Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1878.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5163, 27 August 1878, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1878.

Some of our readers are no doubt aware that a question in connection with the franchise, similar to the one now before the Assembly, was disposed of by the British House of Commons in its recent session. On the 19th of June last the second reading of the Women's Disabilities Eemoval Bill was moved by Mr Courtney. The proposal was pretty nearly the same as in Mr Stout's bill, with the exception, of course, that conferring the franchise on women would not involve the possibility of their becoming members of Parliament. The franchise was to apply only to single women who paid taxes. It was urged in favor of the bill, just as it is urged here, that women had votes already for municipal elections ; that they could sit on school boards, as they can here ; and that, besides, they could serve as churchwardens, or as guardians of the poor — why, then, should they not also have the privilege of voting at Parliamentary elections? Mr Courtney, in the course of his speech, emphatically denied that women were unfit to exercise the franchise, and affirmed that they were no more ignorant, frivolous, or emotional than men. Mr Palmer — curiously enough, in a maiden speech — argued that as women had exercised the municipal franchise without discredit, they might be entrusted with the Parliamentary vote. Other members urged that the whole theory of representative institutions called for the demanded change, In fact, alto-

gether, the argument was in favor of the bill, the utmost that could be said against it being that very few women desired the franchise, and that it would be therefore a mockery of representative institutions to confer it on them. But however good a case the advocates of woman franchise had they were beaten by a majority when it came to the vote, the bill being thrown out by 219 to 140. Commenting on the debate, The 'Times remarks : — The world, it would seem, is not yet ripe for the removal of women's disabilities. The attempt makes no progress, because the stinvulus is wanting that could help it on. A change that men and women would dislike about equally is not an easy thing to bring into effect. There may be a good deal of very sound logic in favor of it, and eloquence of the highest order may be brought to bear to display it as just and reasonable ; but the motive power is absent. Women are not to be roused to assert themselves ; rather they join hands with their impenitent tyrants, and decline the freedom which is offered thorn from chains which do not gall. If there ever comes a real demand for the political enfranchisement of women, it will, we may be sure, make itself heard and attended to. We are equally sure it has not come yet. The very first signs of it are missing. The right to vote and to sit in Parliament will be obtained, when' it is wanted, just as new bonnets, and pony carriages, and other little luxuries are obtained now. Brothers and husbands will be teased into granting what their femalo relations are wishing for, and they will be jast as little able to refuse one kind of petition as another. The women will have their own way, whatever it may be. If they have not got votes, it is because- they do not care for them, and would much prefer not having them. Tho revolution their ill-used friends desire to see accomplished is still far distant. The little band that fights for it gains nothing in numbers. Ridicule and ingratitude have been their reward hitherto. These they must be content to put up with, and with want of success into the bargain. It is a hard portion enough, but it is what they have now learned to expect. We cannot but admire the spirit that rises superior to all this discouragement. It may win the battle yet, but it must first do what it has not done at presont — it must enlist the women on tho side of their own champions. We believe that the battle will be won, and that the winning of it is. not so distant as The limes would seem to suppose. On the side of the concession there is reason and justice, and these must ultimately prevail. It is just as it was with the ballot. It was fought for hard and long in the Imperial Parliament. Year after year the proposal was made in vain. At length the system was put into practice in the Australian colonies, and then, when it was seen how admirably it worked there, it became impossible to continue the denial of it to the people of Great Britain. So we are convinced it will be with woman suffrage. At present it is treated with ridicule ; its opponents .are so strong in numbers that they can afford to treat it with levity, giving bantering replies to the arguments and statements of the other side. But if this colony should take the initiative in the matter, by accepting the proposal of Mr Stout to the extent, we will say, of conferring the franchise on women without allowing them to become candidates for election to the House, it will not be long before, as in the case of the btfllot, the example will be followed at home. New Zealand will in that case have the honor to be the pioneer in the enfranchisement of woman, in relieving her from the unjust disabilities imposed upon her by man.