A CRITICAL BIOGRAPHY OF EDWIN JAMES BRADY - Mallacoota ...

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Rejecting the “moral quarantine” which follows when a divorced person is unable to
marry – an isolation which tends towards the breaking of the moral law – Brady
continued:
The enlightened tendency of the Age is to better all the conditions of Humanity
– to go forward rather than to recede. The evolution of the Marriage Laws, as
well as the laws relating to commercial, economic and social conditions has
been gradual; it has not come without opposition, but it has come, and the
world is so much the better for it.
He also pointed out that most worthwhile reform throughout history has met with
opposition and that where an unjust law already exists, this is hardest of all to change.
He added that those churches which have closest to dogma in the past are the ones
who have lost most ground as the march of civilisation and science proceeds. In spite
of an equally courteous reply, the churchman was not able to refute the practicality
and humanity of Brady’s viewpoint, mainly resting his case on the fact that the
marriage covenant was the cement of society, and society as a whole was more
important that individuals within it. 1
In general then, Brady championed for women some of the rights which they have
since achieved and though he never really approved of the “new” woman he realised
that as society became technically more advanced, so women’s role must change.
Although a strong believer in the dictum that woman’s place is in the home raising
children, he saw that he native charm and femininity would triumph over any changes
that arose:
As humanity in the bulk develops, alters, improves, so the new woman will
evolve, still glorious, still radiant, still beautiful and more than ever the
companion, ally and helpmate of her fellow-creature, Man. 2
Concern was expressed by Brady about the problems associated with an increase in
crime at the turn of the century, especially amongst the younger members of the
community. Making the statement that all kinds of crime had increased following the
economic difficulties of the 1890’s, especially burglary, theft and crimes of violence,
Brady called for an increase in the number of police as well as for a thorough
overhaul of the police organisation, methods and equipment and the adoption of
scientific advances to increase the efficiency of crime prevention and detection. 3
He deprecated however, the increase in severity of penalties for crimes committed
under economic stress. In a savage personal attack upon a Judge Docket who had
sentenced a thirteen year old boy, charged with common assault, to six months gaol
and flogging of twenty-five lashes, Brady waxed sarcastic both at the severity of the
sentence and at the Judge’s conduct of the trial, alleging that the Judge had
intimidated and bullied the jury, a practice this particular man had a reputation for. In
a scathing editorial, Brady wrote, in part:
As a companion of the Emperor Nero and his court executioner he would be in
his element. The position of Chief Inquisitor to the Spanish Government
would have been congenial to his humane nature, and as Judge at the
beginning of the last century when sometimes thirty or forty unfortunates were
sentenced to death, he would have been a great success. 4
1 The Grip, 20.3.1902
2 The Grip, 14.4.1902
3 The Arrow, 23.5.1896.
4 “The Draconian Docker”, The Grip, 30.12.1901, p.2.