1887] ACTION AS UNIONIST 459 servative Government, Bright said little, and his most important action was a silent one. Lord George Hamilton, who watched it as an interested spectator from the Treasury Bench, thus describes the occasion: 'On March 22nd, 1887, Mr. W. H. Smith made the following motion : "That the introduction and second stage of the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill have precedence of all Orders of the Day and Notices of Motions," etc. 'On that an amendment was moved by Mr. John Morley: "That the House declines to set aside the business of the Nation in favour of a measure for increasing the stringency of the Criminal Law in Ireland whilst no effectual security has been taken against the abuse of the Law by the exactions of excessive rents." 'The Debate commenced on the 22nd, and lasted until the 25th March. Mr. John Bright took no part in the discussion, but a great deal depended upon the action which he personally took. If he abstained from voting or voted against the Government, the Unionist Coalition would have been practically broken up. On the other hand if he, in order to avert Home Rule, voted for a procedure which was so contrary to his previous professions, the Coalition would receive fresh source of strength and cohesion. 'When the Division Bell rang, Mr. Bright, who was sitting close by Gladstone, without a moment's hesitation walked straight into the Government lobby.' In these last two years he saw nothing of Mr. Gladstone, but he was often thinking and talking of him. Two such men who have been so close to each other for so long and done such great things together, cannot part and think no more about it. It was much better that he should speak as severely of Gladstone as he did than that he should have been indifferent. When he heard news of Mr. Gladstone he used to put it down in his journal : 'Conversation with M. Waddington, the French Ambassador, who had visited Mr. Gladstone at Dollis Hill a month ago. In talk with Mr. Gladstone found him absorbed in the Irish question-on former occasions they could discuss other subjects-he would always rise to Homer or some other literary topic, but now Homer failed, and only Ireland now, always Ireland. He thought, while as brilliant as ever in point of language, that his judgment was impaired -one idea had got full possession of him.' At length chance brought Bright and Gladstone together in a London street. The careful entry in the journal, with the hour and the spot noted as he was not accustomed to note the details of casual meetings, shows that to Bright the occasion was full of emotions which he does not attempt to define. 'February 17, 1887. Walking along Piccadilly, I met Mr. Gladstone-had not seen him since the defeat of his Irish Bill last year. We stopped and shook hands. I remarked we had been far apart for some time. He said: "I hope we may before long be nearer together again,' which I doubted or feared we might not be. I asked after his family his son Herbert is in India, but is soon expected home. Herbert told him how good in India had been the influence of Lord Ripon's Government. Mr. Gladstone took his glove off to shake hands with me as indicating more cordiality of feeling. We met at 1.30 just opposite the house where one of the Rothschilds lived-I think the house where Lady Rosebery's mother lived.' Four months later an exchange of letters took place; Gladstone wrote to correct a statement of Bright, and Bright replied as follows: 'June 14, 1887. 'My remark as to your speech was not strictly accurate. I wrote from memory, and the sentence about Ulster was not sufficiently definite to have fixed itself in my memory. I regret the apparent want of accuracy. But on reading over the report of your speech I may observe that you deal with the Ulster question in a way not calculated to give any comfort or any hope to the loyal population of that Province. In dealing with this question, even in a speech to Welshmen, I think Ulster has a claim upon you for a definite expression of opinion as to your plan for the future Government of the Province. Your plan a year ago was to place Ulster under the rule of a Parliament in Dublin, and the people know and dread that their fortunes would be subject to the control of a body of men about whose character and aims you and I differ very seriously—you deem them patriots, I hold them to be not patriots, but conspirators against the Crown and Government of the 1887] RELATIONS WITH MR. GLADSTONE 461 United Kingdom. It is not long since we agreed, or, I thought we agreed, on this point. You have changed your opinion, I can only regret that I have not been able to change mine. 'The recent astounding revelations in the Times newspaper must have confirmed the fears and anxieties of the people of Ulster, and have increased their dread of being subjected to the rule of Mr. Parnell and of his agents and followers in Ireland and in the House of Commons. I grieve that I cannot act with you as in years past, but my judgment and my conscience forbid it. If I have said a word that seems harsh or unfriendly, I will ask you to forgive it.' CHAPTER XXII THE DEATH OF JOHN BRIGHT 'Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail MILTON, Samson Agonistes. JOHN BRIGHT's last illness and death took place at One Ash, the house where he had lived for half a century, during so many happy and so many lonely years. Just across the common lay the factories where his workpeople were employed, and Greenbank where the home of his birth and childhood used once to stand, and where his brother Thomas still lived, although in a new house. John Bright was taken seriously ill in May 1888, recovered to some extent in August and September, and became worse again in October. In the last week of November, knowing that he was in extreme danger, he sent for his children, told them his wishes, and finally arranged his affairs. His calmness and fortitude, and his kindness in thinking of every one, touched all around him. On November 27 his son Albert, who saw eye to eye with him in politics, and had been much in his confidence, wrote the following letter to Mr. Gladstone : 'My Father is sinking, and the end cannot be far off. He sent for me last night when he became aware of his condition in order to tell me of some things which he wished me to attend to after his death, and he wished me to write to you and tell you that "he could not forget your unvarying kindness to him and the many services you have rendered to the country." He was very weak and did not seem able to say any more, and I saw the tears running down his cheeks. He is quite conscious and calm, and suffers no pain. He is just slipping away from us.' |