Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-31
CHARLES BRADLAUGH DEAD.
Career OF the Noted Atheist-Long Fight
In Parliament.

LONDON, January JO.-Mr. Cnarles
Bradlaugh, NJ. =. for Northampton, who
had been critically i'll for some time
past, died at 8 o'clock this,morning.
Charles Bradlaugh was born in 1888.
He was an atheist and a sympathizes
with radical revolutions. In 1873 he
made a short visit to the United States,
lecturing IN the larger cities.
QWhen Mr.. Bradlaugh was reported TO
be dying, several days ago, Mr.. Glad
stone moved the resembling the resolu-
ton Of non-admission, passed nearly
seven years ago, and the Government
was afraid to oppose the motion. Fol-
lowing is history of this noted case:
AT the general election Of 1850 MIR.
Bradlaugh was returned for the Bor-
ough OF Northampton in conjunction
with Mr. LabOuchere. Though he
had made two unsuccessful at
tempts AT previous elections 1t was
not until 1850 that the name
Charles Bradlaugh became prominent in
England. He had been merely secu-
larist lecturer against whom a proSecu-
tion had heen directed for publishing
book charged with being injurious to
public morals, and which prosecution
failed He had also attacked Chris
tianity with far more offensiveness than
Professor Huxley, and the pension list
and the prerogatiyes of the crown in a
manner beside which the rabid utter
ances OF agitators were nowhere in com
parison.
H., NTt RraHlannh
fused to take the oath, which is short
and simple, but which ends with the
words, $50 help me God" and these
words Mr.. Bradlaugh, not believing in
Supreme Being, refused to invoke
and declared he could not conscien-
tously use. Instead of doing this, he
requested to be permitted to make an
affirmation. A select committee was ap-
pointed, which reported that an aiiirma-
tion could not in such a ease be subStl-
tuted for an oath Of allegiance TO the
sovereign. Thereupon Mr.. Bradlaugh
presented himself again ut the table,
this time prepared TO take the prescrl0-
ed form of parliamentary oath, but Sir
Stafford Norihcote, the leader OF the
Tory party, protested. concluding with
a motion that Mr.. Bradlaugh be- not al
lowed to 20 through the form Of takiug
the oath i'm such cases. The motion was
carried by 20s votes 10 l75, and the
member from Northampton was re-
quested to withdraw. This he refused
to do, and was arrested aud committed
to the Tower.
Mr.. Gladstone was forced 10 take the
matter up, and prompted resolution
permitting every one 10 subscribe 10 a
solemn affirmation subject 10 any iia-
bility prescribed by the Parliamentary
| Oaths bill Of lsG6. Ia consequence oi
this resolution Mr.. Bradlaugh temper
arily took his seat, but was unseated In
consequence OF a successful action being
brought against him which imposed a
penalty Of c5OO for Illegal sitting aud
voting In the House. Bradlaugh dis
puted the ruling and cody proceeded 10
| take his seat. but was forcibly expelled
and ordered not Ia trespass again with
In the precincts OF Parliament.
The public interest became intense.
Sir Stafford NOrthcote was unYieldlng,
aud the case Of Mr.. Bradlaugh was a
veritable white elephant on the hands OF
the Liberals. Once again the legal right
OF Mr. Bradlaugh to administer the oath
to himself was carried TO the law courts
on the ground that the Speaker was
standing over the chair demonstrating
with Mr. Bradlaugh during the process
of oath taking, and therefore was not in
the strict Parliamentary sense Sin the
chair" Again Bradlaugh was unSeat.
ed and another election ordered; and
again Rradlaugh was returned at the
head of the poll.
There was nothing, therefore, to do il
Parliament was not TO override the
wishes Of the people and disfranchise
Northampton but to compromise the
burning issues and give 4 seat TO its rep
resentatiye. This was done several
days ago. on the motion OF Mr.. Glad
stone. and the expungement OF these
records from the minutes OF the House
Of Commons was the last act OF COM
plete Difference to the feeling Of the peo-
ple of Northampton who on every occa
sion returned Mr.. Bradlaugh and hi:
friend. the equally irrepressible editor
of Truth. as their members to Parlia'
mpQt.