The Portland daily press., 1889-02-04
Woman Suffrage Across the water.

~~sstt06o CStV0o tV0 WoIGTs
While the subject of woman suffrage is SO
prominent question before the people of
this city and this State. 1t may not be wholly
uninteresting to observe discussion that
has been going on in another land over this
question. That discussion has been held in
the light of political and social conditions SO
far unlike our own as to draw into it consid-
erations and arguments differing with those
most prominently urged in our discussions.
The disputants are famous political essay
ist, great, historic newspaper and an emf
nent woman-Prof. Goldwin Smith, The
London Times and Mrs. Millicent Garrett
Fawcett. The discussion begins over bill
which has been repeatedly before the British
Parliament, which reached second reading
in 1885, and for the support of which an alb
solute majority Of the present Parliament is
claimed. II is a moderate woman suffrage
bill, providing only for the enfranchisement
Of those women who are the heads OF house
holds, and who in other respects fulfil the
qualifications Of property and residence de-
manded by the English law for the male
elector. This would add about II per cent to
the present electorate. Professor Smith leads
off the discussion in letter to the Times,
making as his first point:
The measure, il it proves mistake will prob
ably do more deep and lasting mischief than any
thing proposed by Gladstone. 1t is not unlikely
in the end TO bring about the very mischief (home
rule proposed byGladstone, for every Irishmoman
To this Mrs. Fawcett replies in letter to
the Times also: 4.i aa
1t can hardly be too often pointed out that un.
der no Woman's Suffrage bill thath ever been
introduced could this be tue. Irlshwomen will
in this matter II the Union be maintained, share
and snare alike with the women of the rest of the
United Kingdom. The number of women who
will then be enfranchised would add AN average
of about per cent to the existing constituencies.
Butt Times, sturdy old organ of the
Tory squires and of Britain's ancient con-
servatism. is not silent while battle OF this
sort is going on. 1t comes promptly to the
rescue of Prof. Smith as follows:
But this does not In the smallest degree meet
Mr.. Goodwin Smiths argument He remembers
anu Mrs. Fawcett forgets that there is nothing
hxed or flnal about the conditions of enfranchise-
those condtons is more '"s or ess ssrosyy eSsly
thaea.enea, ttaa and notnins is more certain than
manhood suffrage (Which England does not now
have) II Ia the meantime we grant female suf-
frage on male terms, the logical result must be
frage. Hence Mr.. Goldwin Smith is perfectly
right In affirming that every Irishwoman will
vote, not Immediately but as a necessary conse +
Gates. 4'r asesea aHs a 81 -,
This is the whole of this argument. Prof.
Smith next advances the point:
You win not be able to stop half way. The
women by their votes will break down the limita-
logically enough, when they are capable of eject
Ing 10 make them capable Of being elected You
must look forward to complete revolution in the
relations between the two sexes. 80
Mrs. Fawcetts reply
One fs tempted fo tnurm,,r Il, rao,o,.o a. ara.
"Oh, purblind race of miserable men, to Imagine
that the solemn institutions of nature can be up-
set by your acts OF Parliament But this is a
matter in which we are not left without the gnid
ance OF experience. Women have exercised the
franchise for the last eight years in
II, II the relations between the sexes had been
revolutionzed there H lE u 70
The Times thereupon denies that the rela-
tions between the sexes as they now exist in
England can ''claim so august derivation"
as is implied in the expression .'the solem in
stitutions Of nature" Says the Times
Iney the relation Of the sexes In Enplandl are
very olferent from those that exist in Turkey or
are the product of social and political condinns
hence, when the conditions change Il Is Reason,
fact they have changed in the cosirse % ~ % onr m
history. She addnces the Isle of Man as .
case cas- N when women have had political power
tnere IS no political power In the Isle Of Man al
all. III mas no army, no fleet no diplomacv no
national existence. Its Legislature Is 0nlv a
yestry. To quote this little experiment in the |
Isle OF Man as u 1t offered the iemotest analogv
he tIansler OF power over the British empire
IS 70 display precisely that want of pract{cai
grasp OF facts which women less highly endowed
ran ars: fawcett are certain To show in more
Prof. Smith next quotes the example Of |
the United States, where, he says, IAN al |
most fatuous woman worship prevails
pointing to theexAmple of Nebraska where |
woman suffrage has been tried and given up
But Mrs. Fawcett rather floors her learned |
opponent on this point by pointing to the
example OF Wyoming and the recent cleo
uon IN Boston. On this point the Times Is |
silent. -
Again Prof. Smith launches OUT
The political woman would be Radical sba |
hiirapy pe y. an wei, ~ Radical prone to
Conservative would stay at home. To the de-
natlonaiized factory hands, the ignorant farm la
sponsible emotions OF the woman, what sort OF a |
constituency will you have, and In what sort Of |
what sort of chance will nation under female
Influence have against countries like Russia and |
Germany, With thoroughly masculine governments |
home " tle w0man's sphere, aud happily it |
IS not political school, though female suffrage
VIII almost certainly make 1t the scere of political |
contention. Law rests at bottom upon force and |
not made the laws. You will fling home and fe- |
male character into the political cauldron TO cool
II, and IN few years you will find that instead Of
cooling II you have made II hotter. ,.-. ll |
Mrs. Fawcett says:
It would certainly be surprise, and to the |
friends OF woman suffrage a disappointment, II |
Momen voted ike flock Of sheep Tor either party. |
Mnat we Know Of our country women encuur- /
axes the hope tha their devotion 10 home, their |
innowieoge OF domestic interests and the supreme
nhlpvvIlahce 70 themselves, personally and to the |
Ian iIauIeh under their care Of the maintenance of
,h@ ral ana order would introduce an element into
erc,sp Of this country that would ex-
eiclse a beneficial influence on ali parties.
Inc Times has word to say here:
cal trasnna Ia large are, for all purposes Of pract
a. iaa ~ analrs in the position occItied Nv
ses ses na edss N ,Ssorsoy placed portion Of tie mas
sex Anu ~ 'nat position they will have 10 remaio
until their physical d{1erentia is .ot ~ ,y1iau ~;
i1damep pees.e q abaS men are devoid Of practical
circumstances calling it into D ay tba taceu ear IA
wDelmlns majority OF woman are placed in eopSi-
sound and piacticed judgment, cepaba az desi' y.