It was, as Bright wrote to Sumner, "badly managed and told against us[998]," and Bright himself participated in this "bad management." For over a year he had been advocating the cause of the North in public speeches and everywhere pointing out to unenfranchised England that the victory of the North was essential to democracy in all Europe.

Always an orator of power he used freely vigorous language and nowhere more so than in a great public meeting of the Trades Unions of London in St.James' Hall, on March 26, the evening before the parliamentary debate.

The purpose of this meeting was to bring public pressure on the Government in favour of the North, and the pith of Bright's speech was to contrast the democratic instincts of working men with the aristocratic inclinations of the Government[999].
Reviewing "aristocratic" attitude toward the Civil War, Bright said: "Privilege thinks it has a great interest in this contest, and every morning, with blatant voice, it comes into your streets and curses the American Republic.

Privilege has beheld an afflicting spectacle for many years past.

It has beheld thirty millions of men, happy and prosperous, without emperor, without king, without the surroundings of a court, without nobles, except such as are made by eminence in intellect and virtue, without State bishops and State priests.
"'Sole venders of the lore which works salvation,' without great armies and great navies, without great debt and without great taxes.
* * * * * "You wish the freedom of your country.