The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-07-10
The BradIaugh Case.

N. O. Times
ne case of Mr.. Charles BradIaugh
which has attracted great attention
and has created so much eXcitemenr
in England, is at last settled. Mr.
Bradlaugh, who was refused his seal
in Parliament because he is an atheist
and refused to take the oath required
OF members, has been permitted to
affirm" and he is now in the full en-
! joyment of his rights. The power
ofpublic opinion is not often soquickly
and so conspicuously shown as it was
| this case. Almost as soon as Brad
laugh was elected the English press
commenced TO agitate the question
whether or not, being an atheist, he
should be allowed to take his seat. 1t
was taken for granted that he would
not take the oath, and il was urged
that permission to affirm ought to be
refused. On the 2lst of last month the
matter came up before Parliament in
the shape of Il petition from North
hampton - Bradlaugh's borough -
signed by $4,000 voters, asking that
the right to qualify be denied to Brad
laugh. The petition was presented by
a leading Tory, and it was Immediately
determined by the opposition party to
use Bradlaugh to bring the Liberal
party into disrepute with the religious
elements. The purpose was to make
the case party issue, and to force the
Liberals into supporting Brad augh.
1T would have been much better for
Mr.. Gladstone to have accepted the
issue, and to have done at once what
he was forced to do nearly two weeks
later. When the motion was made by
Mr. Labouchere that Mr.. Bradlaugh |
be allowed to qualify by affirmation,
Mr.. Gladstone declared that the gov
could do nothing but advise,
and that the House must decide the
question. stirring debate at once
during which Mr.. Bright |
uttered the memorable words which
have called out extensive comment
and criticism in England. He said
" The lower classes do not believe any
more in the Christian dOgmas than
5he upper classes practice them" Mr..
Labouchere's motion was rejected, and
Mr. Bradlaugh was denied his seat.
lie refused to accept the decision, and
attempted to force his way into the
House. BY order Of the House he was
'rrested and locked up in the clock
over. The debate and the arrest
rnattnIn ndrt dtrftlolfa' Dc :, they sought
,(pI[llss G( Use rs plts an agent rapidly becoming
very distinguished martyr. This was
not in harmony with their wishes nor
heir plans, and, on the advice off
he was released on the
4th of June. Mr.. Labouchere imme-
lately gave notice that he should
move to reconsider the vote by which !
he right to qualify by affirmation had {
,een denied to Mr.. Bradlaugh. In
he meantime, meetings were held in
III parts of England, and the action
If the House, in making members
,elief relative TO religious matters t
est of his right to a seat, severely con- (
Iemned. Indeed, SO strongly was
,opular feeling manifested that Mr.. {
iladstone saw the necessity of yield |
ng to it, and so he announced that
yhen Mr.. LaboucherelS motion came j,
ID the government would support it.
lie did more. He enlarged the scope q
f it so as to allow all members to
firm who may wish to qualify in that |
ray, and, in that shape, supported by :
he government, it was adopted with
at division. Thus, in less than two I
weeks, the policy Of the government I
vas changed 10y the force of public &
pinion. 1t is doubtful if persons re-
igious belief, or lack of religious belief, y
Jill ever again be bar to his admis- |
ion to a seat in the English Par t
lament