| Show DEATH OF JOHN BRIGHT HON jonk BRIGHT the eminent british statesman expired at half past eight this morning the dispatches dispa tebes touching upon the precarious rious condition of the health of the illustrious commoner during the last few weeks caused the event to be anticipated his has been a luminous and honorable career the world has produced but few men who have been so long and prod pro eminently before the public and yet have left a record as untarnished as his he was the son of jacob bright esq of greenbank green banfe near rochdale rockdale Roc hdale and was born in 1811 he entered political life about the time he be at attained his majority by engaging in the reform agitation of 1831 1881 2 since which time he has been nearly always one of the most prominent figures before the british public in 1839 he became one of the most influential and active members of the anti corn law League formed the year previous for the tho purpose of securing the repeal of the laws which placed a heavy impost upon broad bread stuffs he was repeatedly elected to par diament from various constituencies was generally a leader in reforms proposed in that body and anci has always since the commencement of his parliamentary career been a distinguished champion of free trade about the year 1850 he became an all ardent worker coworker co with the great political financier and reformer richard cobden in the advocacy of reforms t then hen being agitated in england mr brights bright policy on the eastern question previous to and at the time of the war with russia alienated many of his friends he denounced the war and the policy of which it was a part or result and while his course was criticized criticised as one of erroneous judgment by those who differed from him his courage in maintaining his convictions was admirable space will not admit even of a cursory mention of the multitude of political movements changes and reforms in which mr bright took an active part he was a pronounced sympathizer with the north during the american civil war and the leading object pursued by him in the later years of his par li career was the extension of the franchise he was frequently in accord with Glad gladstone but not always the batters lat position on the irish question being a notable ex caption cep tion he did not fa favor vor a distinct parliament for ireland on the ground that it would lead to the ultimate separation of that country from england and tend to the disintegration of the british empire he was a member of the firm of bright brothers cotton manufacturers of rochdale rockdale Roc hdale for many years and may have been at the time of his death his time and talents were however mainly devoted to public rather than private interests we have heard mr bright speak when his powers were at their zenith he was a man of fine presence not over medium height but stoutly built his face was of the I 1 leonine 00 nine east cast the only weak feature being the nose which was under rather than over medium size the nostrils were somewhat ever intensifying the eagerness of the entire facial expression the eyes were large unusually full and lighted with the beam of intelligence li gence mr bright was a great orator his power lying more in that direction than that of executive statesmanship his ability to impress parliament and sway the masses with speech was marvelous in that respect gladstone was his superior in the grouping of facts but inferior to him in the matter of their effective presentation mr bright had a wonderful voice it was rich mellow and resonant unsurpassed by that of any other publicist in england in point of flexibility when addressing a multitude upon any great topic it varied in tone from the sigh of the wl wi nd to the roar of the cataract his words though unstudied flowed betimes like a gentle stream and then the effect of his oratory upon his auditors was remarkable occasionally they would listen in rapt and breathless stillness until catching the genius of the speaker they would break into a tumult of enthusiasm thusia sm his peculiar abilities constituted him more a political standard bearer than a manipulator and leader of men take him au all in all he can be properly cla classed a ed among the great men of the earth |
