press comment
8 Hour controversy
01/06/10 18:39
The March 1890 Review of Reviews summarized an article by CB in the Fortnightly Review, on proposals to legislate an 8 hour workday. Bradlaugh's consistent radical distrust of government interference into provate affairs is clearly evident in his assertion that while shorter hours are desirable, legislation is not the way to achieve them. This made him unpopular with some of the younger labor activists, who did not remember his record of supporting labor. Ironically, it also made him popular with some of the conservatives who had previously opposed him.
Golden Hours
01/03/10 12:19
“Notes on New Books”
Golden Hours: An Illustrated Magazine for Any Time and All Times
1881
p. 504
In the context of comments on a book by F. Morell Holmes on Exeter Hall, the reviewer comments on a recent rally held there to protest Bradlaugh’s 1880 election to Parliament. Quoting from The Rock (a Church of England paper):
The reviewer goes on to suggest that “no one who respects the apostolic injunction to ‘fear God’ and ‘honour the king’ given to Christians under the inspiration of God himself, will neglect to sign petitions to the House of Commons for the exclusion of Mr. Bradlaugh from Parliament, forms for which will be forwarded to any applicant by The Protestant Alliance, 9, Strand, London, W.C.”
There’s really no arguing with this point of view, which of course is pretty much Bradlaugh’s point.
Golden Hours: An Illustrated Magazine for Any Time and All Times
1881
p. 504
In the context of comments on a book by F. Morell Holmes on Exeter Hall, the reviewer comments on a recent rally held there to protest Bradlaugh’s 1880 election to Parliament. Quoting from The Rock (a Church of England paper):
The reviewer goes on to suggest that “no one who respects the apostolic injunction to ‘fear God’ and ‘honour the king’ given to Christians under the inspiration of God himself, will neglect to sign petitions to the House of Commons for the exclusion of Mr. Bradlaugh from Parliament, forms for which will be forwarded to any applicant by The Protestant Alliance, 9, Strand, London, W.C.”
There’s really no arguing with this point of view, which of course is pretty much Bradlaugh’s point.
CB on Socialism and War
01/01/10 15:02
“Socialism in Europe”
The Review of Reviews 1:6
June, 1890
p. 492
Text of Quote:
(source: Proquest)
Comment: Interesting prediction. Did any of the socialists see this? The conservatives? How original was Bradlaugh's analysis, I wonder?
It’s going to take a close reading of Bradlaugh’s articles and especially his offhand comments and political asides in the mainstream press, The National Reformer and possibly Our Corner, to decide whether he really changed over this period, or if the world changed around him. Probably a little of both. Moral? Old radicals aren’t the same people they were in their youths. Or, one decade’s hero is another decade’s out of touch old fogey? Or, somewhere along the way, the left stopped making sense?
The Review of Reviews 1:6
June, 1890
p. 492
Text of Quote:
(source: Proquest)
Comment: Interesting prediction. Did any of the socialists see this? The conservatives? How original was Bradlaugh's analysis, I wonder?
It’s going to take a close reading of Bradlaugh’s articles and especially his offhand comments and political asides in the mainstream press, The National Reformer and possibly Our Corner, to decide whether he really changed over this period, or if the world changed around him. Probably a little of both. Moral? Old radicals aren’t the same people they were in their youths. Or, one decade’s hero is another decade’s out of touch old fogey? Or, somewhere along the way, the left stopped making sense?
