The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-29 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TRIES.—The result of the interview between the
Home Secretary and the Deputation from the
" Demonstration Committee" of the Friendly So-
cieties must be considered highly satisfactory. Apart
from the objection that special constables can only
be appointed upon sworn information that, tumult,
riot, or felony is apprehended, it is far better that
order should be kept by the police than by persons
actively concerned in promoting the monster Re-
form Meeting. The application to Mr. Walpole
seems, indeed, to have been founded on a miscon-
ception of Sir Richard Mayne's answer to a former
Deputation. The Chief Commissioner of Police
had been requested to facilitate the progress of the
procession by keeping one side of the streets clear,
and to this request he replied that he had no legal
power to do so, whence it was inferred that he dis-
claimed all intention of taking measures for the
maintenance of the peace. Now; although there
appears to be some doubt as to the precise jurisdic-
tion of the police over metropolitan thoroughfares,
it is well known that a large discretion is practically
exercised by them, with the full concurrence of the
public. Not only on Lord Mayor's Day, but on
such occasions as the entry of the Princess of Wales
into London, the ordinary traffic is stopped by an
authority which no one thinks of questioning. We
are by no means sure, therefore, that Sir Richard
Mayne need have felt any scruple in undertaking
expressly.to make arrangements for the unimpeded
passage of the procession ; but while he declined to
give any pledge of this kind, he did not, as was
alleged, altogether refuse to " assist the Commit-
tee." On the contrary, he desired to be informed
of the route to be taken, and distinctly stated that he
should consider it his duty to prevent any disturb
ante or disorder, so far as lay in his power. Mr.
Walpole did little more than adopt this language on
behalf of the Government. He pointed out to the
Deputation that in order to justify " swearing in
1,000 special constables, composed of the artisans
of London," it must be deposed by a credible
witness before two magistrates that a serious breach
of the peace has taken place or is anticipated on
reasonable grounds; and he might have added that
special constables, even though gentlemen of high
position, could'have no possible right to remove ob-
structions in the streets. He promised, however,
that Sir R. Mayne should be instructed to enforce
order during the transit of the procession as well as
during the meeting, and reminded the delegates he
should rely upon them to support the police in case
of need. The spirit in which these negotiations—if
they may be so called—have been conducted reflects
credit alike on the Government and the representa-
tives of the Trade Societies. The latter, to do them
justice, do not shrink from the responsibility which
devolves on them, nor do they claim any rights
which can fairly be disputed. They admitted with-
out reserve, in the course of the conference with Mr.
Walpole, that a mass meeting on the scale contem-
plated involves no little risk of disorder, in which
their constituents might and would take no part, but
of -which their cause must inevitably bear the dis-
grace. They professed their anxiety to make the
demonstration such as would do honour to the work-
ing men of London, who, though quite able to de-
fend themselves, might be unable to defend others
against the roughs, who are sure to be attracted by
the hope of a row. All they asked was that due pre-
cautions should be taken to protect the peaceable in-
habitants of the metropolis from the' possible vio-
lence of this last class, and to secure the meeting
against interruption. With equal good sense they
emphatically disowned, in their interview with Lord
John Manners, any plea of right to the use of Hyde-
park or the Green-park, and urged the Govern-
ment to grant the one or the other as an act of grace
and favour only. Had a like moderation been ob-
served by the leaders of the Reform League in July
last, we should have been spared a scene which the
most zealous reformers have most reason to
regret. That scene, however, might perhaps
have been still averted, had the Home Secretary
then shown as much tact and judgment as he
has in the present instance. There are cases in
which a cautious and patient. disposition like that of
Mr. Walpole is preferable to the quick intelligence
and prompt decision of Sir George Grey. The
latter would probably have detected and exposed the
flaws in Mr. G. Potter's reasoning most effectively
offhand, but might have failed to elicit from the
Deputation those assurances without which he could
scarcely have yielded to their requisition with pro-
priety. At first sight it was a somewhat startling
idea that the police, against whom the working men
were supposed to harbour a grudge for their inter-
ference with the meeting in Hyde Park, should be
directed, as it were, to aid and abet another similar
demonstration. But Mr. Walpole very wisely took
