Morning journal and courier., 1880-05-22
THE OLD WORLD.
Great Britain.

Scenes i'm Parliament-Oppositfon to BradIaugh's Taking the Oath-GIad-
 stone Denounced.
 LONDON, May 21.-Mr. Charles Bradlaugh appeared at the bar of the House to-day and stated to the Speaker that he was prepared to take the oath, which is in the following words: ''I do solemnly swear to be faithful and true in the allegiance I bear to Queen Victoria, her heirs and successors according to the law, so help me God"
 Sir Henry Wolf, member for Portsmouth county, who sat in the late Parliament for Christ church, offered a motion declaring that MT. Bradlaugh should not be permitted to take an oath nor be admitted to his seat in any way MT. Bradlaugh, said Sir Henry is an atheist and an avowed revolutionist. Ev- cry one knew that his taking of an oath was mockery and blasphemy. Alderman R. N. Fowler, Conservative, seconded the mo- tion of Sir Henry and urged the House to be careful how it opened the door to the admis- sion of men who were known to be enemies of the crown and the principles of religion upon which the stability of the kingdom de- pended. MT. Gladstone then suggested that the question of the right of the House to re- fuse to allow duly elected member to take the oath be referred to new select commit tee. He had no sympathy whatever with the principles of Mir. Bradlaugh, but he was anxious that no precedent should be set up in his case which would interfere with the right of constituency to be represented in the Parliament of the na- tion. By this time the House had become densely crowded and great excitement pre- vailed Several members endeavored simu1- taneously to obtain the floor and some con- fusion followed. It was evident that strong party was bent upon the exclusion of Mr. Bradlaugh at any cost, and the feeling on both sides high. Finally Sir Stafford Northcote obtained the floor. He said he wished to support in the strongest pos sIble manner the motion of Sir Henry Wolf. Bradlaugh, he said, had declared that an oath was not binding on his conscience and it would be sham and a farce to allow him to take it. The act would be disgrace to the House and an insult to God, and it should not be permitted MT. Henry La bouchere, who was elected from Northford conjointly with Mir. Bradlaugh, took the part of his colleague, and in somewhat impas- stoned speech appealed to the House to ad- init him to take the oath. Mr. Bradlaugh, said Mir. Labouchere, was elected for political and not for theological reasons It the question was referred to a committee and the committee should report adversely to Mir. Bradlaugh's claim, Mr La bouchere said he would bring in bill to en- able Mir. Bradlaugh to make an affirmation
 The debate was adjourned till Monday next.
 While this scene was going on in Commons the House of Lords was the theatre of one almost as exciting. Lord Salisbury denoun- ced MT. Gladstones letter to Count Karolyi, the Austrian minister aS base and said Glad stone's course was shameful. Earl Beacons- field followed in the same strain, declaring that Gladstone had lost no time in trailing the British flag in the dust and inviting for eign powers to look upon Great Britain with contempt.