. Life and public services of Hon. Wm. E. Gladstone . ers,and the accusation was perhaps not undeserved. After a sharpdebate, however, the Government carried its point, and the com-mittee was nominated. Mr. Bradlaugh had claimed the right to make an affirmationunder the Parliamentary Oaths Act; but the committee decided,by the casting vote of the chairman, that Mr. Bradlaugh did notbelong to the privileged classes of Moravians and Quakers, whowere the persons for whose benefit this act had been passed. This was an unexpected difficulty for the Government, whichhad fully expected the decision t
. Life and public services of Hon. Wm. E. Gladstone . ers,and the accusation was perhaps not undeserved. After a sharpdebate, however, the Government carried its point, and the com-mittee was nominated. Mr. Bradlaugh had claimed the right to make an affirmationunder the Parliamentary Oaths Act; but the committee decided,by the casting vote of the chairman, that Mr. Bradlaugh did notbelong to the privileged classes of Moravians and Quakers, whowere the persons for whose benefit this act had been passed. This was an unexpected difficulty for the Government, whichhad fully expected the decision to be favorable to Mr. Opposition flattered itself that it had got rid of Mr. Bradlaugh,but now arose a new difficulty. Mr. Bradlaugh presented himselfat the table of the House of Commons again and announced thathe was ready to take the oath. A new committee was appointed, and this authority decided thatMr. Bradlaugh ought not to be permitted to take the oath, thoughit might be wise to let him affirm. Mr. Labouchere, his colleague I are. 5 S ^5 Si s 865 366 TJie Second Gladstone Ministry. in the representation of Northampton, offered a resolution declaringhis right to make affirmation. This resolution was supported bythe Prime Minister; but this measure, the first trial of strengthbetween the Ministry and the Opposition, if a question whichinvolved no part of the Governments policy could be so calledresulted in a defeat to the Cabinets cause. The resolution was lost bya vote of two hundred and seventy-five to two hundred and thirty. But Mr. Bradlaugh was not willing to accept defeat. On thefollowing day he presented himself at the table to be sworn. TheSpeaker gravely informed him of the resolution of the House, andrequested him to withdraw. He claimed the privilege of beingheard at the bar of the House, and this he was not refused. Hisspeech was an eloquent one, but it did not avail him. Advancingat its conclusion to the table, he again demanded that the oath bead
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