THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 9095, 29 March 1893, Page 4

THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— The probability that this community will be the first to give legislative power to women makes it highly important that the subject should receive very serious attention. Any carelessness in devising the means by which that power is to come into operation will prejudice the cause more than all the adverse criticism it has had to encounter by exposing it to ridicule and contempt. The accepted idea of promiscuous voting for members of both sexes, who are to sit and deliberate in one House, is far from indicating a true perception of the requirements of the case. Whatever may be our ideas of the philosophy of the subject, we know that complete results arc rarely, if ever, found to flow from the deliberations of mixed assemblies, even when there is something like a balance of members, and we cannot anticipate anything satisfactory from the presence in the House of the very few women who are likely to be returned under such a system. * Suffice it to say that women, totally with men, can reason and come to swift "conclusions among themselves; but their methods arc different, and it is perplexing and irritating to both sexes to have to reason matters out together. The simpler way would be to establish universal suffrage, women voting for women, aml_ men for 'men, in equal electoral districts of two seats—one male and one female—not exceeding the present number of members iu all; the men and women representatives sitting in separate chambers, with equal powers in all respects. The Women's Chamber, conservative in its instincts, and free from class interests and class prejudices, would eventually be found to fulfil all the requirements (without necessarily assuming the dignity) of an upper House, taking little part in discussion of ways and means, but reviewing all measures from a high moral standpoint. Our Upper House, as at present constituted, can claim no special ability for higher functions. In the government of some religious bodies (notably that of the Society of Friends, which has given to the world so many lessons in higher politics! tiiis system is followed, with excellent results, and seems to point to the true solution of the problem before us. Looking upor our modest departure as one that is likely to be followed at no distant date by 'powerful States, we should endeavor to give it the form that will yield the purest results, and be least likely to arouse the jealousy of that sentiment concerning the fundamental distinction of the >;oxe*, which constitutes the one great barrier to the movement in its present form, remembering that our wisdom or foolishness at this crisis" may immensely hasten or delay the hour when a " Women's House'' shall make war an impossibility and check the flow of evils over the earth.—l am, etc., Tk Ra Wurrr. Jhmediu, March - 27.