The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-06-05
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN ENGLAND.
sketch OF the Movement by Emily Faith
full.

full.
Some years ago, my presence at the
dinner-tabie of a well-known London
journalist was the signal for animated
debate on Sc the woman question" dur
ing which the political equality of the
sexes was introduced by an ardent fol-
lower Of Jacob Bright and John. Stuart
Mill. The speaker found himself in an
unpleasant minority, until my friend,
Lord Houghton, exclaimed "Wen,
there is one popularity about the polit-
ical equality Of men and women when
ever penalties have to be enforced, the
weak and inferior sex bears its full
share of the burden Look at the
French revolution for example-the po-
litical equality granted to women was
the equality of the scafold"
think this was about the time that /
myself became convinced, after many
years of work in behalf of the indus
trial and educational interests of wo-
men, that not only are women compelled
to earn their own livelihood entitled to
political status but that without it
they must remain grievously over
weighted in all their endeavors to OBJ
tain work and justice. There is an in
separable connection between political
power and the redress of social griev-
ances.
1 do not prentend, in this article, to
do more than set before those interested
in this subject brief sketch of the sui
frage movement in England. I offer no
comments upon the American aspect of
the question. I came here to learn
rather than to teach but I have learned
enough to sympathize with the claim
which is being made on both sides of
the Atlantic to confer the privileges as
well as the duties of citizenship upon
women.
just before left England we had a
curious confirmation of Lord Hough-
tons views of the political equality at
present enjoye by women. A certain
town in Somersetshire, called Bridge
water, was guilty of bribery and cor
Eruption during our last Parliamentary
election. An investigation was ordered,
and subsequently fine of three shil-
=. lings in the pound was imposed on the
rate-payers for the malpractices of
Bridgewater voters. That fine was i'm
posed on the woman rate-payers as we'll.
These ladies naturally complained of
this unjust and oppressive taxation, in
asmuch as, not exercising the franchise,
they had in no way been guilty of the
malpractices thus punished They
sent up formal petition to the secreta-
ry of state for the home department,
but that worthy dignitary was forced to
reply that it was not in his power to
exempt women owning property from
the local and imperial taxation to which
property is liable"
There is no doubt that the movement
for women's suffrage has made a great
progress in England during the last few
years. In 1870, for example, there
were only 100 constituencies ranged on
the side of the measure which seeks to
secure it whereas, in 1871, there were
125, and from that date we mark a grow
ing number. In the House of Com
mons you find all the talent of the
House, whether on the liberal or con
sentative side, in company with the dis
tinguished chiefs of the radical party,
warmly supporting the proposal. The
D two great political rivals, Mr.. Gladstone
2 and Mr.. Disraeli, are more friendly
r than hostile. The former clearly show,
e ed, in recent utterance before the
electors of Greenwich, that he realize,
D Ghe fact that some change is necessary
S in an age "when from year to year
1 more and more women are becoming
r self-dependent members of the commu
+ nifty ;" and Mr.. Disraeli, stilI more
e boldly, said in his place in Parliament
, that he twas ut a loss to see, when yor
r come to discuss the matter as one O.
l right, how any one could dispute tho
!. claim" The platform and the pres,
\ have been actively engaged in establish
o ing a solid foundation upon which t.
3 build, but 1 cannot say that 1 agre,
= with some sanguine friends who insis
/, that the foundation is not only laid
b but the building is erected, the coping
e stone adjusted, with the rehearsed SONG
{ of victory ready to be sung. The ques
/ ton has, indeed, taken rank in England
d as a Parliamentary question, and is
: great gain; but the toughest part of tn,
battle is yet to be fought. You have tC
! knock pretty loudly at the door of the
stolid British legislature before admis
i, sion is granted, and this demand for tn,
I. Acknowledgement of women has hitherto
I merely
s 'NIade a tapping,
, As Of some one gently rapping, rapping at th
compared with what it must do befor,
/, the end is gained.
OF course, there are some who still
] dispute the fact that women suffer any
injustice from the laws. 1 could fill
columns with instances which would
break down any lingering suspicion
that women have not grievances in this
direction. Two years ago, while string
emit laws were being put in force ever
dgainst the semblance of popery IN the
Z Episcopal church, a Protestant mother
; was ordered to educate her child in the
2 very doctrines the decision in the Pu
chas case was supposed to resist
, "There are some contradictions in the
, laws for women, writes the Hon. Mrs
/ Norton, "and in their supposed status,
which, but for the deadly pain they in
fiict, would inspire the smile of con
/, /, tempt !" and have frequently heard
/ Lord Brigham assert that A" there must
I be a total reconstruction of the law be.
I fore women can have justice.
And when we come TO the important
matter of education, we find that wo.
/ men are excluded from anything like O
= fair share of our rich national endow.
! ments. About $40, 600 are spent an.
/, nually upon what is called the secon1a-
ny education of boys, and only paltry
, sum of between 6, 600 and 81, 000 on