MR. JOHN BRIGHT.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 144, 10 April 1873, Page 2

MR. JOHN BRIGHT.

Dcrisw. three years Mr Bright has been an involuntary absentee from Parliamentary life. "I shall not know the House of Commons without Su- Robert Peel," said Maciixliy when his re-flection for Edinburgh restored him to^. his old place there. The reformed House of. Commons hasj scarcely been itaelf without Mr Bright. His accustomed seat below the gangway has lacked him, and his absence was even less conspicuous when his place was empty than, when it was tilled by some \eteran Leaguer, or some per-f-ervLd Home Ruler from the upper benches. The portly figure and the hon^hke head caught the glance of all strangers ; and " Bright" was pointed out with pride by the habitues or the attendants of the place. We trust that the time is approaching when he will be seen there again ; when visitors will comment on the sharp, decisive <jei»tme3 with, which the member for Birmingham accompanies his talk to lus neighbour ; and watch tor the quick, nervous glance towards the chair, ami the slight movement which beldom failed to catch at once the eje of the speaker and to arrest the attention of the House, as he rose to take part in the delxite. Whatever differences of opinion might exibt m the Hoii3e of Commons with respect to Mr Bright as a politician, theie never was any question as to his consummate ability as an oiator TUe emptiest House— if perchance he rose in an empty House,, which he was seldom prone to do -speedily filled when he was known to be on his legs. Beginning in low and measured tones, with asort of conversational hesitation in the opening sentences Jj he spe«drly r >se to animation The iiist condition of his success was this --that business was the backbone of his speeches. They were always animated by a purpose which, was clear to himself, and which he never failed to make clear to his hearers. No one could fail to know what he was driving at. . . . Mr Bright has said, in more than one of his speeches, that the tide of statesman has been so much abused, that he has never veiy eagerly coveted it. Yet it is, wo ventuic to think, the name and rank wind will, specifically, and as a muter of description, and not in tho way of mere eulogium, be assigned to him. by impartial critics of his career. In the intellectual and moral qualities of political foresight and fertile resource which the word e<cpresses> it belongs to him, perhaps, more aceiuately than to most of his contemporaries. Mr Bright is essentially a sagacious English politician ; with views larger and wider than those or hand-to-mouth. Ministers, but narrower than those of speculative thinkers; fertile in resomces and expedients, and not indispose I tocompromise in uuessenti.il points in order to secure a fteer nsbent to what is essential. No 'lory, sitting behind Mr Gttthorue Hardy, or side by side with Mr Xcwdegate, has expressed moic unreasonable distrust or alarm than Mr Blight has shown of the theories of Mr Mill ami his disciples. So one is le^s disposed than he to legislate for the possible requii ements of a future gen*ra4ioti4 His eje and thought are fived upon the definite wants of the present time. In itself, this limitation implies a defect of intellectual character. But for the special work which Mr Blight has had to do, the loss to him has been gain to the world. — Duily News.