The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-08-20

H ooIGs & sfa1pl and 5sss Ess;s Lands
A'''sh1 HUGH SMITH, of Miner
kallF9Sa e. HGeTTDpMsfRGsE TDMPFiNhs sFa ni Pis,1iet
Gladstone On Female Suffrage.
A letter from the late Right Hon. w.
=. Gladstone to Samuel Smith, NJ. p.
Dear Mr.. Samuel Smith: In reply to
your letter, l cannot but express the
hope that the House OF Commons Will
not consent to the second reading Of the
Bill for Extending Parliamentary Suffr-
age to Women. which will come before
1t Oh the 9th instant.
The Bill is a narrow Bill, inasmuch as
1t excludes from Its operation the entire
body Of married women; who are not
less reflective, intelligent, and virtuous,
than their unmarried sisters, and who
must think be superior IN another
great element Of fitness, namely the life
long habit Of responsible action. II this
change is 10 be made, certainly have
doubts, not yet dispelled, whether it
ough: to be made in the shape which
would thus be given to it by a halting
and inconsistent measure.
But 1t is change which obviously,
and apart from disputable matter, ought
not to he made without the fullest con-
sideration and the most deliberate assent
OF the nation as we'll as Of the Parlia.
nent. Not only has there been no such
assent, but there has not been even an
approach to such consideration, The
subject las occupied large place in the
minds Of many thoughtful persons, and
OF these portion have become its zeal
GUS adherents. Just weight should be
allowed to these sentiments, and it is
desirable that the arguments on both
sides should be carefully and generally
scrutinized: but the subject is as yet
only sectional, and has not really been
taken into view BY the public at large.
Can it be right, under these circum-
stances, that the principle OF change
so profound should be adoptedp Cannot
its promoters be content with that con-
tinunnce and extension Of discussion,
which alone can adequately sift the true
merits Of their cause?
offer this suggestion IN the face OF
the coming election. l am aware that
no legitimate or effectual use can be
made Of it foe carrying to an issue a
question at once SO great and 80 novel
but do not doubt considering the zeal
and ability which are enlisted in its
favor that the occasion might be made
available for procuring an increase Of
attention to the subject, which l join
with them in earnestly desiring.
There are very special reasons for cir
cumspection in this particular case
There has never within my knowledg,
been CAGE in which the franchise ha,
been extended to a large body of persons
generally Indifferent about receiving it
But here, in addition to a widespread
indifference, there is Oh the part Of larg
numbers Of women who have considered
the matter for themselves, the most posi-
tive objection and strong disapprobat,on
Is it not clear to every unbiased min,
that before forcing on them what the,
conceive to be fundamental change il
their whole social function, that is t
say in their Providential calling. a
least 1t should be aSceI tained that tn
womanly mind Of the country, at pres
ent so largely strange to the subject,
In overwhelming proportion and wit
deliberate purpose, set upon securing it
speak Of the change as being fund
amental change in the whole socia
function of woman, because am boun
IN considering this Bill 10 take int
view not only what it enacts, but wha
it involves. The 6rst of these, thoug
important, is small in comparison wit
the last.
What the Bill enacts is simply to plac
the Individual woman On the same foo
ing in regard to Parliamentary election
as the individual man. She is to vot
she is to prOpvse or nominate, she is
be designated by the law as compete1
to use and direct, with advantage n,
only to the community but to herself, q
those public agencies which belong
our Parliamentary representation. Sh
not the individual woman, marked |
special tastes, possessed Of special gift
but the woman as such, Is by th
change to be plenarily launched into Il
whirlpool ofspublic life, such as it is
J the nineteenth, and such as it Is to be
Z the twentieth century.
So much for what the Bill euacts; nc
y. for what 1t involves, and involves in t
in way Of fair and rational, and thereto
he Of morally necessary, consequence. +
a long time we drew distinction
tween competency to vote and compete
= cy to sit in Parliament. But long beft
our electorate had attained to the pr
ent popular proportions, this distincti
was felt to involve palpable inconsl
ency, and accordingly 1t died away.
surely cannot be revived: and IL it c
not be revived. then the woman's "
carries with it, whether by the same f
). or by consequential Bill, the woma
seat in Parliament. These assertit
ought to be strictly tested. But, II IL
cannot be confuted, do not let them
ignored.
ess II the woman's vote carries with it
NJ wcman's seat. have we at this po
81 reached our terminus, and found.
!. standing ground which we can in rea
and In justice regard as final2 Capat
,nr to sit In the House of Commons I
!!5s.s !s.s legally and practically draws in
-. -. train capacity to fill every Office in
g state. Can we alter this rule and Dc