LIFE AND WORK, VOLUME II (OF 2)***


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Transcriber's note:

      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).





[Illustration: CHARLES BRADLAUGH Born Sept. 26, 1833 Died Jan. 30,
1891]


CHARLES BRADLAUGH

A Record of His Life and Work by His Daughter.

HYPATIA BRADLAUGH BONNER.

With an Account of his Parliamentary Struggle
Politics and Teachings by

JOHN M. ROBERTSON, M.P.

Seventh Edition

With Portraits and Appendices







T. Fisher Unwin
London               Leipsic
Adelphi Terrace      Inselstrasse 20
1908

All Rights Reserved




VOL. II.


  CHAPTER I.

  IN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN                                           1

  The _Parthia_--Mr J. Walter, M.P.--Sumner's opinion
  of Mr Bradlaugh's lecture--The Delaware Clionian Society--Milwaukee
  --Chicago--Intense cold--Mrs Lucretia Mott--A third
  lecturing tour--Dr Otis--The currency question--Religious
  animus--Death of Henry Wilson--In St Luke's Hospital, New
  York, with typhoid fever--Moncure D. Conway--Return.

  CHAPTER II.

  MRS BESANT                                                          12

  A friend lost--A friend gained--Mrs Besant and Mr Bradlaugh--"Ajax"--The
  Knowlton pamphlet--Advantages and disadvantages
  of a dual defence.

  CHAPTER III.

  THE PROSECUTION OF MR BRADLAUGH AND MRS BESANT 20

  Appointment to sell the pamphlet--Arrested on a warrant--At
  the Guildhall--Application for a writ of _certiorari_--The Lord
  Chief Justice--Who was the prosecutor?--The trial at Westminster--The
  witnesses--The jury--The verdict--The judgment--Execution
  of sentence stayed--The Court of Appeal quashes
  indictment--Expenses of defence paid by subscription--The City--Other
  proceedings--Mr Truelove's trial and sentence--Effect of
  the prosecutions.

  CHAPTER IV.

  AN UNIMPORTANT CHAPTER                                              30

  Side lights--"Man, whence and how?"--The Turberville legacy--From
  Turner Street to Circus Road--Selling the Knowlton
  pamphlet--The day of arrest--At Westminster--Mr G. J. Holyoake--The
  hearing of the sentence--A riding accident.

  CHAPTER V.

  MORE DEBATES                                                        39

  Rev. Brewin Grant--Rev. A. Mursell--Mr Walter R. Browne--Mr
  Robert Roberts, a Christadelphian--Mr William Simpson--Mr
  Gordon--Rev. John Lightfoot--Rev. R. A. Armstrong--Rev.
  W. M. Westerby.

  CHAPTER VI.

  SOME LATER LECTURES                                                 52

  At Oxford--The Suez Canal--Carrying "consolation"--At
  Congleton--At Newman Street, London--Edinburgh--Professor
  Flint--Scarborough.

  CHAPTER VII.

  LUNATICS                                                            59

  Letters--"A mission from God"--John Sladen and the Queen.

  CHAPTER VIII.

  THE "WATCH" STORY                                                   63

  The defiance of Deity an ancient idea--_The British Monarchy_--Abner
  Kneeland--Emma Martin--G. J. Holyoake--Charles
  Capper, M. P.--The _Razor_--Rev. P. R. Jones, M. A., Dr Harrison,
  and other clergymen--The _Christian_ and other journals--The
  Rev. Basil Wilberforce--Dr Parker--The _British Empire_--_Prosecution_
  of Edgecumbe--Reckless swearing--A bad plea,
  "embarrassing and unfair"--Edgecumbe missing--The reward
  of Mr Bradlaugh's forbearance.

  CHAPTER IX.

  OTHER FABLES                                                        76

  The "cob of coal"--The "old woman"--Story narrated by
  the Rev. H. W. Webb-Peploe--Personal slanders--The _World_--Action
  against Mr Laker--Poisoning the Prince of Wales--A
  "bagman"--A common accusation.

  CHAPTER X.

  PEACE DEMONSTRATIONS, 1878                                          82

  The "Jingo" fever--Meetings in favour of peace--Auberon
  Herbert and C. Bradlaugh in Hyde Park--Preparing for difficulties--The
  war party--The fight--Second Hyde Park meeting--Mr
  Bradlaugh injured--Ill and depressed.

  CHAPTER XI.

  THE NATIONAL SECULAR SOCIETY                                        86

  The first general association of Freethinkers--Objects of the
  Society--Its President--First secular almanac--The work of the
  Society--Mr Bradlaugh's resignation.

  CHAPTER XII.

  THE LAST CHAPTER                                                    91

  Six years of fighting--A record of injustice--Some who help to
  find the money to defend the right--Mr Bradlaugh's habits and
  surroundings--His commercial pursuits--Money difficulties--Death
  of Alice Bradlaugh--Mr Bradlaugh's illness--Plans for the
  future--India--Last illness--Memorials.


  Part II.

  BY JOHN M. ROBERTSON.

  CHAPTER I.

  PHILOSOPHY AND SECULAR PROPAGANDA.

