The Bradlaugh question has broken out again, in almost all
its former virulence. On Tuesday night, Mr. Bradlangh came up to the table and offered to take the oath, whereupon the Speaker, who, in our opinion, ought to have ruled that he had no legal power to refuse him the oath, declared himself unpre- pared, under the circumstances of the case, to stop the debate ; and then Sir Stafford Northcote rose, and in a very moderate speech insisted that the House, being aware of the unmeaning- nese of the most solemn words of the oath to Mr. Bradlaugh, ought to refuse him permission to profane the oath, as he was willing to profane it. Mr. Bright, in a very warm plea for liberty of conscience, pressed the view that Mr. Breallaugh re- cognised the obligation of the oath, though- not any more obli- gation than he would have recognised in an affirmation, and reminded the Opposition,—
" That Bigotry may swell The sail he sots for Maven with blasts from hell."
Mr. Gorst admitted that the Law Courts could not interfere in the case, and Mr. Bradlaugh, from the bar of the House, argued his own cause with some force, though not so effectively as last year.
