The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-25 00:00:00

WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE.

On Tuesday evening a crowded public meeting was
held in the New Town Hall, Hackney, under the
auspices of the Loudon National Society for Woman's
Suffrage, in support of the movement for the political
enfranchisement of women. The audience included a
large number of ladies.

Mrs. P. A. Taylor, who occupied the chair, met with
a very cordial reception, and in opening the proceedings
reminde I the meeting that it was nearly two years
since she occupied the same position in the cams
place, and now, as then, it was to demand justice
for woman—to insist upon her rights of citizen.
ship. (Hear, hear.) Unless this justice was done
Erglatid could not be deelutei a free country. Eng-
lishmen might fairly think themselves free, but that
could not be the case with woman so long as she was
excluded from all political rights. (Hear, hear.) Eng-
lishmen were fond of asserting that taxation without
representation was tyranny. Isii,ov did they suppose
women were incapable of feeling the same oppression?
Women had to pay taxes they had no voice in
opposing, and to obey laws which they Lod no
hand in making. (Hear, hear.) All representation
should be co-extensive with taxation, anti it was
niedless to say that could not possibly be so as
long as women were excluded from the political fran-
chise. (Hear, hear.) It is said that the provin eof
woman was to c ok, sew, and be silent. (Laughter.)
That they could do the first and second admirably
most men admitted ; but, in • political sense, men had
hitherto compelled her to be silent, and the object of
the meeting was to help to get rid of this third sup-
posed quality. (Cheerio) Mrs. Taylor referred to the
wonderful change of opinion which had come over the
Conservative press with regard to the question, ex-
pressing her confident belief that it was destined ulti-
mately to triumph.
Mr. P. A. Taylor, M.P., proposed the first resolu-
tion

That the extension to women of political rights by
strengthening In them the sense of the responsibilities sod
duties (If eitisenship would be condneive to the highest wel-
fare of the State."

The honourable member, in going over the arguments
advanced against woman's suffrage, insisted that
they proceeded from two classes of men, who were
either 'aidifferent to women as a sex, or thought it
w. old be unwiseto entrust them with the right to vote.
A change, however, was noiltiog in these foolish 'ACM/A,
and a stalking sign of it was t be seen in the recent
a: p inttocut of a lady to a poor-law inspectorship.
If woman was qualified for such offices, how could it
be said she was not fit for the franchise ? (Cheers.)
Mn,. Ernestine la Rose, of the United States, in
seconding the resolution, observed that at 0013 time in
her own country a woman had no right to her property,
and a mother no right to her children. (" Oh, oh.")
But that was before woman enjoyed the suffrage;
since shs had obtained it her rights were co equal
with those of man, MI the same result would
follow in this country if she were placed on the
same political footing. At all events give her the
suffrage, and leave it to her to obtain and defend all
other rights she might be entitled to. (Hear, loar.)
It was said by some, women was Metier to man;
that she was illogical, and occasionally thoughtless—
but bet that as it might, like man she contributed to
the taxes, gaol paid her share in the name coin with the
pro -St of a woman @tamped upon it. (Cheers.) She
hoped die harl said enough to convince the meeting
that woman was entitleiTto the vote. ("No, you have
not.") That might he an individual conviction, but as
sure as the sun would rise to-morrow, the day was at
hand when woman would be politically enfranchised in
this country. (Cheers.)
Mr. H. I). Warr, in supporting the resolution, re-
called ti mind that it was jnet twenty-one years ago
since this movement wan originated in the United
Staten. He glanced at the revolution which had
occurred during that period in the condition of woman,
and said there were now lady drat ire, besides other
(easels professions and callings, and if woman's suf-
frage could only be eetablieheel there would soon be an
alteration in the lawn now unjustly affecting the Fen.
However, the resolution simply asked that English
women sleuthl have the opportunity of becoming
patriot., and he diii not think any Englishman had a
right or desire to refuse it. (Cheers.)
The resolution was then put from the chair, and
carried by an unmistakable majority.
The Rev. J. A. ricton proposed the second resolu-
tion—

"That the exclusion of women, otherwise legallyqualiftsd,
from voting In the elt Won of intiuhers of Parliament is in-
jurious to those excluded, contrary to the principle of lust
representation and to that of the laws now in force regulat-
ing the election of municipal, parochial, and all other repre-
sentative governments,"

The rev: gentleman dwelt upon the fact that the de.
nand contained iu the resolution twat simply that
women who were householders in their own right should
be entitled to the franchise just at much BR the male
taxpayer no situated, and concurred with Mr. Warr,
that the adoption of women suffrage oold be the first
step to the amelioration and improvement of many of
our domestic laws, and much of our criminal code. If
women had the vote, would it long be tolerated for •
man to receive only a month's hard lab or as a punish-
ment for bating his wife nearly to death, as was re-
ported in that day 'ii papers? (Hear.)

The resolution was briefly semnded by Misr Orme,
and, like the first, assented to by an overwhelming
majority.
On the motion of Mr. Maodonell, seconded by Pro-
fesvor Mr. A. Hunter, Mrs. P. A. Taylor was authorised
to sign a petition to Parliament in favour of Woman's
Suffrage; and after a hearty vote of thanks to her for
presiding, the meeting, which had been occasionally
interrupted by a few noisy and ill-mannered persons,
separated shortly after ten o'clock.