The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1889. The Late John Bright.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 29 March 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1889. The Late John Bright.

We have frequently heard the late. John Bright, when in the prime of health and strength, address vast audiences from the publio platform, It was, however, almost hard to realise that he was the first English orator. The reason of this lay in the great physical difficulty which a speaker labors under in malting bis

voice audible simultaneously to three or four thousand people. To address an audience of five hundred persons is a comparatively easy task, but a closely packed hall containing thousands of eager listeners taxeß the best energies of an oratorical giants Probably Mr Bright's best speeclie. were those made in the House of Commons, where the strain upon his physical powers was comparatively slight. Forty years ago respectable fathers of families used to shake their heads when Mr Bright's name was mentioned, and speak of him as men now speak of a Nihilist or of a red republican. Yet, without any marked change in his opinions, he came to be regarded in later years as almost a Conservative, Gradually it was found that the reforms he advocated were the prudent and sensible steps in advance which an intelligent nation could take with safety. Mr Bright went so far as his sound common sense and his intuitive perception of

national needs prompted him, but no further. It slowly dawned on the people of England that he was loyal to the nation and to tho exalted lady who sat upon its throne, and when at length that gracious lady paid him a personal attention, which showed how highly she valued the tribune of the people, everybody in England was ready to do homage to him. Mr Bright, however, retained his sturdy independence. " I dwell amongst my own people," he said, and it was amongst his Quaker friends at his Rochdale home that he was content to give a social intercourse, which would have been valued in the proudest London drawing room. Not that Mr Bright was quite a model Quaker. He had some little habits, such as an inveterate fondness for tobacco, which were scarcely admired in the Society of Friends. In public life ho was a politician to the backbone, and perhaps during a political career extending over half a century, there was never a man who was more often right in his judgment than he, Commencing as an agitator, he-became in his old age an English statesman of the first rink. .In private life, he was delightfully simple in his habits and never happier than when playing with children or amusing young, people with playful and witty sallies, which indicated a light heart and cheerful temperament. Tho grandest man of the nineteenth century has passed away, full of years and full of honor, Hia true Blirino will be the hearts of the Engii!' l speaking race all over the civilised globe. 11l America 1)9 was, though he never visitea country, as highly esteemed as if he had been a citizen of the great Republic. John Bright was an apostle of humanity, and m every natjon of the earth there will be) found some w|io will feel that a great man and a friend has passed away.