The debate,—our article on which, as will be perceived, was
in type before Mr. Bradlaugh's death was announced,—or rather the quiet deliberation, of Tuesday night on the motion to expunge from the Journals of the House of Commons the resolution of June 22nd, 1880, refusing to Mr. Bradlaugh the right to offer himself for the oath after the admission he had made to two Select Committees of the House of Commons, was highly creditable to the House of Commons. In Dr. Hunter's resolution, words were originally added to the effect that the resolution of June 22nd, 1880, had been "subversive of the rights of the whole body of the electors of this Kingdom ;" but these words Dr. Hunter offered to drop, if the House should prefer to expunge the resolution without assigning any reason. Mr. Gladstone made a most statesmanlike and moderate speech, taking no credit to himself for having been on the right side in 1880, and heartily acquiescing in the proposal to drop the obnoxious reason for expunging the resolution ; and that was the course agreed upon with almost universal consent. There was no division on the proposal to expunge the resolution itself, which was carried nem. con.
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