Prisoner for Blasphemy

nch my new venture in such troubled waters, and advised me to wait for the issue of the prosecution. But I resolved to act exactly as though the prosecutio

he loyal exertions of a few staunch Freethinkers (of whom more anon) who stepped into the breach and defended them with great courage and ability until I was able to resume my post.

for which we were already prosecuted. The description was perfectly correct. I had concluded that my wisest policy, as it was certainly the most courageous, was to disregard the Blasphemy Laws and defy the bigots; to show that Freethought was not to be cowed or intimidated by threats of imprisonment. Facing the enemy boldly appeared to me better than running away; a course in which I could see neither glory, honor, nor profit. Even if I had co

d to some bigoted ears, Mr. Ramsey and I were after all several pounds out of pocket by it, the expenses being altogether out of proportion to the price, and our object being less material gain th

cond Indictment; which, I repeat, as there is general misunderstanding on the subject, was tri

d it) into a criminal court to answer a charge of obscenity. The objectionable matter was contained in an extremely mild, not to say mawkish, essay on the population question by Robert Dale Owen, a man of literary eminence in the United States, and once an ambassador of the great Republic. Like ourselves, Mr. Truelove was tried twice before a verdict of guilty could be obtained. His sentence was four months' imprisonment like a common felon. Mr. Truelove was indisposed to reveal the secrets of his prison-ho

had found another publisher of the very same work Not Guilty. I learned from the New York papers that the acquittal was partly due to the impartiality of the judge, partly to the progress the public mind had made on the population question, and partly to the fact that the accused publisher conducted his own defence. Here was

arouse the slumbering Blasphemy Laws. Some Freethinkers even were astonished at its audacity. A few belonging to an old-fashioned school, and a few more who were assiduously courting "respectability," resented our action; although, as the vast majority of our party were of an opposite opinion

Robert Burns that,

ism, he never quite g

in this metaphor. Bu

y large class. Many m

ithout being able to

so profound a sceptic

ded by a faith he no

r with instances o

Freethinkers, it is

elief in God are afr

rhear them. 'How o

pretty young French

replied the witty no

elle did as a piece

ut any wit at all. Th

Christian, Brahmani

xtend the same frien

e that people shoul

when they don't eve

e Atheist all gods

usions), like the

y, holy water and mi

e the gods of Chris

led to ridicule the

dragged into the que

ill taste in the one

can mean is that no

is itself one of t

etrated. It would s

' lunacy i

eethinkers don't ob

rather approve Punch and the other comic

sting. Why, then, do

because they still

ut it. Now I insist

be no such sacredne

the full consequenc

of my

course, urge that th

on are sacred, and

ncede this monstrou

ristian about Father

than my feelings on

th persons, and I re

the world is not to

s I respect them, I

tal weapon is valid

en found the most pote

are bound to use it

umber the path of pro

ive quarter as it is

thinkers who would coq

s respectability by

ers, is that they ar

essons of history, an

he evil superstitio

early succeeded in

r, the logic of thi

ught go on their way

eddies or spurts i

p on with its main vo

t with all its

onsequences." Yet, looking back over my year's torture in a Christian gaol, my c

oking to Mr. Bradlaugh's enemies. By dexterous manoeuvring and skilful pleading, that litigious man, as the Tories call him, had managed to get two counts struck out o

chased copies of the obnoxious paper, and, flourishing them in the faces of Mr. Ramsey and Mr. Kemp, declared that we should "hear more of this;" to which pious salutation they usually replied by offering their minatory visitors "a dozen or perhaps a quire at trade price." Similar busybodies called at Mr. Cattell's shop in Fleet Street, and plied him with cajoleries when menaces were futile. One of them, in

ame in couples, and it was easy to understand their business. We were, therefore, not s

TE, of No. 9 South Cre

AMES RAMSEY, of No.

on, and No. 20 Brow

ARTHUR KEMP, of No. 2

Harp Alley, Farringd

s day been charged b

City of London, bein

in and for the said

ACDONALD, of No. 7

rrey, for that you

th day December, in

other days, print an

inted and published,

the Christmas Number

e Freethinker, agai

crown and Dignity.

er Majesty's name, t

cond day of February

enoon, at the Mansio

before such other J

ame City as may the

and to be further de

ot. Given under my

, in the year of Ou

e Justice-Ro

Y E.

ayor, L

us as a first step towards punishing us for our sins. What a reductio ad absurdum of the Blasphemy Laws! Instead of ordinary Christians protesting against our outrages, and demanding our restraint in the interest of the peace, a callous policeman has to do the work

l than such a body posing as the champions of religion, and especially of the religion of Christ! If the Prophet of Nazareth were alive again to-day, who would expect to find him at a Lord Mayor's banquet? Would he frequent the Stock Exchange, be

hops and offices to steady the tottering throne of Omnipotence. And what presumption on the part of these pigmies to undertake a defence of deity! Surely Omnipotence is as able to punish as Omniscienc

n they have reformed themselves. With all their pretensions to superior piety and virtue, they are notoriously the greatest ring of public thieves

onclusion that we should be committed for trial. We all three pleaded not guilty and reserved our defence. Before leaving the Court, however, notwithstanding his lordship's interruption, I protested against the revival of an old law which had fallen into desuetude, which had not been enforced in the City of London for over fift

s at the Mansion House; and even the Tory Evening News, which affirmed that we were three vulgar blaspheme

aring its utmost violence. He was also anxious to please those with whom he had worked before his partial alliance with me, and who were not prepared to sanction his continued connexion with the Freethinker if he wished to remain with them. For these reasons he retired from our partnership, and I was at once registered as the sole proprietor of the paper. This step naturally added to the danger of my situation, and it was

the Freethinker I a

ity for everything i

ests with me. I am

her. My imprint wi

from 28 Stonecutter

e will be transact

his exposes me to

the Freethinker after this week will

r will so long as my

lse yields, I will s

. If the Freethinke

thought party will

in parts of the me

endent on the firm

rything. But I pl

ag flying at every

ed I pledge myself

in, and again. De

et toujours

ntiring, and never was his pen wielded more brilliantly. Perhaps, indeed he overstrained hi

xposing the Christmas Number of the Freethinker in his window. Detectives also visited other newsagents and threatened them with prosecution if they