The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-23

platform as the one quoted by your
DISTINGUISHED men and women OF all
parties. dignitaries of the church, the
army and the navy. we'll ms Cabl.
net ministers. have spoken ut them N
pehalf of the enfrnuchisenent OF wo-
men. Tho constitutional sunraylsts
FORM the overwhelming majority OF all
those working for that cause. The
militant surrngettes are small MI
hority of the whole and are not In
Guided In the "Natlonal Union OF Wo-
inc leadership OF Mrs. Henry Fawcett.
widow of an eX-Cabinet minister and u
woman OF great dignity and exception
al ability. has conducted for many
campaign Tor the cause. This cam
paign In It's patient persistence n
peaceful methods. after generation of
fruitless effort, presents an unpar-
alleled example of restrain and self
control on the part OF thousands OF
women. who feel very deeply the in
chlsement. and who. In the past year,
have hnd to face. not only tho or
binary difficulties inherent In bringing
about any reform. but "a naked breach
government In dealing with their bill.
Nevertheless. they continue to pursue
constitutional methods and have only
ana emphatically condemning violence
OF any kind as n means OF attaining
the suffrage for women.
In letter to the London Times Of
March Q. Mrs. Henry Fawcett, the pres
'dent. has called the attention OF the
public TO their official resolutions con-
denn'ng the dcplorable proceedings OF
the militant women and protesting
form. She says that they long to
show that tho women OF England (iike
tho women OF other countrics) can
bring about an Immensely important
change in their political status, with
out doing the foolish and wicked
things that men have done when strug-
Cling for freedom
The women of Norway. Finland, Aus
tralia. New Zealand and our own six
suffrage states have gained their full
political freedom without recourse TO
violence OF any kind. They have also
proven that they can exercise the fran
chise without producing confusion or
violence of any sort whatever.
Therefore. we must regard the MILL
tant tactics. the deplorable violence Of
small minority of English women.
as a sporadic Incident only in this
great worldwide and peaceful move
inent. They are making the grave
mistake OF ImltntinG tnc mon OF Ing
land In 1882. who by wanton destruc-
ton of government buildings and oth-
er private property at that time forced
the passage OF the reform bill, which
Parliament was holding up. Just as the
present woman's suffrage. bill Is bcins
held UP by n o-called Liberal govern
ment
But this noncthicai action on their
part In no way affects the justice Of
our claim for the enfranchlscment of
women, nor do we suppose for one mo-
nent that any Just man or woman In
Virginia thinks that II does. One might
as well say that the great principle
OF liberty on which our government
rests is vitiated by the action of Rus
sian men or women who resort to as
sass!nation to attain their ideals OF
liberty. or that the righteousness OF
our cause In the American Revolution
was nullifcd by tho horrors of the
French Revolution.
Indeed. have written thus Mt length
solely out of n desire to set right be-
fore the people of Virginia that Rplcn-
through long years of bitter discour-
uEentcnt, still retain their self-control
their patient courage. their unfalterinR
faith In the final triumph of right
over might" In the ultimate freedom OF
LILA MEADE VALENTINE.
March 81. 1912.