Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1884. FEMALE FRANCHISE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 213, 4 August 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1884. FEMALE FRANCHISE.

At Home there is much stir at theipresent .titneon the) qUestfon'of extending ,{iiie franchise to women, and die sßubjgct, which is, one gC great importance, has been taken up most enthusiastically by all classes of the community, although, sb far, 1 the, results of the movement do not seem to have become absolutely decided. The mdst curibusfeature which is discernible m the question is that bo^vCoofeierYativesind Liber^, and even advanced Radicals, use taking it up, m#ny o( different sects holding sim% opinfßng, som^ for and some against it ? arjd in4igpriminately of party*, which is ,an un- ■■ usual occurrence m the old country where there is generally such a welldefined* line (Jjtfwn between the different p6l|tical factions pf Hhg gom.- \ munity, Xprj? B&A,Goi!?s : FiEF f p.. h^s been quoted as an< authority, and. i|;' seem^ ap $ that statesman had bee^ warmly opposed to the measure ! during his life time. He pointed out years ago that by extending the franchise again, they would reach manhood and then universal suffrage,, then their ppsitidn wou)d not be aclvarr £d ' Th 7 wp » W »W- - a Pan:* 1 " 6 "* ™M wou^ io,s^ ;.ts command' over the Exqc.utivc, and it would meet with

less consideration <and possess less influence, because the moment they admitted universal suffrage, it always happened that those who elected despised the elected. Then when the Parliament was-» entirely without command over the Executive, it. would be a repetition of the .case, of those Con.qnenta^.pop.ulaj: , Assemblies which . had Hsen . Jipjtmty'j disappeared m their own day. There, would.- be no charm oi tradition, no prescriptive speU, po ,families of historic 'lineage, nofie^df "those I.great cs r tateß, round which men rak lied, when liberty was assailed — no statesmanship, no eloquence,; no learning, no genius. Instead of these they would have 'a horde .o£. selfjshr arßj pßsciii'^ifn^EHocrities, m.- . capable [ :^^n^ thing! but mischief, aHhd.that rnii?Qhief devised.and regulat<?<i•.;* ]Wr >i Jthe. etnpty^Tteade^ d|nta^'go^lie, pf the hour. l"nis is quite jsue, aiia we have ample proof at -the pfresent day, th.it the further exfceSision of the wanchjse to- women would be :only further the- calamity that the extension to manhood suffrage may^t any momei|t pro r ' d\\cb'. in • %,'■ Zealand. T^i^ vatke the franchise is extended the weajjjj&r and less able do. "the Governments which lead/th^ Parliaments so elected seem to become. With a further extension such as the one which the advocates of female; franchise i would, have, the danger of the country: i being ruled by pitiably tweak., - governments would beunpleasanti- | ly increased. Again, there are i ibiiherdnd equally weighty reasons why women, ishould not^enjoy, such polir tical power's! It woulH be'impossible to limit ;the rights and powers, which ■■- theY coUld exercise. > Givinig ; them '^ franchise would fttot/ tdKeve :I tHe.'i 'diffidulty; « They ■would' nhW'-b^ equally 'entitled to a' seat .inV'Parlia--ment, 1 and, when m 'Parliaments to S~ portfolio m the Ministry j , an M eVen ; to the;. Premiership.- }rm such endless difticulties m view It is surely most advisable to allow the .Franchise Bill to eontinuje- fo hold 'therepbtation it now enjoys 'of. being a fairl settlement of tne .fraindh^e'! , ; ques,tion r . Again, .women, V^9H^ 1 ,'npt, m, , very many^ cas.es, ''ex^rcjse their judgment, but. woul^j.^qw,. themselves to be ■ very.iiea(sity i; inn jfltfenced, 9nd the ,resultq ,;WOUldxbe ; disasteoug to the whole country. Wbk ifetgy wpuW: ha.Y6i.^re^t and influence, and wouid.pTofi^ n}P»e^ by^s.o. extending the fVanchis'e 'thani jany t other .section ;j g£ the community, tlie women themselves •included. The influences of -region wo.uld be great, and it is more, than prbbable that the 1 Clhurcn^^pald' have a great and overwhelming ppwer placed m her .hands by; the extension of the feahcliise pq Wqtheh,, such as would be dangerous to tl^e independent. < welfare, of t^e .State. . The Church and State ; would ' be-, A come closely connected, and this is a state, of : things that- no -politician . wishes to see realized. Lastly, .there , k great reason to fejjr that the disadvantages of fertiale suflftrageiwoiilfl f not be 'limited to public matters.*' Discord m the private ■ domestic circle would be sure to spring up. as., a still more unwished-for result. The female politician wo^uld be iipt to seek poli^icf before the domestic hearth, and. when, herf-yiews >;Wer4 ;^"' variance ; With of -hef jij)6u^e f -' her eloquence "^pld be ckllettMlßto quest, and unhappy husbands would"have incessant terrors of .curtain lectures on, ■ say the Federation' Question, or on subjectjsrof am eqflajly thrilling interest p people m priyate Ijifb, No. Wriqoan m her proper place is itivaludble f , adorable and priceless, but when she^leaves jth'e' domesUe, ; spcia| >, Sphere which she so adorns, line Virtues and "graces by which her sex is distinguished would find. in the turmoil of political life, a mojst uncongenial and, we belieVe m ihe majority of cases 1 distasteful the develop,ment of Jier energies and the enlistmenti^pi 15 her devotion and sym-