, 1873-05-18

is probable that the subject will be as thorough
ly investigated as il Mr. Plimso1l had succcode,
in bringing it before Parliament.
=----
I FEMALE SUFFRAGE IN ENGLAND.
The Women's Disabilities bill was rejected To-
the fourth time by the English House Of Com
mons, On the 9oth Of April last, BY q majority O
67, which shows gain Of u On the vote Of las
year, when the majority against it WAS 70, tht
aggregate vote being the same each year. The
bill Which was thus defeated, after very long
and very exciting debate, WAS introduced by Mr:
Jacob Bright who has also been the champion
Of the bill during the last three years. II intro
| ducel 10 new principle into the British Consti-
tuition, but simply declared that 30 for as the
electoral franchise is concerned women shall
| have the same privileges as men. In the
United States, such bill would have very
| wide and comprehensive bearing upon
elections, whereas in England its effect
would be quite insignificant. Its prac-
tic1 operation would be to give the frun-
chiso to women, who, whether as single persons
or widows, were actual householders and rate
payers. Tho number Of women, it is stated,
who would be added to the register, would prob
ably not exceed 200, 600. IA it now stands, wona-
en- who laye their names upon the rate-book
already entitled to vote for Guardians Of the
Poor, tor municipal Councillors, and for School
Boards, eligible as Overseers, and are in very
active demand as members of School Boards.
When it comes to voting for members Of Parlia-
mcnt, however, they are prohibited from exer-
cising the franchise and it was simply to remove
this disability that Mr. Bright offered his bill.
Small as tho matter seems, it provoked a
hot discussion, In which many OF the most
prominent members Of the House Of Commons
participated. Mr. Bright, in moving second
reading Of his bill, urged the clsims Of women
from political and moral point Of view, laying
special stress upon their comparative abstinence
from crime, and their general good conduct in all
civil and social relations. Mr. Eastwick, who
seconded the motion, combatted the argument
that women we're unable to face the duties and
dangers Of var, and cited many INSTANCES where
they had done so, and acquitted themselves with
great horoism. Mr.. Bouverie moved tile re1ec-
ton OF tbs bill, and contanded that women could
not AL equality Of rights uulaaa
they we're able to unda-4~ho an equality
Of duties. Being physically weaker, this
Was impossible, and, as no amount Of education
could supply the deficiency, that was an end Of
the question. The House, however, did not re-
gard the question ended, and the debate went
on amid great excitement. Mr. Sherlock thought
that, when they found women exercising the
right Of suffrage on municipal and educational
affairs with moderation and discrimination,
their request for voice, as well as Influence in
Parliamentary elections, should not be denied;
the other hand. Mr.. 8courfald saw no po-
Itical degradation in the exclusion OF Women
from the franchise, inasmuch rs they werc e.
empted from the onerous duties which devolyed
upon. men, and closed his argument with
the strongest point which has yet been
msde, viz: that q vast majority Of
the women themselves don't want the franchise.
Mr: Latham made 3 very sentimental argument
against the bill, based upon the danger Of the
destruction Of the vomAnhood OF woman. His
opposition was based upon the assumption TINT
t WAS question Of the right and duties Of one
sex claimed by the other, and that what they
Fou1d get by the passage Of the bill would be |
: that mons.rons and repulaive creature looming |
1bove the horizon-k femme homme." Ar. |
Latham added: II this bill were carried, what !!
vas to prevent women not only sitting in that |
aouso, but from occupying seats On the Treas
lry bench itsolf2 Perhaps the House would like |
o see blooming and engaging First Commits
ioneress OF Works, or lively and accom-
'1shed Postmistrcsa-General- Or, what would
he House think if great measure we're stopped !
because the learned Attorney General had eloped
nth the learned Solicitress-Genera], OF II the
,ublic business were suspended on account
# tile .accouchement Of tho Prime Minister ?"
II. Knatchbull-H -Hugessen followed Mr. Leathan,
ifference between mnn aud woman, and had
seigned duties to the@ QUO which could not
. performed by the other, and that it WAS i'm
ossible to give women additional rights without
nposing upon them additional responsibilities
l1ich they we're not able to bear. Mr. Bruce
o1owed in similar strain, and contendod that,
- women were unable to perform all
10 political duties which fell upon men, they
aou1d not have all the political rights Of men,
nd closed his argument with the assertion that
omen wero wanting in the inTontive and
:eative faculties, . although. it is not
,sy to see what possible connec-,
On that fact: even il it woro true, had with the
H., Mr.. Baycett, the distinguished political
,onomist, in the most brilliant speech Of the
,bate, disputed the latter point, citing Rosa
Dpheur, Fanny Mendelsaohn, and others, as
stances Of women who had succeeded in the
ta, aud then passed to general consideration.
tho bill, and took tile broad ground that, hv-
8 under 4 representative government, women
ID right to express their views upon ques-
,ns which directly and particularly concerned