The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-06-14 00:00:00

111 E STOIJRI3IIIDGI OBSERVER.

which ciur very large enfraiichisementa is going
make until accompanied by redistribution, the ground
of that disproportion, which hon. gentlemen opposite
have treated us a thing wholly destroying the value of
the bill—that disproportion would be manifestly aggra-
vated by this very large addition. This question is one
upon which my hon. friend has exhibited a very strong
feeling, and in my opinion it is honourable to him that
he should have exhibited it. Every man who examines the
question must, I think, have a very strong feeling after
examination in regard to it; but then it nnfortunately
happens that a large number of those who have ex-
amined it entertain a feeling just as strong as that of
my hon. friend, but precisely in the opposite direction.
I want to know what is the position in which my hon.
friend places the Government, what is the position in.
which he places the person who is principally respon-
sible for the conduct of the bill, what is the posit:ion in
which he places the Parliament that has got to deal
with this great subject, which is watched with intense
interest by the country. What is the position in which
he places the country itself, and that very large portion
of the country that is now anticipating the grant of the
franchise if, in the middle of June, he requests us,.
knowing all our difficulties in the conduct of public
business, to introduce into this bill a completely new
subject of a completely new character upon which it is
admitted that men differ widely,and with regard to which
there is only one thing clear—namely, that both on one
side and on the other they would be entitled to regard
and that they would require that it should receive full
and dispassionate investigation? It is not now prac-
ticable to give it that investigation. This is one of
those questions to which, in my opinion, a kind of
sacredness attaches. This is also one of thc se questions
which it is intolerable to mix up with purely political
and party debates. If there be a subject in the whole
compass of human life which is sacred and ought not be
mixed up with other considerations it is the character
and position of women. It is idle to say that you have
given themvotes for School Boardsared in corporations.
Nothing could, be fairer than that my hon. friend should
use those arguments as. far as they go; but they do not
decide nor dispose of the question.. It is quite certain
that women are well qualified,and have shown themselves
well qualified for those local duties without derogating
from their high prerogatives, but it is one question
whether those local duties shall be put upon them and
it is another question how far it is. advisable that
they should be put on a footing with men on the stormy
sea of politics. Ido not attempt to rule that question,
but I say that this is. the largest social question which
.you can possibly raise and it is the one with which you
are most bound to deal, and that not in an offhand
manner, but in a manner thorough and workmanlike, and
corresponding with the vast responsibilities connecting
with it. It is a question of all others which you ought
not to mix with the political and party issues involved
in the fate of this bill. It is not desirable that the
claims of women should be denied or that they should
be adopted because of the bearing which they cannot
at this moment fail to. have upon political and party
issues. Does my hon. friend ask me to admit that the
discussion of this question deserves full consideration?
That I will not deny, and give him the admission freely.
I assert it strongly, that it is a subject perfectly free for
consideration. Does he ask whether I wish. to bind the
members of this Government or my colleagues in the '
Cabinet with respect to the votes which they give upon
the question? My answer is—Certainly not, provided
that you will consent to take it out of the vortex of
political strife. But these social considerations are
considerations which cannot be trifled with, which
must be dealt with carefully and solemnly, and which
cannot be dealt with either carefully or solemnly, nor
can the mass of detail which the principle of this legis-
lation would involve possibly be settled ma satisfactory
manner in conjunction with this bill. We, therefore,
having always thought that this was a question
eminently to be considered as an open question,
and dealt with on its own merits, and I, having
belonged to Governments which have so thought,
and belongine now to a Government which holds the
the same views and wishes the question to be consi-
dered and decided, when the proper time comes, by the
free impartial, and dispassionate judgment of Parlia-
ment upon its social and moral aspects, and not upon
political considerations which it may at a particular
time involve—l am bound to say, while thus free and
open on the subject, that with regard to the desire to
introduce the proposal of my hon. friend into this bill I
offer to it the strongest opposition in my power, and I
must disclaim and renounce all responsibility for the
measure should my hon. friend succeed in inducing the
committee to adopt his proposal.
At this point the committee adjourned until Thurs-
day.
At the evening sitting, the House was counted out at
nine o'clock while Mr. Maelver was calling attention
to the functions and constitution of the Board of
Trade.