Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-28
"REMINISCENCES OF BRIGHT.
How he Felt when he Resigned from
Ofiice-A Tribute 20 Gladstone.

Ofiice-A Tribute 20 Gladstone.
Geo. W Smalley in the New York Tribune.
Itwas a sunny July morning; brighter than
is often to be seen in London; the sun stream
ing in through the three large windows.
Bright was in his dressing gown; q garment 10
which. like CARLYLE. he was much attached; noe
fashionable short smoking jacket, but an am
pie robe that fell below his knees. He was not
given 70 making conventional speeches, but he
said as the door opened; All, you are very
| good TO call on a minister out Of Office" His
tone and look were both of depression. said
his resignation would be regretted as much in
America as in England. aud that il he cared
TO say anything in addition 20 what was known.
ms friends would be eager 20 hear IT, NO"
ne answered, Il have nothing TO say" So We
! talked Tor two or three minutes about the
weather and the last dinner party and
rose 10 so. ''St down. he said and FORTH
with began on hls resignation and the Egyptian
| business generally. Much of what he said WA
! for the public and was published at the time;
some can never be published. He was ex-
! tremely agitated, the tears were sometimes in
| his eyes. II was a crisis IN has iife He ionged
! TO be useful. He liked Office. The chancellor
| ship of the duchy of Lancaster suited him per-
4 fectly. There was no administrative or deteart-
mental work which he hated. there was a SAL
! airy OF $4,000 a year. which he did not object
/ to draw. and there was seat in the cabinet
| with all the authority and dignity which cabinet
rank confeis. Mr. Gladstone aud ne were
| united by almost lifelong ties His attachment
| to his chief was as strong il is possible for
! such an attachment to be. He said:
You know something about the relations be-
| tween us. You know what expected from his
government. You know what IL costs me TO
part from il and from HIM" y
| Then. why resign"
He got up from his char. walked TO the win
dow and stood there looking out on the green
/ fields and blue sky. Then he turned. walked
back with flushed face and flaming eyes, and
| burst out:
do you think am going to be a party 10 an
/ act like the bombarument Of Alexandria? II it
| were just If il were necessary. l should hate 10
be responsible Tor 1t in the least degree IL il
not just, II is not necessary. Ii is a wanton and
! wicked outrage on a nation which has a right 90
be free. 1 have borne witness against war all
my life long. l abhor it. None of our wars
| have been Just. There has not been a lust var
since William the Third. except your war 10 put
| down the rebellion. Ny legacy to nay children
| Is message of peace. Do you think at nv age
am going 10 be false 10 all my principles to
go back on all my record, TO retract all | have
| said, TO sanction such an act as this to leave
my children heritage Of shame and Disgrace
to leave behind me Tor them the memory that
| their father was traitor and renegade?
| Neveri'
his voice was hoarse with passion. with the
passion OF great nature stirred 10 its depths
| The smooth tones had become rough and hard
he spoke with all the energy of sorrowful in
| dlgnation at a great wrong which he was pow
erless to prevent He had tried TO prevent il
| and failed. and grief aud righteous anger
surged and boiled within him. 1 had never,
| anywhere, on the platform or in the house,
seen HIM in this mood. nor heard such tones
nor seen such gestures. He went on:
| II have spoken to nobody as / speak to you
of course. have protested. i have argued,
entreated, demonstrated. all in vain. believe
! threatened. 1t was equally vain. appealed
TO Gladstone. He listened. but could not
| move him. do not consure him: not a word
OF what say about the war is meant for CEN
| sure on Gladstone. There is no purer soul than
has. He believes himself right. Nothing would
| induce him 10 fire a shot if he did not. But /
must judge for myself | resigned three DAYS
ago, but It Is only this morning the world il al
| lowed to know it. | could not sleep for the
roar OF those English guns at Alexandria. Ii is
the end of my public life. | shall never taste
Office again. My work is done"
In the days of Mr.. Gladstones earlier I'M
popularity-for society had preiudices against
HIM long before he took home-ruie in hand
Mr.. Bright was once dining at the same table
with certain princess. Her ROYAL highness
made remark disparaging TO the liberal
| leader. MIR. Bright turned TO her grayely
dren?"
Yes; why do you ask?'
Let me beg OF you, ma am. to take them at
the first opportunity where they may see Mr..
Gladstone. When they see him. say TO them
that he il the Englishinan to whom God has
| permitted TO Go greater service TO his own
country than almost any other in his time"
OF Mr.. Bright's home life / have little or
| nothing 10 say. | paid visit TO Rochdale in
| 1866. two months after his invitation was given.
| but II was TOO hurried 10 be of much avail /
had 10 arrive and leave the same morning on
! my way 10 Liverpool for the steamer. But at
| least saw One Ash. his home. and the owner
| of it in his library. Neither Rochdale. nor the
suburb or environs whore Bright's house stands,
| would be attractive hut for him. His house
| was of brick. of no great size. nor ANYTHING
| other than what might be expected of Quaker
| mansion. His family chung TO the tastes and
habits OF his religion and of his people. There
| was nothing gay but the bindings Of his books
which think had been given him. Nor can /
repeat the talk. for it happened to be altogether
about private matters.