  Sec.1. Meaning of "Atheism"                                        115

  Sec.2. Bradlaugh's statement of Atheism                            122

  Sec.3. "Materialism" and its critics                               127

  Sec.4. Bradlaugh's popular propaganda                              139

  Sec.5. Secularist ethics                                           154


  CHAPTER II.

  POLITICAL DOCTRINE AND WORK.

   Sec.1. The Republican movement                                    165

   Sec.2. The Neo-Malthusian movement                                169

   Sec.3. Bradlaugh and the land laws                                179

   Sec.4. Bradlaugh and Socialism                                    185

   Sec.5. The Irish question                                         191

   Sec.6. Bradlaugh and India                                        198


  CHAPTER III.

  THE PARLIAMENTARY STRUGGLE.

  _Chronological Summary_                                            203

   Sec.1. Northampton election of 1880                               208

   Sec.2. The raising of the oath question                           211

   Sec.3. Bradlaugh's request to be let affirm; opposition of
       select committee                                              216

   Sec.4. His first attempt to take the oath; opposition of select
       committee                                                     224

   Sec.5. The affirmation question again; opposition of the House    234

   Sec.6. Bradlaugh insists on taking the oath; arrested and
       released; at length sits on affirmation                       240

   Sec.7. His action in the House; enmity outside                    248

   Sec.8. The lawsuit of Clarke and Newdegate--Bradlaugh unseated
       and re-elected (1881)                                         259

   Sec.9. Renewed conflict in Parliament                             265

  Sec.10. Agitation and discussion in the country                    274

  Sec.11. Bradlaugh's return litigation against Newdegate            277

  Sec.12. Insisting on entering the House, is ejected by physical
       force (Aug. 1881)                                             281

  Sec.13. Further litigation and discussion                          289

  Sec.14. Bradlaugh again at the table of the House--takes the
       oath--the seat again vacated (February 1882)                  293

  Sec.15. The new election--fresh agitation                          301

  Sec.16. Fresh litigation                                           305

  Sec.17. Outside discussion--Bradlaugh and Manning                  307

  Sec.18. The _Freethinker_ blasphemy prosecution                    316

  Sec.19. Renewal of the constitutional struggle--fresh debating
       in the House                                                  334

  Sec.20. Bradlaugh again takes the oath--again unseated, and again
       elected (1884)                                                343

  Sec.21. Continued litigation--end of the struggle                  351

  Sec.22. The effect of the struggle on parties                      362

  Sec.23. Its constitutional importance                              365


  CHAPTER IV.

  CLOSING YEARS.

  1886                                                               368

  1887                                                               374

  1888                                                               384

  1889                                                               404

  1890-1891                                                          410

  Conclusion--Bradlaugh's personality                                421


  INDEX                                                              445




CHARLES BRADLAUGH.




CHAPTER I.

IN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN.


Mr. Bradlaugh had agreed to make a second lecturing tour through the
States in the autumn of 1874, and he started on it under the most
inauspicious circumstances. We have just seen how he was obliged to
delay his journey--just as earlier in the year he had been obliged to
hasten his return--to contest the election at Northampton, where he
was once more defeated for the third and last time. He had originally
taken his passage by the White Star Line, in the _Republic_, leaving on
September 24th. At his request the owners obligingly transferred him
to the _Baltic_, leaving October 1st. Unable to get away by this boat,
he forfeited his passage, and leaving Northampton on the night of the
poll, he just caught the Cunard ship the _Parthia_ at Queenstown on the
7th. He started on his voyage despondent, utterly wearied, and with
"a tightish sensation about the heart," for he had hoped and believed
until the last half-hour that he was going to win the election. He
thought, too, that before he had left the town he had succeeded in
pacifying his disappointed and angry supporters in Northampton, but the
receipt of a telegram at Holyhead, telling him of the rioting there and
the calling out of the military, depressed him more than ever.

When he got on board the _Parthia_ a curious little incident happened.
As he was "standing gloomily, watching the last package carried on
board," he wrote, "I was approached by a man, a steerage passenger,
who, reverently touching his billycock hat, said, 'Father, do you go
with us to the other side?' For a moment I was puzzled; but seeing
that the man was serious, I answered, 'You are mistaken; I am not a
Father.' The man looked dubious, nervously scratched the deck with a
blackthorn held loosely in his left hand, and rejoined, 'No offence
meant; I ask your reverence's pardon, but anyhow, it will be a blessing
to have you with us on board, Father.' That I looked clerical I had
been told by the _Gaulois_, which described me in 1871, when attending
the Paris Courts Martial, as dressed like a bishop; but this man's
evidently earnest disbelief in my repudiation of priestly honours,
coupled with his quiet acquiescence, made me doubt whether I was really
the man who had been placarded a few hours before in Northampton as
'Bradlaugh the Blasphemer.'"

