Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-01

OF opinion among female suffragists them
selves and their masculine friends, and IN.
cidcntally emphasized one of Mr.. Gladstone's 3
principal arguments against conferring q
parliamentary franchise upon women. The
promoters of the meeting wanted to accept
Sir Albert Roll1t's bill comforting the fran
chise on minority of qualified women, on
the principle that half q loaf is better
than no bread, while the advocates OF abso-
lutte equality of the two sexes declared that
they would have everything or nothing.
The latter, numerically the weaker, proved
to be physically the stronger section, and
Its male members demonstrated their vigor
by smashing reporters hats and tables an6
storming the platform.
Several strong-minded females went into
Mysteries, and quite considerable number
Of bonnets were spoiled, but no serious in
jury to limb resulted, and it is Just to state
that no fair faces were scratched or other
wise damaged.
Lady Dixie's Opinion OF Gladstone.
Lady Florence Dixie comes of an Irish
fighting family, and had she been in the
chair the proceedings might not have ended
so tamely. She has had perforce to ease
her feelings by writing letter to Mr.. Glad
stone, the tone of which may be understood
by the following lady-like and elegant e1-
tract:
Unwilling 20 lose the emaid-ofall-work.like
services Of the Women'e Liberal Associa-
tions at approaching elections you have
sga sa to stu sy i the sSss d
band of women, that woman's enfranohise-
ment shall be a plank in the Liberal plat
form. willing to accept women to DO the
pass on their deiicacy, purity, refinement
ETC., etc., by giving them the vote. All, sir,
can you wonder that many q reader OF your
pamphlet friend and foe alike, impelled
sistenoy, has exclaimed, as he read your
words, in tones of amusement and derision,
"What Grand Old Humbug3"
Mrs. Gladstone is known to be an op-
ponent of women's suffrage. 1t would be
interesting to obtain her opinion of Lady
Florence Dixie and other prominent mem
bers of "the shrieking sisterhood
Gladstone Not at All Disturbed.
The Grand Old Man is in no way dis
turbed by her ladyship's vituperation.
Having said his say and recorded his vote
he dismissed the snbject from his mind with
a facility which is one of his characteristics
On Thursday he delivered a weighty
speech in the Commons, in support of
the Government bill conferring upon
the secular army great powers for dealing
with peccant parsons of the Established or
State Church. Yesterday he lectured Mr..
Balfour upon the duties of leader of the
House, and to-day he is considering the
Liberal prospects in North Hackney, where
a Tory seat has been rendered vacant by
the death of Sir Lewis Pelley. He at
taches great Importance to this election be-
cause it will be the first that has occurred
in London since the Liberals gained their
remarkable victory in the municipal con-
tests early in March.
A superficial observer would excusably
infer from the electoral figures that the
Liberals have no prospect of success. In
1885 the Tories had a majority of 400 and
in 1886 Sir Lewis Pelly polled l, 800 votes
more than his Liberal opponent, but since
then the electorate has increased from 5000
to II, 600, and it is believed that a majority
of the 5000 new voters are Liberal work
ingmen. The contest, therefore, is bv no
means hopeless one, in Gladstone's
opinion.
Something to Set Tory Teeth on Edge.
The bigoted Tories and Unionists of the
Joseph Chamberlain stamp, who have
staked much upon Mr.. Gfadstone's ad-
vanced age, read with grief and indiena.
tion in the pages of the Tory Evening Nslos
and Post this striking and generous descrip-
tion of the Grand Old Man as he looked