The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1882-09-16 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

BRADLAUGH. While the leaders of Radicalism are generally engaged in the pursuit of enjoyment abroad, Mr. BRADLAUGH has apparently remained at home for the express purpose of giving the Radicals of Kirkburton the enormous advantage of his presence at their demonstration. It is to be hoped that the members of the party who applauded his utterances on Saturday have not yet completely forgotten the lessons they received from the lips of that great teacher of morality, but that they will bear in mind the utterances of the "incomplete member" for Northampton, and weigh them carefully in the scale of argument, putting Mr. BRADLAUGH'S Opinions Upon One Bide of the balance and an equal amount of common sense upon the other. It is not for us to say which is likely to prove the weightiest, and therefore we leave the matter to be decided by those who are willing to take the trouble of experimentalising. The subject upon which Mr. BRADLAUGH was invited to speak was that of the county and borough franchise, a question which he appears to have at his finger ends, and to be as well conversant with as most of those who discuss the problem from a Radical point of view. It is an undoubted advantage for a Radical orator to be called upon to enlarge upon a question which has been already thrashed to such an extent that but little remains in connection with the same but the bare, dry stalk. All the corn has been gathered in long ago by more able advocates than. Mr. BRADLAUGH, and it was therefore no very great compliment for the Kirkburton Radicals to spread out before their visitor a few dried husks and bundles of straw,and invite him to produce something wholesome from that which possessed no possible amount of nutriment. Mr. BRADLAUGH doubtless perceived the difficulty in connection with the unthankful task which had been placed before him at the outset, for he at once gently hinted to his audience that the question was one which possessed a considerable degree of antiquity, inasmuch as he had thirty-five years ago taken part in a meeting in London dealing with the question which was still unable to force its way to the front or arrive at a satisfactory solution. He very naturally regretted that so long a time had passed since the general election without a measure having been introduced to the effect which they desired, but at the same time he omitted to mention that one of the stumbling blocks in the way of legislation upon many subjects during the past two years and a half had been the individual who had continually endeavoured to force himself upon the attention of Parliament, and who had been the means of wasting a large amount of valuable time which might have been otherwise far more usefully employed. Mr. BRADLAUGH did not mention this interesting fact, and doubtless for very obvious reasons. But he adopted another course, and insinuated that the reason of the delay in dealing with the question was owing to the weakness and shortcomings of the Government. He even went further than this and endeavoured to persuade his listeners to put extra pressure 11DOR the Ministry if they desired any steps to be taken in regard to the matter. Mr. BRADLAUGH is of opinion that the Government are overpowered by feelings of timidity, and that their love for office prevents them from making another effort in the way of Reform. He, as well as the members of the Government, are unable to ignore the fact that  Administrations have resulted in ignomini tie failure, and that the only stat esraeh carlaand previous efforts in this direction bY d•Oicalug of dealing with the question effect'ec. who have hitherto effected so much in c°,linfor tion with the subject, belong to the par'Y t. whom he professes to have such utter conteniPar 0 But Mr. BRADLAUGH is evidently well aware of the fact that the present Government practically helpless to carry any measure :110 which they have set their minds, and that at l o oss of fear of a dissolution and conseque office are powerful impediments in the wqteti introducing a measure which will be subjec.,e4 to such keen criticism, and give rise to so ih!or, difference of opinion. The Radical party,rota ding to Mr. BRADLAUGH, are not likely W themselves out of existence" no more than. P:.n.l, possess the courage to "face a general electlysta They apparently know but too well thepo which awaits them if they throw thenas' not upon the mercy of the country, and ,a_r„ekeof likely to commit political suicide for the of pleasing Mr.