Charles Bradlaugh in Northampton, England

The statue of Charles Bradlaugh in Abington Square, Northampton.

'"THOROUGH"

CHARLES BRADLAUGH,

BORN SEPT. 26, 1833,

DIED JANY. 30, 1891.

M.P. FOR NORTHAMPTON 1880–1891.

FOUR TIMES ELECTED TO ONE

PARLIAMENT. IN VINDICATION OF

THE RIGHTS OF CONSTITUENCIES,

INDIA, TOO, CHOSE HIM HER

REPRESENTATIVE.
HIS LIFE WAS DEVOTED TO

PROGRESS. LIBERTY. AND JUSTICE.'

Bradlaugh was also a lecturer and pamphleteer who used the pseudonym 'Iconoclast', which is perhaps apt for an atheist MP of the day. He was a friend of the poet James Thomson, and his re-publication (with Annie Besant) of the pro-birth control pamphlet The Fruits of Philosophy led to a prison sentence which was quashed on appeal.

Around the other sides of the plinth are plaques containing the words to 'Bradlaugh for Northampton', which was written by James Wilson and set to music by John Lowry.

'BRADLAUGH FOR NORTHAMPTON.

ELECTORS OF NORTHAMPTON, WORK!

THE DAY WILL SOON BE HERE,

WHEN YOU WILL HAVE TO GIVE YOUR VOTES.

AND GIVE THEM WITHOUT FEAR;

FOR FREEDOM'S BATTLE NE'ER WAS WON

BY COWARDS IN THE PAST,

NOR CAN IT EVER BE SUSTAINED

BY MEN WHO FEAR THE BLAST.

THEN TOIL, MEN, TOIL IN FREEDOM'S CAUSE

REST NOT CONTENT WITH VAIN APPLAUSE

HUMANITY NEEDS BETTER LAWS –

TO WIN THESE WE'LL SEND BRADLAUGH!'

''TIS NOT TO TREAD YOUR CHURCHES DOWN,

NOT CHAPELS BUILT BY MEN,

NOR HINDER EARNEST WORSHIPPERS

ON MOUNTAIN OR IN GLEN;

BUT TO GIVE FREEDOM TO EACH THOUGHT

THAT SWELLS THE BRAIN OF MAN,

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY FOR ALL,

NO STATE CHURCH IN OUR PLAN.

'TIS NOT TO ROB RICH LORDS OF LANDS,–

OPPRESS AS THEY WOULD YOU,

NOR PROPERTY MAKE INSECURE,

TO FEED A LAWLESS FEW;

BUT TO MAKE WAY FOR THOSE TO RISE,

WHO HARD BUT HUMBLY TOIL,

AND GIVE TO ALL SOME INTEREST

IN NATURE'S GIFT, THE SOIL.'

'SOME COWARDS CRY OUT "HERESY!"

BEWARE! MY FELLOW MEN,–

THAT CRY'S BEEN RAISED, SO HIST'RY SAYS,

'GAINST BRITAIN'S NOBLEST MEN,

SAY, IS HE MANLY, IS HE TRUE?

IS HE FOR JUSTICE STRONG?

AND WILL HE LABOUR GOOD TO DO?

THEN ECHO IN YOUR SONG ––

WE'LL TOIL, WE'LL TOIL IN FREEDOM'S CAUSE,

NOT REST CONTENT WITH VAIN APPLAUSE,

BUT FIGHT DETERMINED FOR JUST LAWS,

AND MAKE OUR MEMBER, BRADLAUGH!'

ADDENDUM: I recently received this link from the Charles Bradlaugh Society:

 

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Grant made to publish Charles Bradlaugh archives