MR. BRADLAUGH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3525, 28 August 1880, Page 3

MR. BRADLAUGH.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— The "Man at the Corner" who collects the " gossip " for the News does not seem to be a very amiable individual. He calls me an "ass" and a " scribe." Well ! I suppose that is his way of arguing, but what a strain it mustbe on his mental faculties. He then proceeds to hash up the old story of Bradlaugh and the watch. The following is Mr. Bradlaugh's own version of the affair : — That in 1868 he came forward as a candidate for a seat in Parliament; that during the election, libels rained from all sides. That in one by the late Mr. Oapper, M.P., was the monstrous story that in the open square at Northampton he had taken out his watch and defied God to show his power by striking him dead in five minutes. That challenged for his authority Mr. Capper pretended to have heard the story from Mr. C. Gilpin, M.P., who indignantly denied being any party to the falsehood. That he sued Mr. Capper, but the latter died soon after the writ was served. Mr. B. remarks of this story that it was not original, for it was reported of Abner Kneeland, 80 years before, and is still a favorite one with pious missionaries at street corners. Mr. B. further states that still more outrageous slander was inserted in the Razoi: That he compelled that journal to give a full apology, but not till after two years' litigation and a new trial had been ordered, and that when obliged to recant, the Christian proprietor became insolvent to avoid payment of the costs. Mr. B. remarks " One of the disadvantages connected with a public career is, that every vile scoundrel who is too cowardly to face you openly can libel you anonymously." Of course all men who come forward j and ride in front of the ranks of reform reap during their lives a full harvest of slander. Belorm, whether in Church or State, touches the pockets and vested interests of many, and the persons so affected raise every vile cry against the Reformer. After he is dead, and the abuse has been abolished, we make a hero of him as some slight recompense for having killed him. Amongst the reforms carried almost entirely by Bradlaugh's persistent efforts, in spite of the most strenuous opposition, may be mentioned the following : — Backed by Mr. Milner Gib■on, Mr. John Stuart Mill, and Mr. E. H. J. Crawford, he, to use his own words, " got rid of the last shackle of the obnoxious English Press laws." He fought the battles resulting in those great boons to men of liberal religious thought, •' The Evidence Amendment Act, 1869, and the further Amendment Act, 1870," which Acts admitted thousands of scrupulously truthful and conscientious men to the witness box. Mr. Bradlaugh also agitated very strenuously for the Ballot Act, that great safeguard to purity of voting. Before this the evidence of many of ! our leading. men of science was not admissible, but the evidence of a tubthumper from a street comer was. He also obtained for the working classes the right of holding public meetings in public places to discuss their grievances. Only a few years ago a man could not carry out an action for £800, because his religious opinion was that the universe itself produced everything, and not God. Imagine that in a land of 'liberty, and the 19th century. And had it not been for Bradlaugh that would have been the state of things to-day, and no body of workmen could nieet in any public park or piece of waste ground in London to discuss anything vital to their interests. They were driven away like hounds if they attempted to meet. — I am, &c, Thomas Drake.

Archdeacon Paley was in very high spirits when he was presented to his Brat preferment in the chnrch He attended at a visitation dinner just after this event, and during the entertaintneut called out jocosely, " Waiter, shut down that window at the back of my chair and open an. other behind some curate." ThisisconRiderod the finest example of Paley's "Natural Philosophy" ever yet quoted.

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