The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-05-20 00:00:00

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

London, on Saturday night, a public meeting in savour
romen's suffrage was held in St. George's Hall, Langham-
:e, Mr Russell Gurney, M.P., the Recorder of London, pre-
ng. The hall was quite lull, and among those on the
form were Miss Reciter, Miss Sturge, Miss Frances Power

bonbe, and Miss Tod. .....i. JJ.
The Chairman said he was glad to see so, large a
meeting, especially after a temporary discouragement'
in the House of Commons. One, however, could not
help observing that the arguments used by -their op-
ponents were not against the matter contained in the.
Bill which had been rejected, but against other matters,
which were altogether outside it. For his own part,
hi r 4 object was a very simple one, end it was confined
entirely to the provisions of the Bill which had, been
introduced this Session. ; That bill corrected._ the in-
justice which he thought existed. By the law of this
country their franchise was one which depended upon
the ownership of landed property, and upon rate-pay-
lug for house or land. These were the main qualifica-
tions, and he could trot- see why a pension occupying
-
NI. 13 in a street, paying rates for that house, should
have a vote, when a person cccupying No. 14, and
bearing the same burdens, should not be allowed to
vote, merely because there was a difference of sex in
the two occupants. (Cheers.) He denied that if
, women had votes they would thetefore be entitled to.
the right Of sitting in Parliament. Clergymen had
votes but for more than a century they had been pre-
vented from sitting in Parliament. They were told
that the persons who now complained of being ex- ,
eluded were their wives, sisters, and daughters. No 1
donbt, but men did not always take the same view
of questions as women, and he could not see w4y;...1
the latter should not. leave their views repte-
seated. They were also told that there ;stem
men who suffered hardships. Younger sons, ifor)
instance suffered hardships, for the eldest sons carritll
off all the property, and the youngest were left without
any ; but they did not exclude younger sons from the
franchise, and they, at any rate, have the opportunity
of electing members of Parliament to assist in reinov-
ing evils which affected them. The younger eoiss have
thus the means of making their grievanciig known to
those who have the means of remedying them.
(Cheers.)
Miss Becker rose to propose the first resolution as
follows :
" That this meeting hereby records its approval of the
assimilation of the conditions of the Parliamentary to those
of the Municipal franchise, in so far as regards the disabili-
ties ef sex, and pledges itself to support the principle by every
constitutional means."
Before speaking to it, however, she wished to read
the following letter :
"39, Sloane-street, May 13
"Maiam,—l regret that I cannot comply with 3 our re-
quest in attending the meeting .at St. George's ilalL Yeu
must not on that account, however, infer that I am un-
friendly to its object. I have voted in its favour upon
more than one occasion, and doubtless I shall do so again.
It may be, as some think, thst no great advantage at this
time woulo accrue to the country by extending the electoral
suffrage, but I cannot see any principle or consistency in
withholding it, especially from those whose cause you are
pleading. The Legislature•has conferred the right on women '
of twang for their municipal representatives, of voting for
(and, indeed, aciing as) Poor ,Law Guardians, and the same
with regard to School Boards, and, they have always. beenkl
entitled to fill certain parochial offices, and it is never ,
alleged that in the discharge of these duties they have acted I
lesit worthily than men. in moss respects, their rights as I
owners of property are concurrent with those of men. They '
can inherit peerages, and, as we know to our satisfaction,
they can occupy the Throne. I cannot, therefore, see on
what ground it is that they can reasonably be said to be dis- '
qnallned from determining upon the claims of candidates who
seek to represent their interests in Parliament, especially
n der the peaceful condition in whleh they would now
re octl their votes.
i
'As far as I am acquainted with the objections usually .
all ged, I am bound to say that they only appear to be those
,
wtc feta have always been offered whenever any fresh extension
A iberty to the subject has been proposed, and which in
former years I have myaelf heard urged . against personal
!rtiedom in the Colonies, religious liberty in this country, the
in ranchiseent of the working classes,' and against the
1m
in lition of every monopoly (political. or commercial) when.
iv rit has been assailed. We have seen, however, with what
it le success resistance upon these great matters has of late
,t rs been attended, and with what satisfaction the results
it vast changes are now regarded by the country. You,
hill, have little reason to feel discouragement at the present
,otitiou of your cause. You have only to persevere, making
I Come to the public that your claim is just And possible to
etenforced—and that political rights - are now withheld
, re there it intelligence and capacity to nee them wisely,
o where' the possession of them would afford protection sad
e eflt to those whedro eand them.
it
With great respect, dear Madam, I remain your obedient
t I ant, C. P. VILLIERS.
7 To Miss Lydia Becker."
hie said no one would suppose for a moment that an
iVerse vote of the House of Commons would convince
sp woman who made this claim as a matter of jus-
c,p that the claim was unjust. Not all the eloquence
iall the most eloquent men who ever lived ,could
Isuade an intelligent, patriotic woman, who . cared,
the welfare of her country and the interests of, those
nag whom she lived, that she had no right, tti •Vote
he possessed the legal qualification, and paid her
s, any more than it could' pereu de the 'same
san4hatehe had nci right to be educated if she
Id pay the college fee* or to sit down to dinner if she
Id pay the bill. (Hear, heir.) She demanded no
a than was contained in the Bill introduced by
. Forsyth, and she thought they were entitled to
t. • • ' , ' •
Ir. Cowen, M.P., supported the resolution
king that, although they might not be •

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