Yesterday week, on Mr. T. Collins coming to the table
to take the oath and his seat for Knaresborough, Sir Wilfrid Lawson attempted to intervene, but was ignored by the Speaker till after that ceremony was over. Then Sir Wilfrid moved the adjournment of the House, in order to state that he had in- tended, since the House had assumed the guardianship of the oath, to move for a Select Committee to inquire into the con- dition of Mr. Collins's opinions concerning the sanctity of the oath, and that he should not be allowed to take the oath and his seat, till the House had received satisfactory information on this head. Hereupon, the Speaker stated that he had determined to allow of no interposition between any Member coming to take the oath and its due administration. In Mr. Bradlaugh's ease he had allowed such interposition only because Mr.. Bradlaugh had "himself raised questions which demanded the consideration of this House,"—which was true as regards his election in 1880, but was not true, as the Speaker forgot to remind the House, after his re-election this year. Hereupon,. Mr. Gladstone reiterated his own opinion that the House had no right to prevent Mr. Bradlaugh from taking the oath ; but. admitted that, as regarded the Speaker's discrimination between the two cases, there was a clear difference between them ;. and Sir Stafford Northcote having insisted on the same dif- ference, Sir Wilfrid withdrew his motion, and the incident. ended. Of course, it is well that the mischief is to go no further, but it is clear to us that the Speaker and the House. are now as eager to disclaim any guardianship of the oath as the majority of the 26th and 27th of April were eager to affirm it. Mr. Bradlaugh has had no justice, and Sir Wilfrid Lawson proved it.
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