The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-04-04
IN JOHN BRIGHT's MEMORY.
Eloquent and Impressive Tribute
From William E. Gladstone-L1rd
Hartington's Fitting Words-Justin
Mccarthy Speaks for Ireland.


Hartington's Fitting WOrds-Justin
MCCARTHY Speaks for Ireland.
LONDON, March 29-The sessions of the
house of commons this evening was devoted
to eulogies of the late John Bright. When the
Right Hon. William Henry Smith, who was the
first speaker, rose to address the house all the
members dotted their hats. Mr. Smith, in u
short speech, described Mr.. Bright as "a man
of thorough honesty of purpose and great
energy of character. Mr.. Gladstone, upon
rising, YVES received with cheers He said:
Mr.. Bright has been. to a verv remarkable de-
gree, happy in the moment OF his removal from
almost every great cause to which he specially
devoted his heart and mind. He has established
a special claim TO the admiration of those from
whom he differed through his long political life
by marked concurrence with them upon the
prominent and dominant question Of the hour.
Whtlo he has in that way opened the minds and
hearts Of those with whom he differed to appre-
citation of his merits, he has lost nothing by that
concord with them on She particular subject we
so much represent. Though Mr.. Bright came to
be separated from the great bulk Of the Liberals
on the Irish question, on no single occasion has
there been any word of Disagreement. l ac-
knowledge that have not through my whole
political life fully embraced the character OF
Mr.. Bright, and the value of that character to
the country. say this because it was at the
particular epoch of the Crimean war that came
more to understand than before the position held
by him and some of his friends, and the hold
thev had laid upon the confidence of the people,
] was oIc of those who did not agree with the
particular views he took of the Crimean contest
but felt profoundly and never ceased to think
wha: must have been the moral elevation of men
who, nurtured all their lives in the temple OF
popular approval. could at moments notice
consent to part with the whole of that favor
they enjoyed, which opponents might think the
very breath of their nostrils. They accepted un-
doubted unpopularity, for that war commanded
the enormous approval OF the people. 1t was at
that time that, although we had known much OF
Mr.. Bright, we learned more. We had known OF
his great mental gifts, his courage, his consist.
known how high was the moral tone of those
popular leaders, and what splendid examples
they could set their contemporaries. Amongst
other gifts, Mr. Bright was delegated to be ona
of the chief guardians of the purity of
THE ENGLISH TONGUE.
He knew how thu character of a nation is asso-
cated with its language. He was enabled al an
Englishman profoundly attached to his country,
the tongue of the people being to turn almost
an object of worship, to preserve the purity ol
the language of Shakespeare and Milton. An
other circumstance of his career is better known
to me than to any other person present Every
body is aware that flee had no attractions fol
him. But few can be aware what extra efforts
were required to induce him to become servant
of the crown, In the crisis Of 1868, when the
fate of the Irish church hung in the balance, it
was my duty to propGse to Mr.. Bright that h he
become minister ] never undertook SO diff
cult a task. From IL o'clock at night until
o'clock in the morning we steadily debated the
subject. 1t was only ut the last moment that
he found it possible to set aside the repugnance
he felt ct doing anything that might in
the eye OF any one, even OF the more
ignorant class of his countrymen. ap-
gree from that lofty independence Of character
which I have mentioned, and which newt
throughout his career was held in doubt. 1t was
happy lot to unite so many attractive quail
ties. If had to dwell upon them alone, should
present dazzling picture to the world. 1t was
a happier lot to teach moral lessons by simplic-
ity, consistency, unfa1l1ng courage and con-
stancv of life, thus presenting combination Of
qualities that carried Us to a higher atmosphere.
His sympathies were not strong only. but active:
not sympathics awaiting calls to he made upon
them, but sympathies of man seeking objects
upon which to bestow the inestimable advan-
tages Of eloquence and courage. In Ireland.
when support of the Irish cause was rare: in In
dia, when support of the native cause was rareI
still; in America, at the time when MIR. Bright,
foreseeing the ultimate issue of the great strug
gle of 1861, stood as the representative of an
exceedingly small portion OF the educated COM
| nunity of the country, although undoubtedly
| representing large part Of the national senti-
ment-in all these cases Mr.. Bright went far out
side the necessities of his calling. Whatever
touched him as
MAN OF THE GREAT ANGLo-sAxoN RACE,
whatever touched him as a subject, obtained
unasked his sincere earnest and enthusiastic
aid. All causes having his powerful advocacy
made distinct advance in the estimation of The
WOflu ana ulSClncU prOSreSS toward triumphant
success. Thus il has come about that he is en-
titled to a higher eaolgy than is due to success.
OF mere success, indeed, he was a conspicuous
example, In intellect he might claim most
distinguished place. But his character lies
deeper than in; elect, deeper than eloquence,
deeper than anything that can be described or
that can be seen upon the surface. The gu
preme eulogy that Is his due is that he elevated
political life to the highest point-to loftier
standard than it had ever reached.
He has bequeathed to his coun-
try a character that cannot only be
made subject for admiration and gFatitude:
but=Sand ] do not exaggerate when say it
that can become an object of reverential con-
temptation. In the encomiums that come from
every quarter there Is not a note of dissonance.
do not know of any statesman of my time who
had the ha piness of receiving on removal from
this passing world, the honor of approval at
once so enthusiastic, so universal, aud so un-
broken. Yet none could better dispense with
the tributes of the moment, because the triumphs
of his life were triumphs recorded in the advance
of his country and # it's people. His name is
indeliby written in the annals of time and on
the hearts of the grs at and overspreading race
to which he belonged, whose wide extension he
reioiced to sde and whose power and promi-
hehce he believed to be full of promise and
glory for the best interests Of mankind
Mr.. Gladstone resumed his seat amid MUCH
snbdued cheering.