sprung from the most humble ranks of society, raise themselves to the highest ranks in public estimation by the effect of their own worth and of their personal services; finally, one of the rarest examples of the solid qualities inherent in the English character. He is, above all, in our eyes, the representative of those sentiments and those cosmopolitan principles before which national frontiers and rivalries disappear; while essentially of his country, he was still more of his time; he knew what mu tual relations could accomplish in our day for the prosperity of peoples. Cobden, if I may be permitted so to say, was an international man."

The feeling of America was well expressed by Elihu Burritt two days after Cobden's death: "His memory the Englishspeaking race in both hemispheres will ever hold and cherish as a common treasure. . . All the millions that inhabit the American continent shall hold the life of Richard Cobden as one of the great gifts of God to a common race, and cherish and revere his memory as one of the priceless heir-looms which the mother-land has presented to the multitudinous family of States she has planted on the outlying continents and islands of the globe."

Cobden will be known forever as the liberator of commerce and the champion of the poor. "He sleeps the long sleep on the lovely summit of a Sussex hill: not in a wilderness of graves, for there are few who share that consecrated ground with him, but amid the scenes which speak the beauty of his life and the glorious hope of a joyful resurrection."

Cobden is among the few men of this age who were sure of immortality even before descending to the tomb. His grave is the Mecca of the poor; it is the shrine around which the garlands of a nation's gratitude will love to hang. Over it will grow the sweetest flowers that deck the English sod. Sweetly will the night stars glisten from the dew which baptizes it. and down through the coming ages, like a torch transmitting the light of a better day, it will guide the doubting, inspire the timid, and heal the broken-hearted. Such are the men upon

JOHN BRIGHT MEETS COBDEN.

475

whom God and the race depend, and have depended, through all the ages, for human salvation.

XVI.

OHN BRIGHT and Richard Cobden will long be men

JOH

tioned in the same breath. They were the Damon and Pythias of English Reform. Born in the humbler spheres of life, with none of the souvenirs or traditions of a prouder class; gifted with great natural qualities, good sound English blood, good sound English common sense; born honest, healthy, courageous, aspiring; loving the right, hating the wrong, they started out in life much as healthy trees come up and grow; striking their roots deep and spreading their branches wide; as clear streams start far away on the clouded mountain sides, gliding round or breaking through every barrier, until they swell into majestic rivers, and are forever called Niles, Rhines, Mississippies. Such men are founders of systems, not families. They are more than Rudolphs-they are Alfreds, Franklins, Howards. Because they live, others shall live also.

John Bright is now about fifty-six years old. His father, still living near Rochdale, being a worthy Friend, brought up his family in the pure faith and simple manners of that best, perhaps, of all religious societies.

While Bright was still quite young, though well established in business, he began to show some very un-Quakerish qualities. His friends looked on the silent, delving, bookish youngster, and wondered whether he would turn out a statesman, a great preacher, a large cotton-spinner, or what. His inclination towards the study of Political Economy was the strong thing about him-the strongest. He went to the bottom of the Corn Laws, while he was digging around the rotten foundations of the British social system, when he fell in with Cobden, who was just entering on his great work of overthrowing the infamous, famine-breeding bread Tax. The first meeting of these extraordinary, sturdy young Englishmen, settled Bright's career

.

476

BRIGHT STRIPS FOR THE WORK.

and affected the fortunes of the British empire, as the interview of no other two men had for an age. Cobden's mind was more mature. He had read deeper, he had gone further; but they both felt alike. They became brothers at once spiritually, as twins are naturally. Cobden was already in the field-Bright stripped and entered; and finally everybody and everything had to give way before them.

XVII.

RIGHT did not cease to be a Quaker, he only shouldered the

*

former began a work which will close only with his life. The

*I quote the following page from my Light and Dark of the Rebellion, pub lished in 1863, pp. 58, 59, in illustration of the text:

"This insurrection has disturbed the deepest fountains of the life of our people, both the good and the bad. It has agitated the serenest waters. Even the members of the Society of Friends have been among the bravest and best contributors to the war. In the field their gallant sons have done all the duties of citizens, as nobly as their fathers have performed them in the calmer scenes of domestic and civil life.

