Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-31

rected for publishing book charged with
being injurious to public morals, and
which prosecution failed. He had also
attacked Christianity with far more offen-
siveness than Prof. Huxley, and the pen
sion list and the prerogauves of the crown
in a manner beside which the rapid utter.
ances of asitators were nowhere in COMPARE
son. .-.....4 -.
On presenting himself in the House in
order to be sworn. Mr.. Bradlaugh refused
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 con-
scientiously use. Instead of doing this, he
| requested to be permitted to make an
affirmation. A select committee was ap-
| pointed, which reported that an affirmation
| could not in such case be substituted for
an oath of allegiance to the sovereign.
Mr.. Bradlaugh Thrown Into Prison.
Thereupon Mr.. Bradlaugh presented him.
self again at the table, this time prepared to
take the prescribed form of parliamentary
| oath, but Sir Stafford Northcote, the leader
OF the Tory party, protested, concluding
| with motion that Mr.. Bradlaugh be not
| allowed to 60 through the form of taking the
| oath In such cases. The motion was carried
| by 20S votes to 175, and the member of
Northampton was requested to withdraw.
This he refused to do, and was arrested and
committed to the Tower.
Mr.. Gladstone was forced to take the
matter up. and prompted the resolution per-
mittng everyone to subscribe to solemn
affirmation subject to any liability pre-
scribed by the Parliamentary oaths bill of
| 1866. In consequence of this resolution
Mr.. Bradlaugh temporarily took his seat,
but was unseated in consequence of a sue.
| cessful action being brought against him
which imposed penalty of $500 for illegal
| sitting and voting in the House. Brad
laugh disputed the ruling and cody pro-
| ceeded to take his seat. but was forcibly ex-
PEELED aud ordered not to trespass again
within the precincts of Parliament. The
public interest became intense. Sir Stafford
Northcote was unyielding,. and the case of
| Mr.. Bradlaugh was veritable white ele-
phant on the hands of the Liberals
The Radical Victorious in Death.
Once again the legal right of Mr.. Brad
laugh to administer the oath to himself was
| carried to the law courts on the ground that
| the Speaker was standing over the chair re-.
monstrating with Mr.. Bradlaugh during the
| process of oath taking. and thereiore was
not in the strict parliamentary sense sin the
| chair" Again Bradlaugh was unseated
| and another election ordered; and again
| Bradlaugh was returned at the head OF the
poll.
There was nothing, therefore. to do if
| Parliament was not to override the wishes Of
the people and, disfranchise Northampton
but to compromise the burning issue and
| give seat to its representative. This was
done ON the motion of Mr.. Gladstone, and
the expungement OF these records from the
minutes of the House of Commons was the
last act of complete difference to the feeling
| of the people of Northampton. who on every
| occasion returned Mr.. Bradlaugh and his
| friend. the equally irrepressible editor Of
| Truth, as their members to Parliament.