time to consider it, and in coupling the concession
with an appeal to the self-respect of the Trade So-
cieties, he took at once the most conciliatory and
the most politic course. That every possible effort
will be made to insure good order next Monday we
entertain not the slightest doubt. Those who will
participate in the proposed demonstration are well
aware that they are on their good behaviour, nor
can they altogether clear themselves of liability for
the conduct of the roughs who may accompany
them. These nondescript persons may belong to
no Trade SoCiety, Friendly Society, or Temperance
Society, and may not be members of the Odd Fel-
lows or the Foresters, but it must not be forgotten
that for them, no less than for real artisans, the
Reform League demands the franchise. Manhood
suffrage would place a large share of political power
in the hands of those who broke down palings and
tore up trees last summer out of pure mischief, and
the public may well find it difficult to draw a
marked line between them and the Trades' Union-
ists. Nothing has damaged the prospects of Reform
more than an impression, which cannot be called
groundless, that a tyrannical impatience of all op-
position to the will of the majority and a readiness
to employ physical coercion in thelast resort prevail
widely among the working classes. Let it once be
shown that a tolerant respect for the rights of minori-
ties, a hatred of violence in every shape, and a reluct-
ance,so characteristic of English politics, to push even
sound principles to extremes, are shared by them
with the upper and middle classes, and half the ob-
jections to their enfranchisement fall to the ground.
We are by no means prepared to condemn all popular
demonstrations in favour of an extended suffrage,
however much waste of time and inconvenience they
may involve. They are a legitimate response to the
charge of general indifference to Reform. On the
other hand, unless conducted with a degree of deco-
rum which it is not easy to secure at a mass meeting,
they can only defeat their own object. We sincerely
trust that nothing will occur on Monday to make us
doubt the wisdom of Mr. Walpole in meeting the
Trades' Committee half-way. These gentlemen
acknowledge the courtesy with which they were
treated by a Conservative Home Secretary and a
Tory Commissioner of Public Works. Lord John
Manners, after consulting his colleagues, felt him-
self unable to grant the use of Hyde Park or the
Green Park, but solely on the ground that such
places of public recreation ought not to be engrossed
for purposes of political agitation, and he offered
Primrose-hill as a substitute. For reasons which
it is not difficult to conjecture the Committee ob-
jected to that particular site, and they are now
indebted to a Conservative nobleman for one which
all seem to approve. Lord Ranelagh has thrown
open his grounds of Beaufort House to the meeting,
and thereby furnished the promoters with an addi-
tional motive for controlling properly the character
of its proceedings. ,

TELE-4‘ ANGLO:AMERICAN" ON DR.MARY WALKER.
--The subject of Dr. MARY WALKER'S address must
be one of deep interest to women. All innovations
on the conventionalities of society are received with
suspicion and determined opposition. Dr. MARY
proposes two—and has, in her own person, carried
both into effect. The one arises, as a natural se-
quence from the other, and on both this American
lady takes her stand as the firm champion.
The first proposition she lays down is simply this,
" that women should be educated to the practice of
"medicine for the treatment of their own sex"—the
second, arising from the first, " that women who
" devote themselves to such a profession should be
" dressed in a manner to enable them to carry out
" with facility the studies and practice of the pur-
" suit." Although these propositions are suscep-
tible of a much broader basis, and would, in effect,
lead to extensive innovations, we will confine our
remarks to the proposals as we here lay them down.
The first sounds to us a most reasonable proposition.
If women be capable of attaining to an equal de-
gree in scientific knowledge as men, to qualify them
for the license to practice medicine, there are
many reasons why they would be better adapted for
attending on women than men. These reasons are
so apparent that it is almost needless to explain
them here. Custom has sanctioned the treatment
of female maladies by,male practitioners, but,the in-
convenience of the practice can never be overcome,
as it rests in the nature of women. There is but
one solution, and that the general adoption of Dr.
MARY WALKER'S proposition. The question is, Are
women capable, generally, of acquiring the neces-
sary science? Although few women have reached
the highest point in any branch of art to which
genius has attained, it should not be forgotten that
they have never started fair in the race. They are
not educated and thrown into the world in its pro-
fessions, and the opportunity, therefore, is denied
them of competing on equal terms with men. Nor
would it be desirable for society to withdraw women
from their true avocations to do the work of men.
