JOHN BRIGHT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2608, 30 March 1889, Page 2

JOHN BRIGHT.

Thk Right Honourable Julin Bright died mi Tuusday last, after a somewhat pro- , traded illness, at the, agu of 78. Ho was the greatest orator and ou» of the greatest statesmen of the day, and by his deatli the British people have su.-tained a severe loss. We ab.tr.ict the follow-in},' particulars of the deceased statesman from "Celebrities of the Century" :— John Bright was born in 1811 near Rochdale. The family originally came from Wiltshire to Lancashire, where Mr Bright's father entered the cottonspinning trade, and the business has sines assumed large dimensions. For generations l.lie HrighU were members of the Society of Friends. Mr Bright took ati early interest, in questions of the day, and was deeply moved by the Reform struggle of 1831-2. The education question first brought Bright and Cubden together In 1830 he joined the committee of the National Anti-Corn Law League. He lost his iirst wife in 18-11 after being married only two years, lie then devoted hhr.sflf with Cobden to the repeal of the Corn Laws, and the two friends laboured assiduously together in the cause. In 18-13 ha was returned for Durham, and his iirst .speech in the House of Commons was in support of the repeal of the duties which pressed upon manufactures. During tliß next three years he was ceaseless in advocating free trade, and it was felt that tho main credit of tho legislation of that time was due to the unwearied exertions of Cobden and Bright. After this Mr Bright took an active part in the movement for regulating tho hours «f operatives, and the passing of tho Ton Hours Bill in 1857 and ISSO. He then advooated remedial legislation for Ireland, including the disestablishment of (ha Irish Church, and the application of free-trade principles to the land question. Hβ also turned his attention to India as a source of supply of cotton. In 18-i'J, he married Mis 3 Leatham, tho daughter of a AVakefield banker. Together with Cobden he agitated for the settlement of international disputes by arbitration. He strongly opposed the Crimean War, and in a speech on February 23rd, 1855, made use of the memorable passage, " The Angel of Death has been abroad throughout the laud ; you may almost hear the beatings of his wings." In 1857 he lost his seat for Manchester, owing to his opposition tu the Crimean War and Chinese Question, and Lord l'almerston's popularity. He was, however, elected for Birmingham, which he represented ever sinco. He assisted Lord Derby in the abolition of the East India Company and other reforms in India. He supported the North in tho American Civil War, although his own business suflered severely from the cotton famine. The death of Cobden in ]80i» caiHod him poignant grief. Hβ favoured Mr Disraeli's Reform Bill in ISOli, the disestablishment of tho Irish Church, by Mr Gladstone, aud the Irish Land Act and other measures. Hu was President of the Board of Trade in Mr Gladstone's Ministry of 18u'8 and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1873. Ho lost his second wife suddenly in 18~S. In 18S0 lie again became Chauool'lor of the Duchy of Lancaster, but retired from the Cabinet owing to his dissent from the Egyptian policy. In ISSIi he opposed Mr Gladstone's Homo Rule Bill. He was regarded as one of the greatest orators who have ever adorned the House of Oomuionß,