The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1873-06-11
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN ENGLAND.
Sketch of the Movement by Emily Faith
f4Jl.

Sketch of the Movement by Emily Faith
full.
Some years ago, my presence at the
dinner-tabIe of o well-knowu London
journalist was the signal for animated
debate on "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 "WeII
there is one popularity about the polit-
ical equality of men and women when
eVe 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 scaffoId."
Think this was about the time that I
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
a 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.
do not prentend, in this article, to
do more than set before those interested
in this subject q brief sketch of the suf-
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 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
just before 1 left England we had a
curious confirmation of Lord Houglr4}
toms views of the political equality at
present enioyel by women. A certain
town in Somersetshire, called Bridge
water, was guilty Of bribery and "or-
ruption during our last Parliamentary
election. An investigation was ordered,
and subsequently a fine of three shil-
lings in the pound was imposed on the
rate-payers for the maIpractices 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 a formal petition to the s~ecrcta-
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 j
progress in England during the last few {
years. In 1870, for example, there t
we're only 100 constituencies ranged on t
the side of the measure which seeks to i
secure It whereas, in 1871, there were ]
125, and from that date we mark a grow g
number. In the House of Com v
mons you find all the talent of the t
whether on the liberal or con- /
sentative side, in company with the dis |,
binguished chiefs of the radical party, fl
warmly supporting the proposal. The Il
great political rivals, Mr.. Gladstone p
and Mr.. Disraeli, are more friendly h
Than hostile. The former clearly show b
ID, in a recent utteranoe before the
electors of Greenwich, that he realizes
he fact that some change is necessary
an age "when from year to year, o.
more and more women are becoming al
elf-dependent members of the eommu- m
!" and Mr.. Disraeh, still more cl
said in his place in Parliament. W
hat he twas OF a loss to see, when You 81
ONE to discuss the MATES as one of OF
how any n could dispute tho So
lain" The platform and the press di
ave been actis ely engaged in establish be
ng q solid. foundation upon which TO 70
but | cannot say that I agree ma
some sanguine friends who insist wi
hat the foundation is not only laid. ms
ut the building is erected, the coping be
5one adjusted, with the rehearsed song wi
{ victory ready to be sung. The cues els
on has, indeed, taken rank ii England ful
! q Parliamentary question, and il q Ge
ieat gain; but the toughest part of the VII
is yet to be fought You have to be
nock pretty loudly at the door OF the an,
old British Legislature before admis- yo'
on is granted, and this demand for the me
lfranohisement Of women has hitherto era
erely tir,
aATade a tapping, dai
Of some enc gently rapping, rappihg at the
chamher-door,n Iy
impaired with what it must do before is ,
q ends gained. col
OF course, there are some who still up.
spute the fact that women suffer any tin
from the laws. 1 could FIJI par
lumns with instances which would any
down any lingering suspicion yor
ut women have not grievances in this gly
Two years ago, while string lit
| laws were being put in force even fine
ainst the semblance Of popery in the thit
church, q Protestant mother Dirt
> ordered 10 educate her child in the thu
y doctrines the decision in tho Pu- CON
IS case was supposed to resist. fab
are some contradictions lii the slig
- for women, " writes the Hon. Mrs. moo
rton, "and in their supposed status, 9th,