Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1889 — OBITUARY. [ARTICLE]

OBITUARY.

JOHN BRIGHT. The death of John Bright occurred inLondon on the morning of March 27th, after an illness extending nearly two years. He was bom in Lancashire, November 1811, of Quaker parents. In 1802 his father set up a hand loom in the neighborhood of Rochdale, thus laying the foundation of the cotton spinning industry which the sons developed. John’s earnestness, common-sense estimate of every question and his marked faculty for impressing the common people with homely argnmentA'have been widely attributed to his Quaker training and. simplicity of early manners. He was in pari educated at Ackworth, a well known Friends’ school, and latter went to school at York and Newton.' In February, 1827, when a little more than fifteen years old, he entered his father’s business, but was already so much interested in public affairs that, in 1830, he began to speak at temperance meetings near Rochdale. He took a warm interest in the movement in 1835 for national education and was brought in contact with Richard Cobden, of whom he was a faithful ally on the subject of free trade. In 1841, Bright entered the struggle against the corn laws, which first brought him prominently before the public. He attacked the problem on moral rather than on political grounds. In 1843 he was nominated for Parliament as representative of Durham, and though at first defeated he was elected at a second contest after hist opponent had been unseated for bribery. He made his first speech in Parliament in support of a motion concerning the customs revenues, and was largely instrumental in securing the abolition of the corn laws. He opposed the measure fixing a days work at 10 hours, though his own workman forwarded a petition favoring it The other important subjects upon which he worked at that time were various proposals for the relief of Ireland and the search for a supply of cotton outside of America. Mr. Bright shared with Cobden the abhorrence of war which led to the peace congress of that time. When England drifted into war with Russia, Bright opposed the government and his own constituents, and in 1855 he made some memorable speeches against the continuance of the war. In 18561 he retired from Parliament, but was returned by Birmingham in

August 1857. He was conspicuous in his support of the Union during the Rebellion, in 1861-’65. though his own interests (the cotton) suffered largely thereby. His labors in favor of increased franchise were constant and earnest. He retired from Parliament in 1870. In 1873 he was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which position he held until 1874. In 1880 he was again honored with this position, but resigned in 1882, when the war was begun with Ejfr pt. He was twice married, his first wife living but two yean. Four sons and three daughters blessed his second marriage. He was a champion of Irish rights in Parliament when it required a man of nerve to be outspoken on the subject He was not identified, however, with the Irish National idea, and of late yean became completely alienated from Irish interests and was one of Gladstone’s most powerful opponents on the hnme rule scheme. He was an orator of extraordinary power, and in the days of his vigor rendered greater service to the Liberal cause than aay other man in England.