJ
difficult 20 reconcile TO lis progressive prin'
ciples a. the coalition lac now formed with Q
Chamberlain against Gladstone aud Ireland
Recourse must be made 10 the irrcparabl,
deficiency left IN his early education upon
the subject of the history Of Ireland In or
der 90 find an explanation for that retro
grade policy. The fact that Ireland had huc
a Parliament OF her own until the iiSt dal
of the present century and that that condi
ton of things had In no way intorioret
with, OF worked to the disadyan
tagc Of, the power aud extension
Of the British Empire. does not appear 4
have Influenced the opinions and action o
Bright at ALL He n no doubt well aware o
the fact, but his knowledge dating from
time when he was well advanced In years
! failed 60 impress him powerfully enough e
overcome his superstitious fears OF dis
! turbance Of the Imperial unity as generated
by merely looking upon things m they ar
nj this day. These fears led him 10 apprc
hcnd that Parliament at Dublin nigh
cause a renewal of those cruel wan between
Britain aud Ireland which IL was imperative
? to prevent for which reason Il would be bet
. ter 10 continue the actual English misrul
In the green isle than to risk such anothc
e war.
! "John Bright IN the fulncss Of his man
: hood was Of powerful physique, strongl
> built aud corpuiont and oi portly cnrriag
T. and dcmeanor. Ills manners were gentle
d manly. kind and aflnblc, yet In case Of nee
outspokcn, short and busincsslikc. lie ha
B alwnys plenty Of this worlds goods, th
Brighis's cotton mill being ono oi the mo,
n prosperous in the city of Rockdnle. nca
] Manchester. ON the ilth Of last Novembo
D he celebrated the seventy seventh auniyei
i | ssrx ~ his birth