SIR WILLIAM FITZHERBERT ON MANHOOD SUFFRAGE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 106, 4 May 1878, Page 5

SIR WILLIAM FITZHERBERT ON MANHOOD SUFFRAGE.

At the close of his addreess to the electors of the Hutt last Monday, Sir W. Filzherbert in replying to a question as to his views on Manhood Suffrage, said : — Wsll, I do not know a prettier sounding term thnn "manhood suffrage." Why confine it ? Why be so illiberal as to say thnt only men shall exercise it ? Manhood suffrage ! As if the only human being 3 on the face of the earih were men ! Ido not see why the right Jo vote should not be held by women ! The (ruth i 3 this ; this cry ♦cry of manhood suffrage ia a catchpenny, but I will be the last to turn the cry into ridicule. If it is the creed, honeßtly believed, that a man, whatever he has been, may be nllowed (o climb up to the highest position on the ladder, I sh::ll support it to the best of my ability. That $9 what I have always advocated, nnd I do not believe there ia any one who has stated that fo be his creed more thoroughly and clearly thnn I have done. It is a mere catchpenny to say, let us have manhood suffrage, while you do not want it. I hn.ve always gone in for dptnocracy. I sny that any man who is honest in his behavior should hnve the chances of rising to the highest point. I believe in true manhood suffrnge, but I do not believe ?n " lonferhood suffrage " in conjunction with manhood suffrage. I say that the rich nnd overgrown people are those who, if they they could only pet ioaferhood suffrage would rale you for ever. Avoid as lone; as you can any of these bighsoundinp terms which are unaccompanied with the reality. If the manhood suffrage cry is a reality I will support it, but if it is a sham I do and will denounce it. If it i'r meant to a pply to man such as Burns tho poet referred to when he wrote " A man's a man for a' that," I will support it. A man is a roan who abhors cruelty, who does not beat his wife, and who is at the bottom a man. I say that every intelligent, honest, and conscientious male being is a man, nnd he should have the right to vote — aye, even though he v/pre only eighteen years of age. I should like to see the franchise extended to those only who have proved themselves to be men, but until they have proved that I do not want to give them any voice in the government of the country. I would not give iho right promiscuously to claim the privilege of voting. No less t'-nn 22 ysnrs ago I was p?ked by Mr Wiliinrrt Alion what my opinion about manhood suffrage was. He nsked me whether I would support it, and I said " Certainly not, until a man has resided for a certain time in a place, and proved himself to be a good citizen." It is now, however, hawked shout thnt nbout twemv-two years ogn I told Mr A'len that I was in favor of manhood suffrage pure and simple. A man will not livo for any length of time in a place if he cannot get a living there. As regards the lodger franchise, I say H is n proper one, and I must say I cannot see any reason why women should not have votes. If a woman be intelligent enough to give counsel to her husband in regard to the ordinary affairs of life, Bhe is intelligent eoough to have a voice in tbe government of the country. But I ask of you not to allow yourselves to be blindly and thoughtlessly led away by a mere catchword to give votes to unworthy people.