The political side of the vaccination system; an essay read at the Birmingham Anti-Vaccination conference, October 26th, 1874 / by F.W. Newman.

  • Newman, F. W. (Francis William), 1805-1897.
Date:
[1874?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The political side of the vaccination system; an essay read at the Birmingham Anti-Vaccination conference, October 26th, 1874 / by F.W. Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    least it can do is to summon an assembly, in Avhich the experts of everii school may freely debate, face to face—allopaths of every sect, hydrojjaths, honueopaths, herbalists, hygienists,—then let Parlia- ment judge, after hearing. If this had been done twenty years agi vaccination -would never have been made compulsory.—If it weiv done to-day, the laws of vaccination would be indignantly repealed, and perhaps the practice itself would be instantly exploded. Have Ave not also here a great lesson to learn concerning tl fatuity of iiTcsponsible legislators 1 When Louis Philippe (wlu» lost his throne, just as the King of Holland lost Belgium, by tend- erness for the lives of his insurgent people) heard of the unflinching massacres perpetrated in the name of the French Pepublic on the insurgents of June, 1848,—he exclaimed, ]\Iy faith ! this sort of thing no king can do; it is only work for an unonijmous govern- ment. By a frightful abuse, 40 Members of Parliament, about one-sixteenth of the Avhole House, can pass penal laws ; and it is not compulsory on anyone to be present. The country seldom knows who are to blame for an evil laAV. In the old Poman Senate, all were compelled to attend, unless employed on public duty; even illness was no excuse ; moreover, no Act of the Senate, passed after sunset, Avas valid. When Cicero, after a long sea-voyage, arrived at Pome, sick, the Consul threatened to pull doAvn his house over his head, if he did not come to the Senate. We do not wish for so despotic an Executive ; but by oiu' opposite extreme—by legis- lation at midnight, Avith no compulsion to attend, and a miserably small quorum,—Ave make laAV, instead of sacred, contemptible and tyraimical ; avc make legistators irresponsible even to public opinion; Ave abandon laAV to the intrigue of iirterested cliques and ambitious factions. We are getting into the condition of the expiring Pomnn Pepublic, corrupiimma Rejmhlicd plurimce leges. Our greatest achievements are the repeal of pernicious laAvs. If England is not to fall into disasters too gloomy to be mentioned, Ave need far deeper and Avider reorganization of Parliament than any leaders of parties, or speakers on hustings, or Chartist orators have dreamed of. E. w. newma:\