NOBLE CONDUCT OF MESSRS. COBDEN AND BRIGHT.
Having recently had a slight corvine plucking with Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright, Mr. Punch has the more pleasure in bearing testimony to their noble conduct in reference to the strike disturbances at Wigan.
As soon as Mr. Cobden was informed of these painful outbreaks, he laid aside a pamphlet which he is writing, to prove that Russia never went to war with anybody, and he hurried off to Mr. Bright. He found the latter busily arranging the library which has recently been presented to him for his anti-Corn Law exertions; and that gentleman, hastily dashing down a fine copy of "Boxiana," which he was reading with great zest, got into his friend's carriage.
"I think," said Mr. Cobden, with one of his frank smiles, "that we, who have shown that everything can be arranged by diplomacy, have assailed everybody for not settling differences by arbitration, and have so often vaunted the superiority of the cultivated town operative over the agricultural dolt, would hardly like to be accused of allowing thousands of our own disciples to rise in riot close to our own doors, without interfering and arguing with them."
"By Jove!—I mean verily," said Mr. Bright, nearly smashing the carriage window in his energy, "I should like any dastard to say that I sneaked out of such an affray."
The missionaries of peace and political economy went pleasantly on, reached Wigan, had the military sent away, and convoked the populace. Mr. Cobden then explained to the rioters that a question of wages was not to be settled by violence, and invited them to a peaceful discussion; and Mr. Bright, in the kindest manner, offered to fight anybody who was irrational. Their appeals were successful, and after three hours of peaceful talk, Messrs. C. & B. went off to the employers with proposals, enforcing them by sound argument. They were accepted, and the whole population have returned to work.
Mr. Punch has not often the happiness of agreeing with the Morning Herald, but is bound to express his gratitude to that journal for having called his attention to the above noble and courageous conduct of Messers. Cobden and Bright, who have now shown that they are not mere empty theorists and platform spouters, but honest, consistent friends of peace.