The Dominion. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1914. A CAMPAIGN OF DESTRUCTION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2005, 12 March 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1914. A CAMPAIGN OF DESTRUCTION.

When it was announced some weeks ago that a* difference at opinion nad taken pjaqj in the Pankhurst fanjilf regarding- the methods of the militant Suffragettes, and' that Miss Clhristasel Pankhurst was of opinion that extreme militancy had riia its course there seemed a possibility that the- qrtd of tho campaign of lawlessness and wanton destruction was coining in sight; but subsequent Events hav/ shattered this hope, A section of tho "militants" uecl|ned to accept the view that incendiarism; and violence were doing more harm than good to the movement, and since tho split in the ranks this- malicious work has gone on without abatement. To the long list of previous' outrages must be added the sensational attack on Holloway Gaol, the attempt to burn a manor at Cheltenham, disturbances in churches and at publie meetings, several, coo-filets frith' the police, and other acts, of lawlessness'. These wild and reckless women, will stop at nothing in the way <si destruction, and even priceless works of art and historic bsrijdin.gs_ are not safe from their evil designs. A, week or two ag» it was an' nounced that the ancient parish church at Whitekirk, erected in tho. thirteenth century, was burned with its historic Bible and furniture, and move recently a. bomb was exploded in one of the chapels of Westminster Abbey. Tho latest outbreak of Suffragette ma-fess is recorded

in a cablegram which wo publish to-day, describing how one of these women deliberately slashed with & hatchet the Velasquez Venus in the National Gallery. It is very difficult to know what to do with frenzied females who have so far forgotten _ all the restraints of reason and right feeling as to destroy masterpieces of art and unique specimens of architecture which can never be replaced. To perpetrate such deeds as a protest against the refusal of Parliament to give them the vote is the last limit of folly, and people, who can countenance snob, outrages certainly do not thereby prove their fitness for the responsibility of exercising the franchise.

One cannot help sympathising with the British authorities in their efforts to put a stop to this form of. la-wlessncss. It is comparatively easy to cope with crime in which the leading part is played by men. In such eases suitable punishment' can bo nieted out, and it is useless for male prisoners to resort to starvation, for such tactics arouse no public sympathy. But a hand of hysterical women thirsting for martyrdom and smarting under sonic real or imaginary grievance creates a very problem. Modern methods of justice seem quite unable to deal effectually with a situation of this kind. Forcible feeding and the "Cat and Mouse" Act appear to bo the best weapons whieh the authorities have so far invented, to counteract the plans and plots of the "militants," but they are no*, very satisfactory, and have to bo used with extreme caution in view of the fact that public opinion is very sensitive in matters 'relating to the punishment of women. However that may be, it is quite certain that the present state of affairs is becoming intolerable-, and is a disgrace to any. civilised country. It is easy enough to say that "something must bo done to make these wild people show, more respect for law- and order, but it is extremely difficult to prevent a body of utterly irresponsible and notoriety-hunting women from breaking the law, or to punish them adequately after they have done so. Mb, AsQulifl 'seems to think the Government is almost helpless in the matter. In reply to a suggestion that tk provisions of the Malicious Injuries .in Ireland Act should ba applied to OreatBritain, be remarked that he was not satisfied that such a step would have the desired effect The Act in question, is aimed mainly at the doings of lawless men,, and it is very . doubtful whether the enforcement of its pro-visions would have' much effect in restraining the recklessness of the extreme section o.f the militant Suffragettes, who glory in the' publicity which trial and punishment provide. An extremely bad precedent would lac set up if the Suffrage were extorted from Parliament by an organised system of terrorism; but if the more resppnsiblc- section of the franchise movement could prevail upon the militant? to cease- from 'violence, the probabilities are that the enfranchisement of the women of ftho United Kingdom would not be long delayed.