The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-14 00:00:00

was most binding on their consciences, and
whereas BAron LIONEL DE ROTHSCHILD had been
returned as one of the representatives of the city
of L-mden, but was precluded from taking his
seat and voting in consequence of the occurrence
in the Oath of Abjuration of the words on the
true faith of a Christiat,,' which he declared not
to be binding on hi 3 conscience,' the Clerk be in-
structed to omit those words in administering the
Oath of Abjuration to persans who objected to
take them as not being binding upon their con-

sciences."

This is as it should be. It is the course which
Lor JOHN RUSSELL should long since have adopted,
as we have repeatedly explained, and no later than
yesterday repeated. It is the best solution of the
difficulty that court be discovered, and we heartily
rejoice that even at the eleventh hour it has been
determined fairly to take the sense of the House
on the important and interesting question. It
now remains to be seen whether Lord JOHN
RUSSELL and his followers will have the man-
liness to confess and atone for the seri-
ous error into which they were betrayed. if so,
well ! If not, we cannot give them credit, neither
for magnanimity or sincerity. Oa such a point
the C ►morons House of Parliament ought to be,
and is the sole judge of its own privileges. Pro-
vided the substantial portion of the oaths be
taken—that is all that can be required. As we
have repeatedly proved, the adjuration "and this
I declare on the true faith of a Christian," is a
mere form which may, and can be, dispensed
with, whenever the party declares it not to be
binding on his conscience. It is but the stamp,
while the promissory part., is the sterling metal,
that gives intrinsic value to the pledge.
The House has already gone much further in
the case of Quaker members. For Messrs. PEASE
and BOUGHT it dispensed not only with the form,.
but with the oath itself, accepting a declaration,
as the substantial part, in place of a direct appeal
to the Deity. And why ? Simply because that
declaration was " binding on the conscience" of
the person who made it, and his religious feelings
forbade any further sanction. Here was a prece-
dent or rather a succession of precedents directly
in point. Here was the path indicated that
ought unhesitatingly to have been pursued. It
was Lord JOHN RUSSELL that raised the obstacle
that has ever since proved insuperable, and may
continue to resist the tide of public opinion,
for a succession of years. He it was
who, with honeyed words of liberality and good-
will, to our Hebrew fellow-citizens, prevented
Baron ROTHSCHILD and Alderman SALomorts from
assuming the positions to which they were entitled
by the suffrages of large and influential consti-
tuencies. His intentions might have been good.
We have no doubt that he believed the opposi-
tion of the Lords could have been overcome ;
but in place of taking the simple, easy, and
straightforward course, he raised a needless im-
pediment which he could never subsequently
overcome. His was the fate of another FRANIC-
ENSTEIN, who was haunted and baffled to the end
of his career by the monster he had himself

created.
It will be seen from an advertisement in ano-
ther part of our impression that many influential
members have requested a meeting of their brother
representatives, on Thursday, to tali* into consi-
deration the rejection of the Parliamentary Oaths
Bill. If a suitable demonstratiqn be made—if
the pressure be sufficiently stringent—Ministers
must succumb ! And there is the greater prospect
of such a proceeding, inasmuch as thdy are not,
in any degree, committed. It is `• the calm JOHNNY
who upset the coach" that must bear the brunt
of the occasion ; and it has been proved)
beyond the possibility of a doubt, that
he can be surrendered without any extraordinary
de2,ree of compunction, whenever the magnitude

of the crisis may demand such a sacrifice. The
best course for the ex-Premier would be to
yield with a good grace. Nay, more, 11°
could turn the tables, by confessing, arid
taking a leading part in repairing the conse-
quences of his previous mistakes. At all events,
let every really Liberal member come boldly for-
ward. Much will depend on his conduct at the pre"
sent moment, and the time has arrived when it be-
hoves every man to do his duty, and to act 11P
faithfully to his former professions, regardless Of
consequences to himself or others.