The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-07
Chief Inspector Of Police.
New York. Feb. -, 1891.
GLADSTONE ON FEMALE SUFFRAGE.
He Cannot be Accused OF Shutting OH This
Great Question of the Hour.

He Cannot be Accused OF Shuffing OH This
Great Question of the Hour
Mr. Gladstone cannot be accused Of shut
fling on the question OF female suffrage.
He concludes the letter on the subject,
which Mr.. Murray has just issued in the
form of q pamphlet of six pages. with an
earnest hope that the House Of Commons
will decline to give a second reading TO the
Womans Suffrage BILL" and the arguments
by which he justities his hope are good, not
only as against Sir A. Rollit's bill. but for
any bill and for all Tina. Women may cease
as a sex 10 be Indifferent to the suffrage.
though we do not think they will. and
their advocates may acquire more courage,
and ask for the inclusion of married women
in the franchise; but Dir. Gladstone. though
he comments on immediate obstacles to the
proposed revolution. does not rest his case
upon them. lie maintains that the bill
places the individual woman on the same
footing in regard 10 parliamentary elections
as the individual man. and that as "a fair
and rational. and therefore morally neces-
sary consequence" she must be allowed 20
become u member of Parliament,
and If allowed TO become q member.
must be allowed to fill any Office in
the State. Can we. he says, determine
90 have two categories of members of Par
lament, one OF them. the established and
the larger one. consisting of persons who
can travel without check all along the lines
Of public duty and honor; the other. the
novel and smaller one. stamped with dis
ability for the discharge of executive. ad-
ministrative. judicial, or other public duty,
Such stamp would | apprehend be
brand. There is nothing more odious.
nothing more untenable than an in
equality in legal privilege which
does not stand upon some principle
in its nature broad and clear. Is there here
such a principle. adequate to show that
when capacity 90 sit in Parliament has been
established, the title to discharge executive
and judicial duty can be withheidf Tried
by the test of feeling. the distinction would
be offensive. Would II stand better under
the laws OF logic? IL would stand still
worse if worse be possible" To such
prospect Mr. Gladstone is altogether, and
for a permanent reason. ayerse. He main
tains that the difference of social Office
between the two sexes 10 part OF the struc-
ture OF things: that it does not rest upon
custom OF convention or any action OF the
stronger sex, but upon causes not
flexible and elastic like most mental
qualities, but physical and In their nature
unchangeabe / for one am not prepared
70 say which of the two sexes has the higher
and which has the lower province. But
recognize the subtle and profound character
OF the differences between them. and
must again. and again. and again, deliberate
before aiding in tho issue OF what seems an
invitation by public authority TO the one TO
renounce as far as possible its own Office IN
order 10 assume that of the other" That
argument. if sound. as All immense ma
lority OF men believe it TO be, is
OF course final, and will prevent the grant
of the suffrage 10 women as completely
century hence as it does at present. IL,
in fact, converts the whole agitation INTO
one of those speculative projects which q
few thinkers will always consider with in
terest deepening in some cases into hope.
but which, like the dream OF universal
peace OF well-being. exercises no appreciabie
influence upon the conduct of human affairs