WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6,' 1890.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 184, 6 August 1890, Page 4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6,' 1890.

Sir John Hall was probably as much surprised as anyone last night at the adoption by so large a majority' of-his resolution in favour of extending the franchise to women. | The incident of the leader of the Conservative party and the leader of the Opposition joining hands to secure this measure of justice, is indeed one of the few pleasing occurrences of the present session. No doubt the attainment of the reform may still be far off, notwithstanding its endorsement by so large a majority as 37 to 11, but if the members who spoke and voted for it last night are really in earnest, it ought not to be impossible to put a short Bill through during the present session which will enable women to make their influence felt in the approaching general elections.

We have never yet heard a single good argument against the enfranchisement of women. Every plea which has been used, and used successfully, in establishing the right of every man to a voice in making the laws which he must obey, may be applied with equal force to the case of women. They are, on the average, quite as intelligent and well educated; and if there be any virtue in good citizenship, in the adoption of higher moral standards, as a qualification lor the duty of electing the rulers and law-makers of a country, then assuredly women ought to rank first, and not second, among those upon whom this function is imposed,

We hear a good deal about chivalry and bringing down women from that pedestel on * which they are supposed to stand in order to receive the worship of men ; but as a rule those who prate about gallantry and habitually make use of current cant to the same effect, take a low view of women. Everyone knows as a matter of everyday experience what share of life's joys and sorrows falls, on the average, to the lot of women. And we know, too, how the conventional cant will pan out in solid acts of consideration and selfdenial among the men who glibly employ these phrases, ..£*.>-

All that a true ' and "enlightened woman will ask from the opposite sex is perfect equality, and she ought to be satisfied with nothing less. Feudal ideas have so far given way to a recognition of principles of justice that a woman's property is no longer at the uncontrolled disposal of her "lord and master." But laws which fetter women in the struggle for life, which degrade her below the level of men, still find a place on the statutebook, and are kept there mainly by creatures who talk about reverence and chivalry towards the opposite sex. It women would only arouse themselves from their lethargy and demand the privileges which are theirs by inherent right, with the determination to use them for the purification of the moral atmosphere, politically and socially, the world would be on the fair way towards regeneration.

The stock argument chiefly employed by opponents of the enfranchisement of women in the House yesterday, was the plea that no demaud has been made for it, and that the class upon whom it is proposed to confer the privilege do not desire it. This is only partially true. Petitions bearing thousands of signatures have been presented to Parliament in previous sessions praying that votes may be conferred upon women. And the indifference of even ninety-nine out of every hundred women ought not to debar the dissentient from enjoying a privilege which is rightfully hers, and which, she desires t0... avail herself of. The admission of women to electoral privileges would neither compel, them to register nor to vote. Those who felt active participation in politics to be distasteful would still have ample facilities for remaining in obscurity; and those who registered their votes would, soon make themselves acquainted with the course of public affairs. There is no inducement fcr women to interest themselves in such matters now. Yet, at nearly every political meeting we see a fair sprinkling of intelligent women, who are a good deal more fitted to exercise the franchise than the majority of those to whom it is now entrusted. In the municipal elections, there is no suggestion that women who vote' either degrade their sex or use their privileges unintelligently. Class prejudice and the champions of masculine privilege can find no abiding support in such trumpery arguments, and, whether by this Parliament or some succeeding one, the franchise will be conferred upon women within the next ten years as surely as tfie. sp. shines.