Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-11
Considerable Ground Gained.

women TO practice law III ' llEluIa'
Considerable Ground Gained.
A great many persons OF good judgment be-
lieyed that the bill allowing women TO practice
law In Virginia would be made law by the
Legislature now In session, and they had good
grounds upon which to base such belief. WDen
the subject was FIRST agitated two years ago IL
was entirely new 70 the people, ana many were
opposed to Il AZ FIRST who have since, after re-
flectng become its warmest friends. Then, an
other Indication which seemed 10 MAKE the
success Of the measure likely was the tact tnat
the weight Of intellect In the Senate was on us
side. However. n handful OF pOlished gems Will
20 up In tho balance against lump oil lead on
the other side, and while the arguments al
vanced in favor OF the bill were gems OF clear
logic and liberal reasoning, the bombsstic az
teranccs and false reasoning OF the opposing
SIDE prevailed, and a sensible measure wac
defeated for the time by a set OF men who coula
say nothing reasonable against II. indeed, IL
was a matter OF surprise TO us TO find 80 many
men. who are eaid to represent old Virginia, OF
such small calbre. We expected 10 ma Wis
dom upmixcd and profound. but when senator
Flood arose and announced that he opposed Tue
bill and told bis hearers that the happiesI hour
al a wonanIs life was when she felt she lCvod
some lover and that he returned that soft feei-
Ing, we experienced great disgust Tor inc mar
reasoning powers; and yet Just such men SAL IN
Judgment on bill just In every respect. when
proposed TO open one more means Of making
respectable livelihood TO women, ana Just such
arguments, OF s!cksning sentiInenlahty, were
urged as reasons for It's defeat. ooi help
State when infants In understanding make her
lswsi
HARD HITTING.
Another speech which disgustcd US exceed
ingiy Eas thai of Senator Marshall, OF Craig
county. He talked on both sides OF the qnes-
ton 90 that no one knew exactly where ne STOOD
and his speech was characterized by an EFFORT Al
Wit, which made one think Of that Interesting
character In Mother Goose called Simple Simon.
But while the stubborn obstinacy Of the major
ity In the Senate OF the State ana the exhibition
o. ignorance, bitterness, and nsrrow-mindedness
by good proportion is perhaps without parallel
In any state OF the Union, We are glad 70 say
that there were many who spoke logically IN
favor o. what they deemed lar measure, ana
that some Of the members OF the Senate DIS
played minds broad ana liberal unmarked BY
bitterness and unswayed by petty political IN
ouences. Moreover, we desire 10 tnank our
friends in the Senate for the splendid enoris
which they made IN behalf OF the woman law
yers bill; and IL should be a matter OF pride
with them to have the opportunity given num-
Der OF intelligent hearers 10 discover wherein the
best intellect OF the Senate lies.
LIBERAL MINDS.
Let man express his ideas for few mo-
ments and you can measure his intellect by
them. The speeches made by such men as Pc
tiers, Harrison, Gordon, blackstone, etc, proved
them mon OF culture, intelligence, and liberal
minds-men IN whose hsnds state may safely
leave her fate. As for bitterness, prejudice,
cOnnlvinK poitlcal movements, haTtO"-ininuou-
ness, and sei1shness, over the possetsors OF
these manly traits we would draw the mantle Of
charity Their words bespoke their minds. For
those who simply voted against the bill without
attempting TO justify their action We have a
creator respect.
We have gained ground that Is evident on
every side. The people OF Virginia, taken as a
whole, are not lacking in spirit OF fairness, and
We have had words OF encouragement from VIZ
ginla men and women whose standing aud men,
tai worth made their words OF great value TO us,
and We never intend 70 relinqulsh oar efforts un-
I'll the point Is gained and old Virginia opens
vide the last door which closes respectable
avenue TO q livelihood 70 women and proclaims
herself as liberal TO those who claim her protec-
ton as any State in the Union.
The editor of the ERtsrprise will shortly take
steps toward carry her case before the supreme
Court. She hopes the judges there win decide
logically whether or not woman Is person,
and sho trusts sentlmentality may at least In
such body Of learning cut no ngure in the case.