Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-12-22 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

FRENCH WOMEN AND ARBITRATION. Mr. J. N. Richardson, whilst recently travelling in France, observed the following address, signed by the president and vice-presidents of the Society for the Amelioration of the Position of Women, being widely circulated in the newspapers of that cluntry. He has sent it to his friend, Mr. Henry Richard, 11. P., of the Peace Society, for further publication in this country, as a significant indication of the growing interest, in this question, in various parts of the Continent: To the President of France and Members of the Council of Ministers. Gentlemen,—Permit us to expiess to you the sentimen of profound sorrow by which we are animated, in view of the present warlike attitude of our Government. We regard, with terror, the prospect of a war in the Far Eatt—a war which might not, improbably, be the presage of a general and terrible conflagration—quite out of proportion to the advantages which you think may accrue to our country. Engines of destruction, which moderwscience (perverted from its proper and benevolent mission) rendcrsdaily more and more murderous, now threaten absolutely to decimate the nations. War is not a foreordained and inevitable thing; it is caused by the will of men; it is an abuse of power, a flagrant violation of the rights of humanity; and as a means of settling disputes between civilised nations, it is utterly unworthy and totally worthless. It surely is the part ofFrance—once the generous and intelligent leader of human progress —to find, in international arbitration, an honourable and pacific means of staying the effusion of blood. This course, gentlemen, lies in your hands; it can be adopted by you. The women of France, who have no political voice—whom the law thus deprives of a sacred right—the Women of France demand that their strong aspirations if favour of peace and in favour of the masses being allowed to enjoy the fruits of their labour peaceably—be heard by the Government. They demand the insertion of the principle of international arbitration in our treaties of commerc-., so that henceforth all differences between our Government and those of other nations may be pacifically and amicably arranged. The public conscience is awakening; experience has demonstrated that war settles nothing; that one war only begets another, whether it be that the conqueror in any conflict desires more fully to complete his conquest, or that the vanquished strives to retrieve his disaster ; and it is upon the people, the masses, that the weight of this state of things presses continually. Permit us, therefore, gentlemen, to hope that hi view of these considerations, you will recognise international arbitration to be the duty of all civilised governments, unless they desire to perish amid the upheaval of exasperated peoples. And if, for other nations, international arbitration is a necessity, it is for France a binding duty; and permit us to add, gentleman, her very best and truest policy."  Sir Charles Dilke has visited some of the poorest parts of Birmingham. It is stated that Sir Samuel Rowe, ' will retire from the Government of the Gold Coat at the end of the year. The Dutch pilot vessel Zeemeeuw has been wrecked on the coast near Egmond, the crew, consisting of 11 persons, being drowned. The mill owned by the Holly Park Company, Cal verley, near Leeds, has been totally destroyed by fire. The damage is estimated at over £20,000. Mr. J. Howard intends to bring in a bill next session for the amendment of the Agricultural Holdings Act. Its main object 'will be to provide that compensation shall be secured for the sitting as well as the ontgoing tenant.