New-York tribune., 1909-04-16
SUFFRAGIST Or ANTI?
Ibseu DisIiked "PothouSe Politics,
.Sqas Nine. BeII-RGas6e.

Il Thsen has neeli claimed by woman suHTasists
IN genera. IS . friend Of their cause and as mos
OF Norway. in particular point TO hlIl s. l--7
originator OF tie movement which leo u 'le u
franahisornent % women there Nine Jul'a ni ~
Pansse consented 70 talk 10 he Hauchal l-e@sU7
FOR The Cfvic Education Of Women at the CoiohS
Cub yesterday morning on Ibsens relatlon 10 80
question. although she admitted that lhe -.
bored her. Why should any one ask "Ieliloi - -
se-ius bothered about pothouse politics 0He
wanted 70 talk about more important tillllss' anu
in rhis she thought she reflected Ibsen's feelings
Re wanted q revolution il The spirit o. man
snd was not interested political revolutions he
wanted women 10 stop being dolls. and Tas not
concerned about giving them votes In proof Of her
contentious Nine. Bell-Ranske read nun1ber o.
Tbsen's letters. first warning her audience that
isolated statements in them might seem 10 support
the contentious Of the suffraEists-
''Ibsen is like the Bible she said You can
make him say anything If you take his WORDS out
OF their context
The most interesting Of the letters was the fol
lowing 10 B56rnson. II reply TO a request that ne
sign an address the Storthing asking its support
for married 1roman's property act:
The address the Storthing which has been
sent 70 ne has my entire sympathy. I therefore
return II signed. But must confess do not ex-
pect 20 see any outcome o. the whole proceeding
II the majority Of the Storthing had really been
honestly ia favor CT Berner's notion they WOULD
rlor have sent i TO communal councils for de-
liberation IN fact they would have asked
men al all fo- opinion on the matter They
would have asked women To consult men IN such
matter IS like asking wolves If they wish 10 have
the sheep better protected
No indeed The minority. who possess al the
political communal and social privileges, viii GER
tainly voluntarily give them Up OF share them
with Ehe unprivileged mai 3oTiry- Hence, foresee
TOO The fate of the proposals TO extend the suf-
frege. None Of them VIII obtain the necessary
number of votes. Such things are not given away;
they must be fought for and especially with us.
r. am much afraid that social reforms with
Us are st1l far eff No doubt the politically privi-
legged class may acquire some new rights sofhe
new advantages. but ! cannot see that the na-
ZION as whole or the simple individual gains
very much by this I admit, however, that in poll
tics too q pagan do not believe in the
eancipatory power Of political measures, nor have
much confidence tn the aitruism and good VII
O. those in power
-If 7 could hsve my way all The ,lnprivileged
would unite and form strong resoute progressive
party. the programme Of which should include none
but practical and productive reforn1s-a very wide
extension Of manhood suffrage. the statutory i'm
provernent Of the position Of women. the enancipa
ton Of national education from all kinds Of indi
vidualszn. Theoretic political questions would be
allowed lie for some time; they are not Of
great utility
But my paper leaves 10 more space for any
pothouse politics.
From letters 10 Brandes the following quotations
were taken:
Liberty ls what want. but liberty was never
political"
u receive more and more coTroboration Of my
conviction tlat there is something deroralizing in
engaging IL politics"
Liberty, equality and fraternity 70 longer
the things they in old days, but this the poll
ticians VIII not understand and therefore hate
them They want only their own special revolution
revolution externals n politics etc, and all that
Is mere trifing What is all important is the rev
olution in the spirit OF man"
a Dolls House" has been claimed 2 'suf-
fragette play Nine BeI-Ranske said but she
could not see why But then. she added. she was
dense about questions politics. and sne hoped
she would remain 50. In conclusion. she said that
society made up Of multitudes OF little homes
as the body Of cells. and that each home cell
could he kept beautiful long the central light
attended 20 is duties.
TO be the central light Of beautiful home IS
the most sacred thing IN life said. and what
7 have wanted women 10 be. Il were TO so the
polls ] would be terrified all the time about what
was happening in my little cell"
What DO think viii be the result Of woman
suffrage in Norway" some one in the audience
asked.
1t has had no more influence than il has had in
Colorado" Nine. Bell -Rsnske answered. and il
VIII die z natural death"