New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-26
SEES HYSTERIA IN
ENGLISH MILITANTS
Violence Of Sufragettes Attributed to Lack Of
Mental Bahnce-Suggesting How the
Government Should Restrain Them

those who defend the English militsnts
for she says in the same article:
Do not the condoners of their vandalism
SHOW an astonishing incapacity TO per-
cejve relative values when they cry out
that parliament should remember that
the blood OF the martyrs is the seed oil
the Church? Pray. when have martyrs
ever thrown stones at the men who sent
them to the rack and the stake? was II
not their Christlike willingness to suffer
without reprisal that placed the halo
around their heads? The pervcrse ratio
cination which creates euphemlsms IKE
the word protests" for throwing brick
bats, which conjures up visions of thumb
screws and iron virgins by the Word
torture" applied 10 forcing nourish i
n,Cnt upon wOuld-be prisoners and would
be suicides. does not commend the mill
tant sense of fairness 10 the pubic, which
is inclined to ask. IF they choose volun.
taiily to go to prison. why don they act
like good sports and not complain Witn
they get what they WANT
Suggestions are made from every quar-
ter as 10 what the English government
should do with these women, but one OF
the most rational propositions is that
they should be sent TO insane asNiums
rather than prisons-for that they are
afflicted with a form OF hysteria when
amounts TO insanity is recognized D!
medical scientists. Such scientists point
out that the sexes differ mentally as well
as physically. Man has greater ca
pacity for endurance Of the rational fac-
uty. while in woman deficiency oil en-
durance of this faculty is associated with
general incapacitv for mental strain, ana
therefore. AZ her emotional nature Is
stronger there is an easy breakdown
under stress and excitement.
In the actions OF the suifragettes We
have an example of such mental break
down. Their nervous systems have been
so overstimulated that they have reached
a neurssthenic condition, which mas weak
ened their mental balance. and they nave
been swept along by current OF iniu-
ences which they have entirely lost their
power 10 control. Since prison cei'
does not restore them TO normal cohu-
ton Of mind. perhaps an asylum would
One wonders. in reading new chapters
Of iptemperate actions which the suiira-
ce,,es add daily to our news columns,
whether these women have any family
ties. duties or responsibilities. the RANK
hurst trio-mother and daishtcrs-we all
know, but how about theif io"o"''S
Some Of them must have husbands ana
children or fathers and mothers. DO
none OF these relationships count Tor any
thing? Are these suifragettes truly wom-
en- adrift" not only mentally but IN every
sense Of the word?
And what effect are their actions having
on the cause" for which they were
working before their madness seized
them? The English government VIII
never give in 10 them through mum
idation and they are rapidly losing the
public sympathy in that country "hich
was once theirs. They are hurting the
woman suffrage movement In this couh-
try also. and the wisest suffrage leaders
those who have been in the movement
| the longest-realize this. and therefore Ia
ment. as said before. the action OF theif
militant English sisters.