SUFFRAGIST MADNESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1649, 16 January 1913, Page 6

SUFFRAGIST MADNESS.

Most of us long ago decided that ony one just verdict could be passed upori those, strange women who perpetrate the 1 -suffragist in Britain—a verdict of ihßUnity. 'If in ' Britain had desired, after the pillar-bo* outrages at the end of November, a clinching picCe of evidence on the point, he wotlld have found it in the leading article in Votes fot Women of December 6. The articlo is . written with the un-. canny,moderation and sobriety which are often met with iri rhad beopld justifying their : madness; Wliat oould be madder than " this quietly-phrased nassago in the middle of the ilrticle?— . .

Under ordinary circumstances the only persons who infringe the established laws of the community' are tho so-called criminal classes. . . , But this is not the caso in the present instance. . .; . The Women who have tampered with the pillar-bo Sos arc women of Character, of education, arid of steady and confirmed purpose. It is quite useless for anyono to discuss whether. the action itself is criminal or morally wrong, because it' is evident that-the women who have committed it do hot hold this victf.

Anybody might say that) ahd with some, show of truth; but anybody in his senses would add that, hot being criminals in their own opinion, these Women must in everybody elso'S opinion be marked down as dangerous criminals. Votes for Women will not havo that at all : the militant ladies are, it urges,.quite justly and wisely dovdting themselves to the admirable work of "striking a blow at civilisation from within," and "putting its complicated machinery out of gftar." And it argues, with tho same insane calmness and serenity, that the only remedy is to give the women the vote. That the postal outrages aro hideously criminal or insanely dangerous, and that civilisation can take; and will tako, no other view, does not appear to bo within the comprehension of theßO unfortunate ladies.