“[The opposition to the Reform Bill of 1866 was directed] against the admission of any portion of the working men to the suffrage. The Tory party, and those from the Liberal ranks who join it, are animated by an unchangeable hostility to any Bill which gives the franchise to the working men. They object to any transfer of power from those who now possess it, and they object to share their power with any increased number of their countrymen who form the working class. They regard the workmen here as the southern planter regards the negroes who were so lately his slaves. They can no longer be bought or sold; so far they are free men. They may work and pay taxes; but they must not vote. They must obey the laws, but must have no share in selecting the men who are to make them. The future position of the millions of working men in the United Kingdom is now determined, if the opposition of the Tory party is to prevail—it is precisely that fixed by the southern planter for the negro. Millions of workmen will bear this in mind; they will now know the point or the gulf which separates one party from the other in the House of Commons.”

—  John Bright

Public letter (25 March 1866), quoted in G. M. Trevelyan, The Life of John Bright (London: Constable, 1913), pp. 351-352.
1860s

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "[The opposition to the Reform Bill of 1866 was directed] against the admission of any portion of the working men to the…" by John Bright?
John Bright photo
John Bright 55
British Radical and Liberal statesman 1811–1889

Related quotes

Prevale photo

“In art, those who have good taste, possess a fundamental quality during the realization of any work.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: In arte, chi ha buon gusto, possiede una qualità fondamentale durante la realizzazione di qualsiasi opera.
Source: prevale.net

George Long photo

“This power of attention is that which perhaps more than any thing else distinguishes those who do great things from those who can do nothing well.”

George Long (1800–1879) English classical scholar

An Old Man's Thoughts on Many Things, Of Education I

George Orwell photo
Nathaniel Lindley, Baron Lindley photo
Robert H. Jackson photo

“We set up government by consent of the governed, and the Bill of Rights denies those in power any legal opportunity to coerce that consent.”

Robert H. Jackson (1892–1954) American judge

319 U.S. 641
Judicial opinions, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943)
Context: We set up government by consent of the governed, and the Bill of Rights denies those in power any legal opportunity to coerce that consent. Authority here is to be controlled by public opinion, not public opinion by authority.

Laisenia Qarase photo

“Any Bill is drafted without consulting any party or stakeholders is because it contains what the Government wants to be included in the Bill.”

Laisenia Qarase (1941) Prime Minister of Fiji

20 May 2005, explaining why he had not consulted the Great Council of Chiefs on the legislation
Additional remarks about the proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission

Joseph McCabe photo

“Any body of men who believe in hell will persecute whenever they have the power.”

Joseph McCabe (1867–1955) British writer

What Gods Cost Man (1933).

Adam Smith photo
Benito Mussolini photo
Louisa May Alcott photo

Related topics