"AN APPEAL TO THE MEN OF NEW ZEALAND."
To THE EDITOB OP THE 'NELSON EXAMINEE.' Mb. Editoe— Your kindly notice of a little painplielet, entitled "An Appeal to the Men of NewZealand," which was published some months back, induces me to lay before you the enclosed letter. I trust its perusal will stir the thoughts and energies of our Nelson women, and among them I earnestly hope some may be found to follow its closing advice, a course of action which, to my deep regret, circumstances deny to Feiimina. " Avignon, January 25, 1870. " Deae Madam — You have given me real pleasure by sending me your pamphlet, but for which I might not have known that the stir in the minds of women against the gross injustice with which they are treated by the laws, had already commenced in the youngest colony of Great Britain. You have made an excellent beginning ; and the cause is so clearly a good one, as soon as the mere novelty has worn off, that the movement is certain to spread, as has been the case in most of the countries in Europe, and in America. It will perhaps surprise you to bo told, that even in.Eussia there is a powerful movement among women themselves for their emancipation. Numbers of the best minds on the Continent of Europe are now declared supporters of the equality of women, and many more would doubtless declare themselves if they thought the time favourable; and we are labouring to make it so. In England the movement is going on rapidly, both among women and men, and support of it is almost becoming a badge of advanced liberalism. We are, however, far as yet from the final triumph, though that does not appear at so vast a distance as it did a few years ago ; but the suffrage movement is the cause why Parliament will probably in the very next session, or soon after, pass an Act removing the greater part of the unjust provisions of the present law respecting the pi'operty of married women ; provisions already swept away in most of the States of the American Union. It is to be hoped that the colonies will not maintain these iniquitous provisions, after the mother country has given them up. " I cannot agree with you in the desponding view you take of what can be done in this matter in the colonies. I think it will be highly desirable if you, and such ladies and gentlemen as agree with you in opinion, would form yourselves into a committee for obtaining the suffrage for women. Our committeea in
England originated in exceedingly small bodies, but quickly rallied round them an amount of suppovt which they were themselves surprised to receive. I believe you would find it the same in New Zealand, as it has proved so wherever one or two have had the courage to commence action in this matter. If nothing else could be done, you might at least form yourselves (or yourself) into a corresponding committee (or member) of the London Society, and I am sure that the Honorary Secretary (Mrs. P. A. Taylor, Aubrey House, Notting-hill, London, W.) would be happy to forward to you all the pamphlets and circulars issued by the London Society for distribution, and to give advice as regards the formation of a committee. I think you could not do better than to put yourself into communication with her. It would be much to bo regretted that your energy, and the interest you take in so important a matter, should remain without practical results. " I am, dear madam, " Yours very sincerely, "J. S. Mill."
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18700507.2.17
Bibliographic details
"AN APPEAL TO THE MEN OF NEW ZEALAND.", Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 37, 7 May 1870
Word Count
609"AN APPEAL TO THE MEN OF NEW ZEALAND." Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 37, 7 May 1870
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