THE SUFFRAGETTES

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1736, 29 April 1913, Page 4

THE SUFFRAGETTES

Sir,—Tho writer of the letter with the hysterical headings and abuse of her sex is. surely not "fashioned after Cioil's typo o? womanhood.''' The truest and best women in history have been loyal to their sisters and tender to childhood. Tho British Suffragettes are evidently above tho comprehension of a writer who acknowledges ignorance of tho fact that Florence Nightingale was a life-long Sufrqgist, having enrolled as a member of the first Sutfrago Society,. which was founded by John Stewart Mill ill 18JS8. Dr. Pankhurst (Mrs. Pankhurst's hus- ■ band) was associated with John S. Mill in introducing tho first Woman Sutfrago Bill and tho Married Women's Property Act. The latter caused as great an outcry ■as tho present demand for. "Votes for Women. For instance, a man who lived on his wife's income indignantly exclaimed: "Do you mean to say that I shall have to ask my wife for money? It became mine when I married her, and I give her anything she requires"—a new, or rather very old, interpretation of "with- my worldly goods I thee endow." Tho history of the White Slave Traffic Bill, and its connection with woman suffrage is .also unknown to your correspondent. The facts are that three members of 1 Parliament introduced Bills for dealing with the traffic, which wore thrown' out contemptuously without discussion scores of : times. Tho suffrage speakers aroused indignation amongst women to such an" extent that the Liberal Women's Federation asked Mr.' LloydGeorgo to bring in a Government measure to deal with the evil. He declined on tho plea that thero was no time. Tho next week the federation met and showed signs of Tevolt against a .Government which ignored the "degradation of their sox." Result—an immediate announcement of a Government measure. All Suffragists held moetlngs and sent hundreds of resolutions to members urging them to support tho Bill. The very first clause was amended in a war which mailo the Bill absolutely inoperative. 1 Indignation meetings again alarmed tho Government, and the Bill was brought in again, at tho demand of tho Suffrage societies (which now numbor 42, with hundreds of branches), and passed in its present form. No intelligent man or woman believes tho Bill will be effective until women get the vote. Neither will women's wages bo increased until political pressure is brought to bear upon Parliament. The voteless aro powerless as the most casual study of industrial history would prove to your good and innocent, but, I am afraid, sadly ignorant, correspondent. Tho statement that tho woman's , voto has not obliterated vies" in -Now Zealand ,in tho short spae'e of twenty years is perfectly true. Neither has .Christianity removed all ,evil in 2000 The difference to anyone coming from England is that public opinion hero calls for punishment for assaults upon girls, and Judges iispose heavy sentences. In England a small lino ar a few, weeks' imprisonment is considered sufficient punishment for such crimes. Your correspondent should read the returns of crimo and drunkenness in the No-License districts in New Zealand, where crime, especially sexual offences, is almost an, unknown quantity. Tho records there prove that if the women's vote was concentrated upon the removal of tho cause, the diseaso would bo cured. Tho criticism of tho Divorce Commission makes ono suspect a wolf (man) in sheep's (woman's) clothing. The minority report emphasised the need for tho subjection'of" women to cruelties and injustices which undermino the purity and sanctity.of tho.home and "degrade their sex." Lady Selbourne (the late Marquis of Salisbury's daughter), president of the Unionist Sufirago League", in a leaflet, describes the two types of women of, tho present day. The." one devotes her life to society and dress, and demands freedom from motherhood and responsibility to her country for opportunity of enjoyment. "Tho other asks for the vote as'a duty, as well as a right, with the intention of sharing men's burdens as well as their 1 privileges." They have a .high ideal of wifehood and parenthood, and all possess the mother heart (even when denied tho blessing of childwhich makes them see and sympathise with tho suffering of their sisters. They are, in the words of the llev. Dr. Cobb, of St. Ethelburgas (Bishopsgate, London), "Tho high-souled sisters, who have dared greatly for a great cnuse, for tho cause of humanity (for men- as well as women), for the weak, oppressed, and cruelly-wronged (by men again) of thoir own sex—for then it is 'chivalrous' to reserve tho sneer of the smug and comfortable, and talk of 'unsexed,' 'hysterical/ and so on nd nauseam.. 'Mulieres nil leones' is the cry to-day, and it comes from men who have grown rich by sweating women, by driving them into the streets; who lovo to have tlfcir wives as gaudy parasites, and havo not snffioient imagination, or heart, or religion in them to recognise that tho cause for which they aro torturing Mrs. Pankhurst ds the samo cause for which Jesus Christ died." I think these words from ono of the most honoured Churchmen,in London, a man who has spent a long" life in service for others in the slums of London, is a fitting reply to thoso who write scornfully of a woman who is respected and revered wherever sho is known. —I am, etc., ONE WHO KNOWS. ■

Sir,—Unlike your correspondents in this morning's Dominion, I am in thorough agreement with "One Who Distrusts," etc., unci I am sure that alt sensible women iiro of his opinion. I do feel honestly ashamed when I read of the senseless acts of violence and'destruction committed daily now by a crowd of hysterical, fanatical women, who are plainly ruining'(lie cause they profess to linvo at heart. Of course there is money in the game for the leaders, and for the rauk and file of the violent veragoes. There is the excitement and advertisement. Englishmen are far too chivalrous towards these unsexed criminals. Instead of protecting them from tho honest indignation of tho crowd they should let tho crowd deal with them. "Trust tho people" to do justice.—l am. olc., ENGLISHWOMAN. April 21.