Forster, whose death we learn by tele. gram, was the only eon of the late William Forster, who was for more than half a century ® Minister of the Society ut Friends, and was born at Bradpole in Devonshire on the 11th of Jaly, 1818, His mother was a sister of Sic Thomas Fuwell Buxto After receiving his education at the Friends? School, fottentiam, he became partner in Fison and Forster up to the time of his death. During the famine in the yeni 1846-7 he went to Ireland and dis. tubated " famine relief fund which trid been rived by the Quakers, when his zeal attracted the attention of others who were engaged in the same wok, At the "general election of 1859 he stood for Leeds in the Liberal interest, and was defeated; but two yenrs afterwards he was returned for Bradford and represented that town, and from November last one of its three di ever since. Bathe outencountering ud acrimonious opposition from ® portion of the con.
ency, chiefly the politioul nou-cou-who were offended by of the 25th clause of Education Act of 1870, and who brought forward against him anarrowminded member of their own section of the Radial party. In 1874 Mr, Borster was, however, returned ab the lead of the poll, the Tories giving him their second votes, After filling some subordinate officers in the Guvernment, Mr, Forster was appointed Vice-President of the Oounoil, and in this capacity bad charge of the Education Act and afterwards of the Ballot Bill, and his temper and tact greatly assisted the passage of these measures through the House of Comm When Mr. Gladstone abandoned the leadership of the Liberal Party after the general election in 1874, Mr. Forster wascousidered by many his most suitable successor, but the rancour of the section which bad opposed him at the election continued unabated, and thie, with the desire of others to be led by the Marquis of Hartington, caused him to withdraw his name. Ina letter, addressed, we think, to Mr. Bright, he said that he could not undertake the office of lender even if chosen to do so at an approaching meeting of the Party, as it appeared clear to him he that would not receive general support, During the Disraeli Administration, he actively opposed their foreign policy, and on the return of Mr. Glndstone to power in 1880 he accepted office as Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Irolan In this position he had the chief conduct of Irish affairs, and incurred the deadly Latred of the Nationnlist party, Although he frequently received threat. ening lotters his life was never tually attempted, but after the Phoenix Park murders it was discovered that snssinal The imprisonment of plot had been formed for his ase
Mr. Parnell and other leaders of the Land League occurred during his term of office, and the measures which he oon-sidered necessary for the government of Ireland failing to meet the apr of some of his colleagues, he, wit Earl Cowper, the Lord Lieutenant, re"
ued in April, 1882. Since then be has private member of Parliament, Mr, Forster cun scarcely be ani lave attained the political position which was anticipated for him some fifteen years ngo, but this has been chiefly owing to the claims to high office of other members of the Liberal Party, There is no doubt he was man of mach greater political ability than Lords Derby, Granville, or Hira berley, or placeman like Sir William Harovurt, all of whom have been Secretaries or State, but none of whom are beld in such general estimation for statesmanship as Lo was. His appearance and manner of speaking were rather rough, if not uncouth, but la debating power was undoubted is honesty of purpose, and the moderation with which be advocated opinion, sometimes of an advanced de" scription, made him a political power in the House, There have been very few who have during the Inst quarter of ® century commanded the same influence among the best men of both political parties. A portion of the non-conformists treated him uugenerously, the Nationaliats bated him for the firmness he had shown in Irish affaire, but the great bulk of the Li borals and the Tories held him in honour, Mr, Forster ceased to be a
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.