The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-27

The womea's Political Leagues OF Europe
md Their Vast Membcrship-Two Great
Uuiversitics Open Their Doors to the
Fair scx-somc or the --latest whims OF
Fashion-New Things In Ncchwenr.
Ono of tho things which Lady Henry SOM
erect finds hard to reconcile with her pro-
conceived idea Of tho enterprise and energy Of
American women Is the apparent Indifference
OF tho great majority to political issues and
privileges. As compared with English women
OF all classes American women though first IN
The field as claimants Tor the right Of sharing
political powers with men. are less actively in
terested in political work. less we'll informed
on the issues of the day. and enjoy fewer rights
OF franchise. Twcnty.f"ur of our States and
Territories confer certain minor privileges OF
voting or of holding school offices on women.
while twenty allow women to have no
voico in tho management Of public affairs.
Wyoming is the banner State. Kansas grants
municipal suffrage while in tho other Statcs
the privileges enjoyed by women arc confined
to educational matters only.
In England women vote for the election OF
members of Municipal and County Councils
and School Boards. sit themselves rs members
OF School Boards and County Councils. and
woman has for more than fifty years held tho
throne OF the powerful United Kingdom and
governed wisely and well. There yet remains
for then, to win tho right to vote for members
Of Parliament only. First places have been OBJ
tanned for tho two Suffrage bills and they nro
SGT for hcarn. in April and May Of this year.
Tho bills propose to confer the parliamentary
suffrage on women who are already entitled to
vote ut the town and county council elections
in England. Scotland. and Wales and at poor
law guardian elections in Ireland. Both bills
arc backed BY many eminent names and Mr..
Cpnrfppv DAINTY Spp1kpr of thp HOuSp OF
Commons. has declared his eNpectation that
the measure will be passed.
English women declare frankly and unaf-
fettcdly tho party to which they belong. Con-
sentative. Primrose. Liberal. or Liberal Union
fist. and one meets in England many moro men
who acknowledge unreserved!y their cham
pionship Of woman's caus, than can be found
to admit their sympathy with woman suf-
fragtsts in America. John Stuart Mill once
said that there is only one department of intel
lectual activity in which woman has ever shown
herself the equal of man. I'VE have had no
woman poet like Shakespeare the Greek
poets. no woman painter like Michael Angelo.
no woman musician like Beethoven or Mozart.
In all these departments man has never had
an equal ora rival in woman. But there is
one department in which woman has shown
herself thep peer ana equal "f man. and that is
in tho very department of politics with which
we are told she has no capacity to Zeal There
are certain great queens. Elizabeth Of Eng
K hand, Catherine Of Russia. and some Of tho In
dian Frinccsscs who were the equals in every
way Of any man who ever held the same posi-
ticm lsupposo prosperity and greatness in
this country nov,r reached greater heights
than IN the days Of Queen Eliza eth. Queen
Anne. anl Queen Victoria"
ln;!i-h women are we'll organized in rolit-
lea! work. ana work with men according to
regular party methods. Mon advise with
women in the interior and important things OF
pot!cs and women use all means to commit
men that are up for election to parliamentary
suffrage for women. and when the candidates
have espoused the cause the women work for
their election by all tho regular political
methods and,t,y unique and strategic meas
ure5 OF their own. quite out Of tha ordinary
Lima In house-to.house cnnvassing the
women arc said to DO particularly sue
cessiul, from their superior tact and
gracious manner Of approach. learned
through long experience in charity visiting.
Every ons has heard Of Lady Randolph
Churchill's energetic canvass during her hus-
bands candidacy for tho Ministry. andlA Mrs.
Brand. wife Of q member Of Parliament. can
yassed the entire district with her husband.
charming tho electors with her singing while
he devoted himself to their political educa-
ton. She sang to tho electors in tho open air.
by the river SIDE. as we'll as In the great polti-
cal meetings. aud enthusiastic crowds greeted
her everywhere. Tho Rrrie,o Of Rrrie'cs says:
III things continue to so on Mt the present
rate. the candidate who cannot put n capable
woman into the field may as well retire from
the contest"
Ladies' also bring up the doctors in their
carriages. instructor: them frequently in the
ssodus opsrandi Of the electoral right denied to
The fair instructors. An amusing story Is told
OF . young lady worry active in lighting an cleo
6on for hor father. who brought up to the poll
ing place man who said he could not vote I'M
Less she went with him. because he could
not read or write and was so confused
and puzzled no could not get through
the terrible ordeal alona Arriving at
the polling booth with her helpless but
legal voter. tho lady was confronted by
placard on which she read: mo women ad-
mitted to this room." and was Obliged to re-
treat followed by tho man who had a right to
enter. hut had not sufficient courage to go in
without her for fear Of what might happen to
him. It ts a common thing for women to ad-
dress audiences Of voters from the toughest.
most dcpravsd. and ignorant classes in
society as well as those OF more intelligence
and rehnemeat. Alady travelling IN England
writes OF attending a mass meeting OF the
great unwashed." whore an elegant and
-
stump spoech as she had ever heard
irvm the silver-tongued orator Of the Ameri-
can campaigns. The speech WAS refined as
well as logical containing only passing
alusion to woman's suffrage. and was listened
70 with marked attention 10y the incongruous
audience. II has been runored that fair can
vassers sometimes buy votes with kisses. but
this 10 most eEphatically denied by the women.
except liz tho case Of q certain beautiful lady
who. a Great many years ago.. allowed the
voters to takp tner ballots from hcr lips with
their own il they supported her candidate.
The Liberal Federation and Union OF all the
Women's lbsrai Associations throughout the
country Is Nu Qrganizntion OF 700 ASSOCIATIONS
containing n membership OF between 10000 |
and $4,000 women. Its members aud dele |
gates are. Of course. warm supporters OF home
fule and OF the Librri party. One section OF |
the Federation u devoted to the work OF the |
Liberal party, ci,nyass!ng at elections. holding |
meetings, ,instrNcting voters. circulating Lib: |
erai principissNy books and pamphlets, and
supporting the measures which tho Liberal |
party have adopted. The other section, known |
~ tn. Progressive party. endeavors to for
ward the cause " woman + ulrage. as well US
to prolNgate Liberal doctrines.
The Primrose League ntedates the Liberal |
Federation. anil Conservative women were the |
H.