The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1904. RICHARD COBDEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 132, 8 June 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1904. RICHARD COBDEN.

A brief study of the Jil'o of Richard Cobden, the great "apostle of free trade," the centenary of whose birth has just been celebrated with much enthusiasm in England, is interesting as an instance—one of the many which modern commercial, literary, and political lifo has given us—of the grand results which one man, by sheer force of will, can accomplish. Horn in a humble farmhouse, and receiving only such meagre education as was afforded at the grammarschool of Mulhurst, young Cobden did not start in life with any great advantage. lie was apprenticed in a Manchester warehouse in London belonging to his uncle, and in this situation rapidly made up for the de- | liciencies of his education by bis own : diligence, very soon acquiring a thori ough acquaintance with the business to which he was apprenticed. in 1880, failure having overtaken his uncle, Cobden was thrown on his own and begun to show something of his mettle. Obtaining financial assistance he, with some relatives, started a cotton manufactory in Manchester, which in a few ; years succeeded in producing fabrics j (?qual in point of quality to the best manufactured in London. About i this time Cobden engaged in several : journeys to France, Belgium, and ; Switzerland, and the United States, ! and in these, although undertaken j ostensibly for business purposes, his views became matured and enlarged. J Ilis first political writing was a | pamphlet on England, Ireland, and 1 America, which was followed by an- ! other on Russia. In both of these he gave clear utterance to the political views to which he continued through his life rigidly to adhere, rejecting the course of policy upon the theory of the balance of power, advocating non-intervention in the dis- ! putes oi) other nations, and maintaining it to be the only proper object of the foreign policy of England to increase and- strengthen her connections with foreign countries in the way of trade and peaceful intercourse. These views, although disregarded or considered as visionary in Parliament, wero warmly received in industrial and commercial circles, and secured Cobden a considerable number of followers, especially in ! Manchester. To the cause of education in that city he did great service by the foundation of the Athenaeum in 1837, an institution intended for the improvement of young merchants and manufacturers. On his return from extensive, travels in the East and in Germany, Cobden entered actively on a course of agitation having for its object the currying into effect of his political views. It was about this time that the agitation against the corn laws began, and, soon after, the Anti-Corn LawLeague was formed, in 1888 : it was joined by Cobden, who expended all his energies on behalf of the cause to support which the league had been founded. It is chiefly the extraordinary activity and perseverance of ! Cobden, joined to the zeal of his supporter, John Bright, that England has to thank for the linal victory of free trade principles. In 1811 Cobden was returned to Parliament by Stockport, a seat for which he had been an unsuccessful candidate in 18!i7. In his very first speech in Parliament ho took occasion to point out the unju&t way in which the corn laws operated, and, undeterred by the failure of his lirst efforts, he returned again and again to his subject. After live years of unwearied contest, he succeeded in convincing Sir Robert Peel himself, then Prime Minister, of the pernicious action of the corn laws, and in inducing him to bring in a bill for their repeal. The bill passed both Houses of Parliament before the end of June, 184(3, and Sir Robert Peel was the lirst to congratulate Cobden on his victory in a speech delivered in the House of Commons. During the labours of this long, struggle Cobden was ob'lig-. Ed to greatly neglect his business, which before the agitation commenced had been a highly prosperous one. As compensation for the loss lie luul thus sustained a national subscription was made, and a sum of about <£70,000 collected and presented to him. Immediately after the passing of the Corn Law Kepeal Bill Sir Robert Peel's Cabinet resigned, and his successor, Lord John Russell, offered Cobden a seat in the new Administration, but he declined, in order not to sacrifice his independent position in Parliament. Jle again visited several countries on the Continent, where he was generally received with enthusiusm, and in JB'l7 returned to his Parliamentary duties, having been returned unopposed as one of the members for the West Hiding of Yorkshire. Cobden now appeared chiefly as the advocate of Parliamentary reform, economy and retrenchment in the management of the finances of the country, and a policy of non-intervention ; in all ol which he found a firm and ready ally in Bright. His advocacy of a peace policy did not in every case add to his popularity. His opposition to the policy of Lord Aberdeen in 185K, which ultimately led to the Russian war, met with no success ; and although in 1857 he carried a vote of censure on Lord Palmerston's Chinese policy, his action in this case was so displeasing to the. country generally that he did not obtain a seat in .the new Parliament elected after the dissolution of the former one in consequence of the vote men-j tiojied. Ten years later, however, ,

in 1859, he was returned for Koch- I dale, and was aguin offered a place in the Government as President of the Hoard of Trade, along with a seat, in the Cabinet ; but these offers he a grin declined. In 18(H) he negotiated a treaty of commerce with 1 France, and in return for his services on that occasion was offered a baronetcy, a seat in the Privy Council, and several other offices and dignities. AH of these he steadfastly refused, preferring to retain his simplicity of estate, and to work on for the benefit of his fellow men uninfluenced by the fleeting and dotfhtful honours of the moment. ON THE FOURTH PAGE. Literature. Clifton County Council. Waitara West Road Board.