The proposition we discuss, however, is a clear
exception to this - general rule. There are few
women who would not prefer to call in a female
physician, provided they had equal faith in the

••••••••••••••••••••-.
ability of the lady to treat them as well as the male
practitioner. Nothing can be more obvious than
that the lady doctor would possess au immense ad'
vantage—in the unreserved communication of her
patient—over the gentleman. A woman's percer
tion is more quick and keen. In watching the,
diagnosis of complaints, and in her knowledge °t;
the working, of the female mind, and of the ailments
natural to the sex, she would possess an undoubteu
advantage. They are more tender nurses, more
enduring with a querulous sufferer, and • more in''
hued with compassion. Their place is natural by
the sick bed, and their soothing influence tbere
would be greater. The advantage of educatiego
women for the treatment of diseases of w°ll3ee
b
would, we believe, be recognised at once, but we
have no machinery by which such education can a
given. There are few young ladies with the our%
and determination necessary to carry them Weyr,
the ordeal which Dr. MARY WALKER bas Stiff
mounted in attaining her professional knowledge. c,,
however, society recognised the utility of women Pr%,•
titioners there would be no necessity for underg°l,:
this ordeal. A College for the education of women
Medicine and Surgery would at once remove the
difficulties. At present the objection consists
mixing young women with men as students i 0 to
branch of knowledge. In such a position the Vlls
are clearly in the wrong place, but the difficult
vanishes when the College is devoted exclusiveV .t
their own sex. Women have attained to gre
eminence as nurses, and have introduced into ()at
"
„
hospitals, in spite of medical opposition, many BP.";
tary reforms. In proof of this we have only to cid
the history of FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE. Yair
these nurses been educated scientifically for twee
work, there is no reason why they should not 11,..0
carried their utility to a far higher point. 11l
cussing the second proposition we must acu`K,,
the experience of Dr. MARY WALKER as strong el',
dente on the subject. The inconvenience of 10138
dresses was very fully dwelt on by her, as hamper
i
ing every movement, and forcing her to a constant,.
change of garments in wet and muddy weath,e,.e.
She went beyond this in condemnation of the att:"l
" It was a fact," she said, " admitting of no demo'''
that long dresses were killing women. The fact
were known to doctors, but as long as stays an
flowing costume were worn in their own households
they could not advise their patients to abandon them'
Those ladies who favoured the Bloomer movenle°,
were for the most part incapable of apprecian
and explaining the physiological, hygienic, and ree'
bearings of the question, and therefore the move;
ment died out. The question, not long ago, Wi'e
very fully considered in America, and ended by' tt`'
sex adhering to their present costume. It ina9e
,be
that this determination was arrived at from
causes given by Dr. MARY WALKER, but, we in:`!;
gine, that the love of dress ingrained in the sex w.
a much more conclusive reason. The last thil
women seem to consider, in attiring themselves,
convenience. It is impossible, had convenience be.o,
consulted, that women could have appeared like 1 d
verted balloons, as they lately did in our streets ante
drawing-rooms. Happily a more rational costal 0
is coming into vogue, and men may now freclae,i,
assemblies without being entangled in folds of 001
and muslin, and the inexpressible annoyance, .0
putting their feet through delicate fabrics. la tu%
days a woman was a fortress which a 133-te
had to approach cautiously. It was a Mica
operation, requiring nice tact to walk 0001
the female figure, or to penetrate through a line If
fashionably dressed ladies. Dr. WALKER'S °,/jedr
chance of success lies in her making a convert tio,Prt
theory of the Empress of the FRENCH. Let .r.,;
Majesty appear in public, a la Bloomer, and ".„„"'
MARY WALKER may take up the cry of victerino
for the battle would be gained, and ruin descendB,
the manufacturers of silks, ribbons, and mils'le L
These manufacturers, however, have little ea r,
for alarm, for the innovation is not likely to be tile
ried out in general, though if a college for 'ta,
education of female medical students were ea,
,h
blished they might find it necessary to adopt 11
attire this lady has found essential. We are ba„,Plo
to add, in conclusion, that the labours of Dr.
EDMUNDS, at 4, Fitzroy-square, are tending fav°"of
ably in this direction. He already has a classics
young ladies attending lectures on medical scie
at his house.