The journey began badly, and continued so until New Jersey was sighted.
The sea was rough, the _Parthia_ rolled, and the captain proved a
churl. The embarkation of the steerage passengers was managed with an
"uncouth harshness" which was painful to witness; to threaten "to put
a man 'in irons' for coming back to give a last wave of his hand to a
weeping sweetheart," commented my father, "was just a little too hard."
On the 17th the passengers on board the _Parthia_ had the mortification
of seeing the _Adriatic_ (White Star Line), which had left Liverpool
two days after them, pass them, and forge ahead with a speed which soon
left the _Parthia_ behind. Everything seemed combined to render his
journey unpleasant and vexatious.[1]

[Footnote 1: In reference to Mr Bradlaugh's voyage in the _Parthia_ I
append an extract from the _New York Herald_ for 7th September 1881,
which purports to be an account of an interview between the reporter of
that journal and Mr J. Walter, M.P., of the _Times_:--

"THE BRADLAUGH INCIDENT.

"'Don't you think Bradlaugh was harshly treated?' 'Oh dear, no,' was
Mr. Walter's eager response. 'That's all nonsense about his having
crysipelas, and having been so brutally treated. He's a perfect
ruffian. A fellow-passenger on the _Bothnia_ told me of Bradlaugh and
some of his comrades violently disturbing some religious services
held on board the _Parthia_, so that Captain Watson was compelled to
threaten him with putting him in irons before he would stop.'"

My father, of course, wrote to the _New York Herald_ and to Mr Walter,
contradicting this, saying that the statement was "monstrously untrue."
He made only the one voyage on the _Parthia_; he said: "No attempt
of any kind was made by any one to disturb religious services during
that voyage. There was a disagreement between Captain Watson and
the passengers as to the singing after dinner in the smoking-room,
but it had not the smallest connection with religious services. The
particulars were given in a letter signed by the passengers, and which
was published at the time in several of the American papers. I never
sang in my life, and was most certainly not even one of the singers."]

My father arrived in New York unfortunately too late for many of his
engagements. He was due to speak in Dartmouth College (New Hampshire)
on the 20th, and he had barely time to get there. On the way he
was delighted to meet Henry Wilson in the train. They chatted long
together, enjoying each other's company, and talking much of Charles
Sumner, a man reverenced and honoured by both, who had died since
Mr Bradlaugh's last visit to America. As it happened, too, Sumner's
opinion of my father's first lecture in Boston had only lately been
published in the Boston papers. It was given in a letter written
by Wendell Phillips in reply to some inquiries made of him by the
Secretary of a lecture committee at Winchester, Mass. The letter ran:--

 "DEAR SIR,--In reply to your note of October 1st would say: I
 heard Mr Bradlaugh the first time he spoke in Boston. What Mr Sumner,
 who sat near me, said of that lecture, will deservedly have more
 influence and weight than any opinion of mine. While Bradlaugh was
 speaking, Sumner looked to me and said, 'This is very fine.' At the
 close of the lecture he remarked, 'This is, I think, the most eloquent
 speech I have heard for some years.'

  WENDELL PHILLIPS."

  "BOSTON, _October 2, 1874_."

At Dartmouth Mr Bradlaugh lectured to the students in their church, and
the Rev. Dr Smith, President of the College, presided at his lecture.
Two days later he was speaking at Cambridge, having this time a fine
audience of over a thousand persons, including most of the Cambridge
professors and a strong force from Harvard College. At Philadelphia
on the 25th he won the sympathies of a crowded meeting, although here
he had been publicly preached against, and people had been warned not
to go to his lecture. At Charlestown (Mass.) he spoke in the Trinity
Methodist Episcopal Church, with the pastor, the Rev. Mark Trafton, as
president. In Boston he spoke in the Rev. James Freeman Clarke's Church
of Disciples, and at Winchester in the Unitarian Church--"and yet," he
said, "miracles are not believed in!" On the journey from Bangor to
Dexter my father, at the invitation of the engine-driver, rode part
way on the engine, and he relates how he found himself "perched on a
nice soft seat in a corner, with my toes near enough to the furnace to
make me forget that a sharp frosty wind was whistling; engine-driver
Chase turned out to be quite a philosopher, and I had a pleasant time."
Presently they had to slacken speed; "there are cattle on the track,
three oxen and three full-grown calves. They run on in front, sometimes
crossing the line; we ring the bell, whistle furiously, and puff-puff
vociferously, till at last engine-driver Chase gets angry and says, 'It
is no use, those cattle are as stupid as your House of Lords.' 'Yes,' I
answered, 'and will get run down like the Lords, if they do not get off
the track.'"

Senor Castelar stated after Mr Bradlaugh's death that he was shunned
by the ladies; but Senor Castelar's English was a little at fault.
When my father was at Delaware he was taken by the students to the
Female College, "where," he said, "the president introduced me to the
senior ladies' class, who sang to me the American national hymn. I was
asked to make them a speech, and am afraid I made myself supremely
ridiculous. It is no joke to be suddenly called on to say something to
twoscore of extremely good-looking young ladies.... They all looked
happy, and gave me a very pleasant greeting, one which made me think of
my own girls at home." The girls on their side were evidently equally
pleased with their visitor, for just before my father commenced his
lecture that evening he received the following note:--

 "The members of the Clionian Society, having made Mr Bradlaugh an
 honorary member of the