"At one of the regular meetings of the Society of Friends (Orthodox),a committee was proposed to be raised to inquire into and attend to the cases of young men, sons of members, who it was supposed had, in clear violation of all the standard rules of the Society, enlisted for military service in this dreadful war. It was notorious that a large number of this class had actually shouldered the musket and marched with their regiments; and it was strongly suspected that many of these boys had actually received the warmest blessings of their demure bnt none the less heroic mothers, and the inspiring encouragement of gentle sisters, on their departure.

66

'But, as the case had been brought up before the meeting by some of the strictest Friends, it became necessary to give it the most serious consideration; and the members of the committee were duly proposed.

"The first rose, with great dignity, and, with that inimitable serenity which always characterizes the proceedings of the Orthodox Quakers, requested to be excused, on the ground that he could not conscientiously serve in that capacity, since, very much to his pain and sorrow, among the young members who had enlisted for the war he had a son!

"Another member desired to be excused on the ground that, without his

BRIGHT ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT.

477

utmost efforts were made by his friends to deter him from launching into the strifes and collisions of public life; but every consideration of this kind was pressed upon him in vain. He was, however, so genial and persuasive in his private conversations, that no doubt was entertained of his success before public audiences. In this his friends were disappointed. The atmosphere of the members of the Society was too cold for the earnestness of his feelings, and he soon broke away from all these social restraints, and began to address public assemblages of the world's people. He found himself in his element; he grappled in a fast hold with his strongest antagonists, and in every argument left them prostrate. He was put forward for Parliament, and successively defeated; but in 1843 he was elected a member for Durham. He soon felt at home in the House of

knowledge, two of his sons had not only joined the army, but were already in the field.

·

"Finally, the third member rose, and stood some moments without speaking. He was a venerable man: he looked like the patriarch of the solemn assembly. His hair was white, but his cheek looked like a rose in the snow.' Friends, we in our weakness cannot foresee the purposes of the great Father of all things; nor should we attempt to scrutinize his Almighty designs. It becomes my duty to inform you all, that my youngest son, two of my grandsons, and several of my nephews, have also taken up arms in the defense of our beloved country; and I am very much afraid that I could not serve on the committee with any good to our cause.'

"A reverent silence brooded over the assembly, and for a protracted interval the silence remained unbroken. At last the mover of the motion' rose, and proposed that 'the whole matter should be temporarily postponed.'

A very large number of the brave young men of the Society of Friends (Orthodox) have gone to the field, and they have fought with a heroism, and a faith in the endurance of the republic, worthy of the loyalty of their Society to the great principles of humanity and religion. I can make no estimate of their numerical force.

"But by far the larger number of the Society of Friends who have joined our army belong to what is popularly known as 'Hicksites.' They embraced the great cause on the start. From Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, and other States, it is quite probable that not less than five thousand Quakers have enlisted and fought in our armies. Call them 'Orthodox' or 'Hicksites,' it matters little to us: so long as our fellow-citizens are ready to fight and die for the country, they are our best beloved brothers."

478

BRIGHT IN PARLIAMENT.

Commons, and, as a certain writer said," showed that body common sense in insurrection against Parliamentary chains and sanctified conventionalities." Feeling itself defied by this young Quaker, the House showed its contempt by groans and hisses, and then by emptying the seats. But his courteous manner, his patient disposition, and still more his abundance of resources and blandness of spirit, soon convinced the country gentlemen that groans did not answer his arguments, and the House found it had not time enough to put him down. They were therefore first brought to listen to him, perhaps, in an economical use of time; next in the facile manner in which he disposed of angry men; then through an interest in what he said; and finally out of respect to the speaker and to his argu

ments.

So, gradually, John Bright became what he has since remained, and promises to continue to be, a living power in the House of Commons, distinct in itself, and necessarily antagonistic to the aristocracy.

XVIII.

OHN BRIGHT is a capitalist, a "cotton lord," a head enemy of the present system of landlordism in England. He is, besides, identified with radical Quakerism, which is the sturdy, right way of religious dissent. Although he is an agitator, he is a non-resistant, a peace man; but he makes up in the fierceness of his moral forces what he lacks in the pacific tendencies of his views. With such force has he sometimes pressed the House of Commons, that Bentick said of him, when writhing under his moral scourge, that "If Bright were not a Quaker, he would be a prize-fighter."

It is doubtful whether any member of the House of Commons has, during twenty years, displayed more ceaseless devotion and assiduity to the study and comprehension of every subject that has passed that body in the review of discussion. Mr. Bright has a broad, capacious brain, great quickness of