The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-28

The British House OF Lords has defeated.
by large majority. bill qualifying women
to sit in County Councils. 1t was intro
duced because the validity Of the election OF
two ladies to the London County Council.
the central municipal authority, had been
brought into question, though the right OF
women to vote at such elections ls sure.
The advocates OF the measure, the Marquis
OF RIPoN, Earl GRANVILLE. the Earl Of DER
by, and the Earl Of MEATH, contended that
women had shown intellectual fitness for
Office and they instanced as a proof Miss
FAwCETT's triumph at Cambridge In "the
least sentimental and most reasoning branch
Of study" They also argued that the munich
pal administration OF London included the
supervision Of charities and the direction Of
social reforms. which intelligent women were
especially qualified to deal with.
But Earl CowPER and the Earl Of JERSEY
were troubled by the old fear lest women
should get out OF their proper sphere"
and be contaminated by what the former
called 1.-THE dirty part OF the business Of
politics." They also argued, and more rea-
sonably, that II women were to be admitted
to the County Councils, with their extensive
authority. they should logically be adj
mitted into tho House Of Commons, sug-
gestion which frightened the Lords.
and helped to bring about the defeat
Of the bill. 1t is undoubtedly true that
when women's capacity to govern London
10 recognized by Parliament, the next step
would be to acknowledge their fitness to
assist In the government OF all England.
That is the end which the woman suf-
fraglsts have in view, and they show that
the ladies' on the London County Council
have so far demonstrated their practical fit
ness for the place that the majority OF the
Council desire that they shall be legally
qualified to become their colleagues.
But 1t cannot be denied that in defeating
the measure the House of Lords represents
the sentiment OF the great majority OF Eng
lish women. Women may take very active
interest In politics both as Tories and as
Liberals, but most OF the social leaders
among them are against the woman suf-
fraglsts, and they have succeeded In making
their opposition fashionable. 1t Ia in Eng
land as 1t is here Women generally refuse
to support their sisters who are laboring for
their enfranchisement. They are not ready
for 1t. They do not want 1t, but prefer to
continue In the exercise OF tho great In
direct political influence which English
women especially WELD.
Yet the emancipation OF women from the
prejudices and restraints of the past Is going
on 30 rapidly that 1t is not improbable that
before many years their sentiment in this
respect will undergo v complete change.
The opposition to the university education
| Of women, as Earl GRANVILLE remarked.
was based on the same arguments which
were used against the bill defeated Ia the
House of Lords. Their admission to
public platforms and to employments
which would bring them into competition
with men was opposed for similar
reasons. They were said to be getting out
OF their sphere. and to be passing beyond the
line laid down by the New Testament as the
limit OF the activities within which they
must contine themselves. But they have
crossed 1t never to go back and society Is
not disrupted. From the early days OF Chris
tianity, when they were kept under
subsection as tempters OF men and
emissaries of the devil they have
been throwing off their social chains
ono by one. and 1t is reasonable to sup
] pose that ultimately they will demand the