The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-31
BRADLAUGH Is DEAD.
Famous Agnostic Solves the
Problem for Himself.
HE PASSES PEACEFULLY AWAY.
Liberal and Fair All His Life, He Made
Thousands OF the Most De-
voted Friends.

o'clock this morning. The end was quiet and
peaceful. Bradlaugh was insensible when ne
died and seemed 10 suffer no pain. The i'm
mediate cause of his death was erunia-
Charles Bradlaugh was born in Hoxton, Lon
don, September &c, 1893. Owing 20 the extreme
poverty OF his parents he ceased attending
school before he was II years old. He developed
early taste for politics. Tor at the age OF ID ne
appeared as an orator before street audiences
during the political turmoiis of lS47-4s. The
origin OF his atheistical opinions dates from the
same period studying 10 ut himself Tor sun
day-school exhibition before the Bishop OF Lon
don, ne became skeptieal, and declared his in
ability TO reconcile the Thirtynine Articles with
the Four Gospels. His father, influenced by the
clergy, gave him three days in which to change
his opinions, penalty OF losing his situation.
He accepted the penalty and quilted the situation
and his home forever. For a year he earned an
inadequate support by selling coal on commits
sion, and then, becoming slightly involved in
debt, he enlisted in the service OF
the East India Company, where he re-
him 10 purchase his discharge. He then Sc
cured clerkship in a solicitors Office in Lon
political and atheistical writer and speaker.
In 1850 he gained considerable notorlety by
editing journal called the Inrestigdtor, which
was soon suspended for want OF capital. He be-
came well known under the appropriate name
OF "Iconoclsst," which he signed TO all his writ
ings, and was met with the fercest opposition
on all sides. year later the National kefornler
was established, and in the conduct of this bis
reputation for ability was greatly increased.
Systematic attempts were made TO sup
press his journal, but their only
sympathies for the oppressed were not confined
TO his own country. When Italy was fighting
for freedom he raised by bis own exertions 100
guineas and sent them TO Garibaldi. He visited
Ireland, conferred with the advocates of home
rule, and raised his voice in their justification.
In the year 1859 an attempt was made by the
cause he refused TO have It licensed. He argued
his own case and won a brilliant victory Mr..
Bradlaugh's personal popularity was very great:
Sir Charles Dixie said of him in 1873 that he had
the largest personal following of any man in
England. In the autumn of 1873 Mr.. Bradlaugh
visited the United States, and delivered lectures
political status as the member from Northamp-
ton was one of the most agitating before the
British parliament. At the beginning OF the
controversy, in 1850, be refused to take the oath
OF allegiance on the ground that ii would not be
binding upon his conscience. The House refused
TO let him affirm, inasmueh as no provision is
made ma IN the parliamentary oaths act act Tor
and the like. Upon reelection Dir.
Bradlaugh changed his ground, aud
offered to take the oath, but the house now re-
fused TO receive it. Insisting upon entering the
house and administering the oath to himself,
he was removed by the police. Precisely the
same performance was repeated more than once.
Mr.. Bradlaugh asserted that any form OF oath he
would take he should regard as binding on his
conscience. He was finally admitted on aftirIna-
ton. Last Wednesday Liberal member moved
the house in June, 1850, forbidding Charles
Bradlaugh to take the oath or to affirm, be ex-
plunged from the records Gladstone supported
the motion, which prevailed. The government
offered no objection, it having been ascertained
that refusal to accept the motion would result
in Tory defeat.
1t was Bradlaugh who conferred on Gladstone
the title of "Grand Old Man" After his first
election TO the house of commons, in 1880, he
had been for the second time refused permission
TO either take the oath or affirm and expelled
from the house. A great meeting of his sup
porters was held in Trafalgar square, overflow
ing into the adjoining streets, and was addressed
by Bradlaugh. He stood towering like giant
above his fellows, both mentally and physically,
and pledged himself never to give up the strug-
gle, but 10 assert the right of his constituents to
choose whom they would to represent them.
The Irish compensation for disturbance bill was
then before parliament, measure intended to
temporarily redress the wrongs OF the Irish ten
ants until comprehensive land law could be
passed. With this measure in mind BTadlaugh
added: "But will do nothing TO hamper that
grand old man, w. +. Gladstone, in his efforts 10
redress the wrongs of Ireland storm of
cheers greeted this declaration.
The title was taken up by the Radical and Lit
eral newspapers and orators throughout the
country, and its use by the Tories in ridicule
only made Gladstone's admirers the more tena-
cious of it. The great English republican con-
ferred title and the English democracy con-
frmed it, so that it will live in history.