The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-08-27
THE USE OF oATHs.
rornns IN Various Countries n. n P,sa,.
f. -Na.-= .... Of Loyalty, r-..r...-. =.
London Standard

It rorrns IN Various Countries as a PIedo-
% -"a 4..r OF Loyalty. .......-. 80.
u London Standard. . a.a.
: Apropos OF the Bradlaugh affair, the
LONDON STANDARD publishes the follovipp
4 summary Of the declarations of alliance
n made by Legislatures of the counties msn.
toned .1ao isaarreg rnl LIg-.1 III !
In France, since the abolition Of the em.
pre- on the 4th Of September, 1870, no cath
or aifirmation has bsen administered In the
!, republic. Nor Is there any formality tina.
migot Dc regarded as an equivalent. Un-
der sne empire new members made declar-
alton to thu following effect: 81 swear A.
delity to the Emperor and the Constitu-
tion." But the name OF the Deity was not
included. The members of the German
fariiament take no oath nor do they make
any afhrm ation whatever. The members
OF the Prussian and most other State mar.
liameuts take an oath of loyalty beginning
with the words: ~ swear by God, the
omnipotent and Omniscient," and conclu-
ding with the words, so may God help
me-" To this latter formula those who
wish 1t may add: Through Jesus Christ
70 eternal bliss. Amen" Any one refu-
sing to take the oath, or commenting upon
IT, would undoubtedly be excluded from
the Prussian a nd other State Parliaments.
In conformity, however, with the laws reg. !
ulating the administration of oaths In civi, |
ana criminal courts, IN exception would be
made in the case Of persons belonging to
recognized theistic communities who. like
certain Mennonite and Jewish sects, regard
the name Of the Deity as d.. d.
TOO AWFUL TO BE INVOKED - |
In tue transaction Of secular business. In
these cases simple affirmation would be
regarded as equivalent to an oath, The
omission Of any oath in the German Par.
lament is occasioned by the wish to avoid
the delicite question as to the amount of
loyalty due the Emperor In contradistinc-
tion to State sovereigns. By the law pas
sed on the 10Th Of May, 1868, parliamenta-
~ oaths were abolished in Austria and Z
simple affirmation was subs tituted. The &
hrst paragraph of the standing order of tie
Austrian Richsrath reads as follows t
New members on entering either of the r
Two houses, have, on the Presidents cbal-
enge, in place Of taking an oath, to prom
se loyalty and obedience to the Emperor. h
nviolable obedience to the Constitution, an &
we'll as all other laws, and conscientious t,
ulhllment of their duties" Upon the
resident reading words to this effect the b
lew member simply replies: 81 promise"
Articles 81 and G8 of the Rules of the
spanish Congress ssy that deputies, before Il
'hey can take their seats, shall make thu, ID
ollowing oath, which is read aloud by the u'
ecresary of the Congress, all present t'
landing -" Do you swear to observe, and o.
,aks others observe the Constitution of Oh
DO Spanish monarchy? Do you swear Al
eiity and obedience to the legitimate King in
Spain, Alfonso XII? Do you swear well Sc
nd truly to behave in the mission copfided W
you by the natisn, always and in every to
ling seeking the welfare of the nation p, dy
ne deputies then. two at a time. approach N,
10 table Of the President. and knsslinp on of
1 nr !. RIGHT HAND, r- ,.-,I
Q remaining sitting, they place their pii
'nds on the gospel lying before them and lae
v, "Yes, i do swear" and the President da
on answers, IL you do, may God reward aa
u; II not, may be call you to account" = r'd
lis formula was re-etab ablished 10 1879. in s
D Constitution voted by the First Cort es the
der the Restoration. It is copied from Ste
Constitution in force during the reign :
queen Isabella. At the time of the con
anish Revolution no oaths were REQUIRED VIII
the Cortes, and when the FIRST Cortes of ~
Restoration met, Seiior CASTELAR, pro- my
ted against the oath and at first refused tina
take 1t. but finally submitted. % In the sort
'ond Cortes Of the Restoration the Dem. had
ratio and Liberal minority of fifteen nice
mites, under CASTELAR, and Martos. again A
tested against the oath, of allegiance, ,"F
took it after publicly stating their men HON
but no instance exists on ball
records of the House that deputy de- whe
ed to take the oath on ground Of athe- new
CONVICTIONS. For such cases no rule she
ever existed In the Spanish Cortsz. with
President Of the Italian Chamber of N
'usies, seeing new deputy in his place, E.,,,,
): II invite the honorable gentleman e.
Ike the oath in the following form II
" to Be faithful to the King. and to al !,
'rvs loyalty the fundamental statuts a. =,
a.. "'s" 81" MARI
z;n,, .,a ~. -. - ~ "o"A'o " elor q
n III. n,..s ...'.. no" yep phia.
and pronounces the ono word, "Gui- NJ NJ"
swear)." -sA -.+ls-z1g g,-- MIS-