DO WOMEN WANT VOTES ?

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 398, 31 August 1889, Page 4

DO WOMEN WANT VOTES ?

An emphatic negative to this question is given by over a hundred women of England w ho represent a large share of the influence, education, and refinement of the female section of English society ; and these ladies have started a movement in the shape of a combined protest against the political agitation for female suffrage. The appeal is in the first instance addressed to " the common sense and educated thought of the men and women of England," but no doubt it will ultimately take the form of a petition to Parliament. In whatever shape, the document must be regarded as unique in ifcs nature, and it cannot fail in the peculiar circumstances to command wide attention. It is a formal protest against the bestowal of what are generally considered to be advanced privileges, and it thus appears to be a retrograde movement entirely out of sympathy with the radical tendencies of the age, and the dying struggle of the Conservative section of the gentler sex, who see the franchise being irresistibly forced on by the march of progressive ideas. But if this be so, the ladies may, at any rate, claim that they have made out a very good case from their own point of view against the proposed bestowal of electoral rights. Prominent among the reasons adduced by these ladies, in an essay advocating their views which appeared in a late issue of the " Nineteenth Century," is the argument based upon the physical and mental gulf fixed between men and women We quote from the article :—": — " To men belong the struggle of debate and legislation in Parliament; the hard and exhausting labour implied in the administration of the national resources and powers ; the conduct of England's relations towards the external world ; the working of the army and navy ; all the heavy, laborious, fundamental industries of the State, such as those of mines, metals, and railways ; the lead and supervision of English commerce, the management of our vast English finance, the service o! that merchant fleet on which our food supply depends. In all these spheres women's direct participation is made impossible, either by the disabilities of sex or by strong formations of custom and habit resting ultimately upon physical difference, against which it is useless to contend." '• It is not just," they add, "to give to women direct power of deciding questions of Parliamentary policy, of war, of foreign or colonial affairs, of commerce and finance equal to that possessed by men. We hold that they already possess an influence on political matters fully proportioned to the possible share of women in the political activities ot England." The question has its ludicrous aspect, for it is not a little laughable to find a large body of citizens protesting against an extension of their powers. It is as though the masses of England, supposing them to be offered manhood suffrage, were to exclaim with earnest deprecation — " Oh, no ; by no means give us votes. We are not fitted for the exercise of the great privilege. We are not competent to govern, therefore we implore of you to allow us to be governed." At the same time there is no use disguising the fact that many women look with repugnance upon the attempt being made both in England and the colonies to place them upon an electoral equality with men. It is claimed with truth by ths advocates of female suffrage, that the influence of women would be exerted on the side of truth, righteousness, and pure administration ; but on the other hand, the opponents of the measure assert that it has not been fully calculated what the probable demoralising effects upon womankind would be. Discussing the probable effect of granting female suffrage, the ladies who have signed the appeal express their belief that it would inflame the partisanship and increase the evils of political life, and would tend to blunt the special moral qualities of women, and so to lessen the national reserves of moral force. The dignified and earnest protest of a number of leading women against such a radical innovation and problematical experiment, deserves to be carefully weighed. To show the stamp of women who have originated the movement to protest againpt political rights being conferred upon their sex, we may mention a few names of those who sign the appeal and protest, aspublished in the " Nineteenth Century." The Dowager Lady Stanley, of Alderly, heads the list, which includes the name of Lady Frederick Cavendish, Lady Randolph Churchill, Mrs Humphrey" Ward (the authoress), Lady Layard, Mrs]?. H. Chevenix Trench, Mrs Alma Tadema, Mrs W. E. Forster, Mrs Matthew Arnold, Mra Max Mu Her, Mrsßathbone Grey and many others who are celebrated personages, either in themselves or through their marriage with illustrious men. We* notice quite a number of spinsters and matrons on the list who occupy high positions in the educational world. As further signatures are being invited to this document, it will probably assume very large proportions, and may exercise an important influence on the settlement of the vexed question of women's suffrage. Common sense would seem to dictate that a question of this kind should be decided exclusively by the wishes ot the persons directly concerned. If that section of womankind who take the lead in denouncing the tyranny of man and bewailing the subjection of woman are at all representative, we feel certain no body of politicians would deny the rights claimed ; but on the other hand it would be a rcductio ad absicrdmn if men, in their desire to be just, were to be placed in the position of forcing a responsibility upon an unwilling feminine world which they do not want, but rather regard with repugnance. Such are a few of the reflections suggested by this remarkable protest of the women of England. The only' fair way to settle the matter would be to take a plebiscite of the female population on the question of whether or not they desired to exercise electoral rights and responsibilities. ' The abstract right of female householders and taxpayers to exercise the franchise cannot be gainsaid.— "Auckland Star," August 26.

The Russian cabs on an , average once every, two hours. The climate and custom require such frequent meals.