The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-05
FORUM


Editor Of The virginan:
eH'-.-Having read your editorial on the FIT
hsss or Things in your issue OF March 81 and
ueheVlng from the general tone OF your paper
1rat you would not willingly do AN injustice to
any one here or abroad. l wish to state that
aau oeeh as sincerely opposed as you to the
tttsoae suffrage movement in England until
feeehely when / have become more familiar
WIN the real conditions which exist there
"nals IL Is true that the press in America
eNoh where IT has not approved Of equal sun
i0ke mas frequently been broad enough and
eoureeoas enough to print what women have
NE shso 10 say for their cause; and also true that
~ ~. iuiih6 coolies of many OF our States have
tPhtiy granted attentive and courteous hearing
u the question OF suffrage for women. whether
10y voted Tor II or not--in England 1t In not
mere. on the contrary. women are denied the
,iknt 10 put their question before the proper
BODY polite and they are denied the usa ~ Tia
piess. rms Is the point germane That the
shSnsh women are not only denied the vote
uo' 'hst they are denied the right to ask for
II they sit hack In true womanlv fashion
silently weeping but making no public demon
saatioh. the men say they do not want IT. 1t
cause. 'se ei'
Having been repeatedly refused their eonsti-
=. right to dignified and womanly course
"a presenting their question. seemingly the only
alternative left them is to display their banners
aha repeat their battle cry, Votes for women .
80 gu 'mSlr ohis available weapon is to harass
.hose VINO have denied them a legitimate hsa ~.
ms ~ THESE. Premier Aaquith is the chief
cuch ofHcfals seldom speak In public ercent ar
"e.Asloh or poutieal or other solemn demand
aHu an 'ns political appearances are now 40
Wen guarded that 1t Is almost impossible for
u'ak'st 10 gain entrance. it Ia not so surpris-
~, ,l , ths women took advantage ut even a
theological congress aimee this, because or.its ma
lure, was probably one OF the Yew occasions
unsuarded And, Indeed. they might have
CHOSEN II above all others for sevara, raa.or.
primarily because that to do such an act Of
open outrage could leave but one or the o,bsr
~, ~ IN me minds of thinking people:
mat the women were terribly indecant or that
ground. ~ ote
rms cause is as real to many women "A the
sumo cause or political liberty was TO PATRICK
Htnry. and many Of these women have nav
wiling 70 suffer the death he was Willing to
s"ner some of them indeed have died. Il ia
reese women believe that they should haye tbs
risnt 70 express themselves by the ballot 10 say
VINO shah govern them and how they shall be
governed, as our forefathers believed thew had
the right and fought for It, and as Won he,isvs
you nave the right to breathe pure air The
hlchmond Virsinian has lately eulosized Mr..
Henry. but even The virginian has not yet euIo
E1eo lhe women Surely It must be hard for a
true democrat to say that these women ara
snauid be only by consent of tho people row
erned. o" ~ so'
1t is possible. and indeed very probably Tia.
every woman In that English assembly had A.
much respect for theology and the HihIs a.
Ar, Asauith-perhaps more. This to them u an
- 49, ~ al o.iioay wax. Ihis same King
/. anies version or the Bible which the congress-
MAD met to uphold. and to which Mr. Asouth
In words at least did reverence-ths sarne Hihla
II. Its opening chapter (Gen. /: 20, 27 and 2s1
asserts that God created man, male and femsI.
and gave them dominion over all the earn
Could tt be that the men who tore the banner.
" ere--unhoIy7
II is not my purpose to condone the onren.a
OF seeming unwomanliness in women but 70
en- phasize the fact that 1t ia the unmanliness ~
inc English men in power that Is responsible for
the present conditions In that country
- M F. p.