The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-29
JOHN BRIGHT.

which, in the estimation of DlsRAELI, trans
formed the English government from an
aristocracy to a democracy-the agitation
leading to the reform act Of 1882, by which
was broken up the monopoly inlpolitical
affairs that the aristocracy and landed
classes had enjoyed, and admitted the
middle classes to a share of the lawmaldng
power. 1t was not until he struck hands
with RICHARD Golden, however, that he
attracted anything like national considera-
ton. The union of JOHN BRIGHT with this
apostle of free trade took place in 1899,
during the Anti-COrn Law agitation. 1t
was a most happy circumstance for the
success of CoBDEN's enterprise that he
secured the support of BRIGHT, for he
possessed those qualities which Golden
himself lacked The latter was all right in
a smooth sea, when unimpassioned reason
ing was sufficient to meet the opposition
against the innovations he sought to intro
duce. But when the passions of men were
aroused to a fury, and he was assailed by
storms of abuse and yells of derision, his
calm reasoning and conversational
style of eloquence which did so much
to convert business men in the CONNER
cial chamber, was of no service to him.
But BRIGHT, with his splendid eloquence
and trumpet voice, which often rose above
the tumult of the mob, was well fitted to
stride the blast and compel it to blow where
he listed and England owes no more to
Golden than she does to BRIGHT for the in
creased prosperity that free trade has
brought to her.
1t was owing to his religious convictions
that he so persistently opposed every war
in which England has been engaged since
he entered public life; for after the order
of that strictest peace-sect, he has lived a
Quaker OF one thing we may be assured,
it was no craven mind that inspired his cry
for peace; both his physical and moral cour-
age stand above reproach. He opposed
war. because he believed it unworthy of a
Christian people This conviction by
which his personal actions and his advice to
his country We're governed, has necessarily
detracted from his popularity in a country
where the war spirit is so prevalent and
deep-seated as it is in England. 1t was be-
cause of his advocacy of policy of peace in
1851, when England seemed bent opiprovol1-
ing a quarrel with China, that he lost his
seat in parliament. At that time he was
severely i'll at Algeria, but hearing of his
defeat he wrote a farewell address to the
electors Of Manchester, in which he said
81 have esteemed it a high honor to be one
of your representatives. l feel
it scarcely less an honor to suffer in the
cause of peace and on behalf OF what l
believe to be the true interests Of ny
country, though 1 could have wished
that the blow had come from other hands
and at a time when I could have met face
TO face those who dealt it." The latter
clause mas in it a most decidedly war like
ring considering that it comes from man
of peace. The fact is JOHN BRIGHT was a
man of splendid courage, notwithstanding
he denounced war.
1t was JOIN BRIGHT who brought up in
the British parliament the Alabama ques-
ton, and protested against the policy of the
English government in giving aid to the
confederate states by fitting out war ships
in her ports for the southern navy. His
voice. however, was drowned by the enthu-
siastic shouts Of those who sympathized
with the southern states: and Mr.. LAIRD,
the builder of the Alabama, who replied on
that occasion, was applauded to the echo
Had England listened to BRIGHT, she
would have saved herself very deep hu
initiation and the payment of the enormous
sum SIC, 100000.
AlSpugh Mr. BRIGHT was prominent
charSSser in English politics, and the party
withhetaich he was identified was FIRE
auerf@VS.f power, he was seldom in office.
The1lA1ts of the party had little or no at
trao POI for him. When DIsRzALI was
turf non of power in 1865, however, and
M i 9Sl o..u,~~FoNE was called by the Queen to
fol-, -, ernment Mr.. BRIGHT was in
dLcn5 IN ociept the position of president of
The, hoard of trade in the new cabinet On
JI,ot occasion ne explained to his Birming-
,am constituents that he had not sought
for. Office. II should have preferred
m1ch.'' he said, Ito remain in the
, C mon rank Of the simple citizenship in
which heretofore have lived. There is u
charming story contained in a single verse
of the old testament, which has often struck
me as one of great beauty. Many of you
will recollect that the prophet, in journey
ing to and fro, was very Hospitality enter
famed Dy Will Is .IGIulsu III INC IOIUlS d
Shunanmite woman. In return for the
hospitality of his entertainment he wished
to make her some amends, and he called her
and asked her what there was that he
should dc for her. Shall l speak for thee
to the king, or to the captain Of the host"
and it has always appeared to me great
answer that the Shunammite woman re
turned. She said: 4 dwell among my
own people When the question was put
to me whether would step into the posi-
ton in which 1 now find myself, the an
swer from my heart was the same-I wish
to dwell among my own people" What
contrast with the hungry, office seeking
politicians known to us! Mr.. BRIGHT was
not a politician for the emoluments of
office. His wealth, derived from his inter
ests in great cotton manufacturing estab-
lishments, ryndered .uhim independent of
those res 0urces.
Notwithstanding Mr.. BRIGHT's recent
attitude on the question of home rule, he
was the constant friend of ireland, and
favored the plan of governing ireland in
consonance with Irish ideas, aside from
granting that country separate parlia-
ment. which to his thinking is the COM
mencement of the disintegration Of the
British empire. His position in this mat
ter has been paradoxical, for the very basis
of the 'Irish ideas' is home parliament,