The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-27

plated the appearance of such a female pha
perly organized they might. perSaps become
formidable In their demand for admittance; and
from the Manchester report we publish this morning
IL Will he seen they possess q bold leader in Miss
LYDIA Becker, who lately maintained so gallant
contest at the British Association Perhaps this ladys
presence goes far to account for so large number OF
claimants, and we have some curiosity to know at
whose instigati0n the claims were presented Are
there really 5000 woman :n c..astar who desire
70 Yose a. the next election, stormy as Il is nearly
trust their names and their interest to her or
have the liberal agents been prompted by expec-
tation that women would support the rights OF many
Whatever the cause the claim on so extensive
scale Is o new phenomenon, and renders 1t evident
that the question will ut least be pressed until final
decision IL obtained.
There is not much encouragement to be derived at
present from the manner in which such claims have
been received by the revising barristers. At Lam
beth, when the first wOman's name was called the
barrister cOntented himself with saying that he
should take no notice Of the claim. At Westminster
q similar decision was pronounced but not without
reason being given The barrlster recalled the TACT
that the subject was directly brought before the late
'persOn" instead of .'man" throughout the act ex-
pressly IN order 70 give women the franchise, and
tne was reeS e IN order 10
fore, be the slightest doubt as to the inten.
ton of the legislature; and this, one would
think, ought to be decisive authority to q pub
lie officer in the position OF revising barrlster.
He has 10 decide according to law, and In doubtful
according to the known intention OF the law.
The agent for the women of Manchester certainly
deserves credit for his ingenuity, though In taking
up the time OF the court for two hours he may be
thought rather too faithful representative OF his
clients. He fairly cOnfesses his inability to show
that women have voted for members OF Parliament
ae Sd to 5 Vol aa to
higher antiquity He could show, however, that
1.-The question had often been raised" as to the
offices OF 0verSeer and sexton. What has the office
Of sexton TO do with the privilege OF voting
for members of Parliamentg II might, doubtless,
be shown that agricultural laborers have nlled
The Office sexton but ii does follow
tnat they are qualified as voters. But IL is IN q
dilemma propounded by this gentleman that his
man IN the Reform act What does 1t mean 1t
must have one OF two meanings. 1t was either used
in the sense OF u man rs distinguished from woman,
in the sense OF mankind.n If it means mankind,
OF course 1t includes women. But II it was used in
the sense of man as distinguished from woman, "it
surely imported the masculine gender" 1t would
be against Miss Becker's interest 10 deny men the
privilege of the masculine gender for Lord Romillys
act declares that all terms importing the masculine
gender shall be held to import the feminine also.
Consequently, If the term means men as distinguished
from women, 1t follows that 1t means women as dis
better than this in the way of argument
since the days when we studied Aldrch, and were
taught TO unrayel the Sophism about the Cretans
being all called liars by Cretan and consequently
speaking truth and lies in perpetual alienation.
These decisions may, perhaps Indicate
traton courts. But, whatever the barrsters may
decide, the question will be brought in November
before the higher courts and there be little doubt
what the decision OF the judges will be. Unless plainly
compelled by the letter OF the law they would nat-
rally refuse TO initiate so total change in our con-
stituhona practice. The barrister at Manchester
forcibly urges that where precedent is uniform,
nothing but an express enactment could be held to
to carry still more weight with superior court.
But IN tnis case as we have pointed out
taxable and, In relying on the letter. the
advocates OF women are driven to the kind of qulo
bes we have noticed. We may accordingly expect
the court to decide that. under all clrcumstan
and on grounds of public policy, the term "man or
''pcrson" IN the new Reform act cannot be con-
strued to mean woman" The ladies WILL there
fore, be ultimately struck Off the register even II
here and there placed on 1t by the barristers and
they must content themselves with exercising a
purely domestic influence over the cons tutiOn Of
he first reformed Parliament. 1t is evident, how
'ver. that there are those among tnem as well as
harge; and the question VIII be again referred to
he decision Of Parliament itself. Stranger things.
own have than their gaining n
happened without producing much effect |
me way or the other. But whatever effect
he change might have would. we believe, be ex-
remedy injurious TO the position OF women, and |
would involve no advantage whatever. We recon-
mend one point to their observation at the forth
coming election. They will probably have sufficient |
evidence that an election is somewhat rough work, |
and whatever claims they have hitherto advanced,
be on level with men in physical strength. The
fact IL that physical strength has good deal to do
son alone women arc not capable of holding
their own in the rough contests of the world II they
attempted 10 90 IL tney WOulu Sacriuce tNat uell-
cacy that genteness and that submission which
are now their most potent charms. They have at
present the privileges and the protection of the weak
Let them undertake to defend themselves and they
must be content with the bare rights they can en-
force. Instead OF gaining any additional rights they
would risk some OF the rights they possess and they
would inevitably lose the peculiar influence which Is
now derived from their very subordination. We
must frankly say that we should regret ANYTHING
which could tend TO distract the interests OF
from domestic life and we are convinced that the
great majority both OF men and women are OF the
same opinion. 1t Is an Old and true saying that
happy State can only be composed of happy fami-
lies and by bending all their energies 10 make our
families happy. women VIII exercise 4 far more
powerful IA well as "a more beneficial influence on
their country than could be eNerted 10y even unt-
lersa female suffrage.