The Select Committee on Mr. Bradlaugh's case have agreed - to
a report which, to some extent, throws over the report of the previous Committee, inasmuch as it says that that report having been carried only by the casting-vote of the Chairman, there is considerable doubt about its legality ; and that, in the opinion of the new Committee, that legality ought to be tested by allowing Mr. Bradlaugh to make an affirmation (in place of the oath, which they think, as an oath, Mr. Bradlaugh ought not to be allowed to take, after his confession that its dis- tinctive element has no significance for him), and then permit- ting the legality of that affirmation to be tested by a suit in the High Court of Justice. Mr. Labouchere is to move on Mon. day that Mr. Bradlaugh be permitted to take his seat, and then the report of the Select Committee will, of course, be discussed. Whether Mr. Bradlaugh takes the affirmation or the oath, unquestionably he should be allowed by the House to take either one or the other, and the legality of his course should then be tested in the Courts. If the decision be against him, a Bill should be introduced next Session, at latest, to render per- sons of his creed, or no creed, admissible. If we want to place a premium on Atheism, we cannot do better than excommuni- cate Atheists from political life.
