Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-07-01
WHOLE NO. 1912.
How Officials Swear.

A comparison of the official oaths of
several countries, apropos of the Brad.
laugh affairs, is not uninterestine
france demands no oath, nor even any
equivalent formality, before LEGISLATORS
enter upon their duties. Even under
the Empire, tie Deity was not called
upon, the simple formula being: "I
swear fidelity to the Emperor and the
Constitution In Austria, also, there
/ IS an oath, but in reply to question
from the President of the Rsichstrsth
whether the new member promises
loyalty and obedience to the Emperor
lnVioiable observance of the Constitu.
ton, as we'll as other laws, and con.
scientious fulfillment of his duty" the
new member simply replies, IL prom
lse." The reason that members of the
German Parliament take no oath is that
many OF them are under an oath of
allegiance to their respective states in
the German Federation, and so CON.
tiict OF duty might arise if two osths
were insisted upon. The Prussian
members of Parliament take an oath
beginning, " I swear by God the ON.
niposent and omniscient," and ending.
80 may God helpme As if this we're
not enough. those who choose, it is
provided, may add Through Jesus
Christ to eternal bliss. amen" The
Spanish deputies are put through some.
thing ef catechism. The secretary
asks them: DO you swear to observe
the Constitution of the Spanish mon
archy? Do you swear obedience to the
legitimate King Of Spain, Alfonso Kill?
Do you swear we'll and true to behave
in the mission confided to you by the
nation, always and in everything seek
ing the welfare of the nation ?" The
answer expected is, Yes, I do swear" !"
and the replication is, "If you do so
may God reward you, and if you do
not. may He call you to account" In
1879. it may be said. Senior CASTELAR,
and fifteen others were the Bradlaughs
of Spain, but their objections were not
based on religious or irreligious
groands. In Italy the President Of the
Chamber of Deputies says with elabo-
rate politeness, invite the honorable
gentleman to take oath in the form fol-
lowing: Il swear to be faithful to the
King and to observe loyalty to the
fundamental statute and the other laws
of the state, with single view 10 the
inseparsble welfare of the King and
the country" The new deputy re-
spends with the single word "Giurgo."
Il swear.) The oath to which MIR.
Bradlsugh objects seems harmless
enough. It reads ~ do swear that
will be faithful and bear allegiance
to her Majesty, Queen Victoria, her
heirs and successors, according to law;
so help me God" Obviously, any man
who believes in God, whether Jew or
Mohaumedan or Christian, might hon.
orably assent to every letter Of this
oath. And SO, too, of course, might
any man who believes in one God ct
all. For him the oath lacks the usual
sanction, and scrupulous honor might
lead him to point this out at the time
of complying with the custom Of oath
taking; but there can be no doubt that
dozens, perhaps scores, Of ether mem
bers of Parliament do not agree with
Mr.. Bradlaugh in the view of the sub
ject. He, having explained his position
once for all, cannot be expected to be
forever explaining and objecting, and
80 cannot be blamed for swearing. The
United States, it is generally known,
has two oaths, but their precise forms
are familiar.