The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-06-30
B~RADLAUGH'S I
Debate In the Commons on tIie Parlia-
mentary Oath John Bright Assails
the Tories - Lord Stanhopc's Re.
(NeU York Nerdkd.l

A'SN W" '"
LoSDoN, June2l lSS0.-Thc Bradlaugh case
which came up In the House OF Commons to-
night. has thus fur been the clief incident OF
the session. The House was crowded and cr.
the depth Of public Interest that Is taken In
the question. The tories had resolved to make
the admission Of Mr.. Bradlauyhnlcver for In.
tlucncing Tie religious element Of the pOpula.
tion against the libcrnl government by. repre-
scnting Mr.. Gladstone Huld his r,ldichl friends
rs the defenders of nm avOwed atheist. Strong
"whips' were issued by both parties. and ut
the hour OF prayer II was evident that both
sides Ind responded To the summons OF their
leaders. There was not n vacant scat In the
House. Mr.. D%radlaugll, using his right rs a
member elect, occupied II place on the cross
benches, and while the preliminary business
OF the day was being transacted he chuttcd
freely with his friends. But he was evidently
anxious and nervous. He remained in the
House until the question OF his own admis'
sion calne OH. As the decisive moment APP
paused for q omen near II little side door,
standing, hat IL hand, listening with painful
nttentiGl, but with Il contcmptuous smile, TO
Sir Reginald knightley. the county member
from $3.50 Inhabitants Of the own OF North.
ampton, asking the House not to permit Mr..
Bradluugh TO take the oath: When this for.
Inality had been concluded Mr.. LabouclIere
proceeded to argue In favor Of his colleagues
right to affirm. The House was taken rather
by surprise, having expected an impnssioncd
appeal. Mr.. McIalren seconded the motion.
amendment that Mr.. Braulaugh be permit
ted neither to take the oath nor makes affirm.
ntfon. He said the second committees decis.
ion would lead to II revival OF the whole CUES
ton on the motion for q new writ. Mr.. Rob-
crt n. Fowler tconserrativ e) member fur Lon
don, seconded the amendment
MR. bright on RELIGIOUS TESTS.
| The Solicitor General strongly advocated
Mr.. BrndlauSh's right to affirm. Mr.. Bright
took the same view. In II bitter but able
their opposition to Mr.. Dradlaueh because Q!
his religious opinions. He wus met with loud
crics OF dissent. Continuing his argument nc
showed that no Oaths had been administers
to- members of Parliament before the reign OF
Queen Elizabeth. quoting Sir William Horne
~ IN authority to show that by the common
law members were entitled TO tnkc their seats
=, without subscribing to any oath. He warned
the House that the present opposition was IN
attempt to set up the test of Tiielsm rs a quail.
~ification for membership, and that In future
PoSitivistS might be excluded OH religious
tests as Catholics nnd Jews had been excluded
/ In the past. He twitted the opposition lead.
| crs with having entirely abdIcatrd their func.
tons in making an nbirrt submission TO the
obstruction tories below the g;iiigWay. He re-
preached them with their eternal intolerance
and pointed out that they were tho same
party who had ever oppressed the cuDscicnces
OF those who differed from them and who had
never willingly relaxed their intn!crant laws.
except when they had been forced to do so by
the majority. He concluded by reminding
the House that the working classes would moi
he influenced by the religious cry and would
support Mr.. Brld!au1h because "thn lower
Classes do not believe any more In the Chris
tian dn.mas than the upper classes IN their
practice" During his speech Mr.. Bright was
loudly clccred by the liberals. while the con-
ScrvativeS interrupted him with vigorous pro.
tests OF dissent.
ADJoUREMENT or THE ETATE
Earl StnnkOpc rose to reply. hut he was me-
by impatient cries OF ''Dividr!" "Divilr!'
and ".i,!jJurn!' lie pcr>i>tcd. however, and
succeeded In gaining the ear of the llohsc.
Ills reply waSa vigorous drnunciatian OF Mr..
Bright's speech. which he characterized as
wanting In true G iris tlan feeling. 1t WAS now
iuny pisethe hour Of twelve O'clock, and ~
the House was tccoining Impatient Mr..
,O'Donncll moved an adjournment OF the tic.
tic until Tuesday afternoon.
BRADLAUGH REFUSED HIS SEAT