Two hundred thousand of your countrymen pleaded for your release, but bigotry was too strong.

We sent you greeting in your captivity; we rejoiced when the time came for your release.

We offer you to-night our thanks and our hope--thanks for the heroism which never flinched in the hour of battle, hope for a more peaceful future, in which the memory of a past pain may be a sacred heritage and not a regret.
"'Charles Bradlaugh, _President_.' "Soldier of liberty, we give you this.

Do in the future the same good service that you have done in the past, and your reward shall be in the love that true men shall bear to you." That, however, which no force could compel me to do, which I refused to threats of fine and prison, to separation from my children, to social ostracism, and to insults and ignominy worse to bear than death, I surrendered freely when all the struggle was over, and a great part of society and of public opinion had adopted the view that cost Mr.Bradlaugh and myself so dear.

I may as well complete the story here, so as not to have to refer to it again.