The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 741, 24 August 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1878.

That portion of the Electoral Bill which proposes to grant female suffrage lias been treated variously by those members of Parliament who have spoken on the question. Some pull long faces, and wonder what the world is coming to, and others are seized with a strong presentiment that such extraordinary phenomena portend the proximity of the inillenial period. But not a few* incline to treat this characteristic of the Bill with levity, and their speeches are celebrated more for their pregnancy with badinage than for seriousness and depth of thought. Some of the members of the Government, however, Beem to see nothing to joke about, and, figuratively hugging t!i. female suffrage element <>f the Bill, they make aide and 1-tng appeals to convince waiverers and opponents that it is all right. Perhaps it is. Bwt we arc of those whose facial muscles ivl.ix whenever they are reminded of female suffrage. What food there would bo for tins newspapers if ir were to become law. Having once inserted the thin end of the wedge ami become electors, ladies would noon be raised to the Parliamentary benches. How tenderly would they and their opinions b ■ treated. Mat's Parliamentary practice would no longer be in its severity, and the smaller observances of Parliamentary life would grow into disuse, to be supplemented' by others suited to circumstances. A. lady entering the Chamber would of course receive a right royal reception. To a man the gentlemen would rise, and there would he a scramble to see who should be up first, IVIr. Madders winning by more than a head. How the monotony of the Chamber would bo relieved by the beatific features of tho fair sex, and how honorable members susceptible to female charms would be led into pleasant captivity by those charms. How a lady member who happened to be an eligible party would fall in love with some gay y»nng fellow—we don t mean Mr. Manders —on the Opposition benches, agree to sink all political differences, and to devote the remainder of her life to him as set forth in the marriage service. How the dryness of a long debate might be enlivened by tl.e occasional retirement of Bundry couples to discuss politics in the poetic and classic demesnes of the House, where, amongst the trees and flowers, they could agree to " pair off" on one of the most momentous questions that humanity has to deal with. How, I when circumstances would not admit of ; retirement, those who had come to an understanding regarding—political questions could keep up a lively discussion, by means of the deaf and "dumb language, across the floor of the House. How, while some strong-minded lady was , dilating on some important question in , which Maudbbs and other susceptible ■ gentlemen were greatly absorbed, the i

members of Parliament, the purport being that Johnny had fallen down and broken his nose, or-that father wanted his tea.. How, when discussion became warm, and members grew angry with one another, and harsh words" reverberated through the Chamber, three or four ladies would faint and fall imo the arms of the nearest gentlemen. How, when a young member's gahantry led him to think that a lady member had been treated rudely, he would invite the aggressor to " come into the garden."- How, in spite of the ruling of the Speaker, some very strong-, minded lady in having her own way, and clearing'-of the Cham bur in order fo. as far as possible, under the circumstances,-• uphold the dignity of Parliiment. ;' How, regulations, printed in large ..characters would have to be in ' conspicuous places within the'prrciucts of the House fin-bidding the a'druission-of children in arms. A niiin in their political opinions would politely term each other, while within the chamber, tiio honorable lady" and '"'the honorable gentleman," but when" they were beyond the restraint of the-Speaker, would discuss the desireableness of simplifying tne Divorce Act. All these things and a thousand others might happen if women were granted the franchise. We would not object to allowing women to vote at elections, becaii-e tlu-j r would probably vote as their husbands voted..That would be so small an evil that if it were the only one we would strongly advocate the advisability of giving women the frauc'iise. But it is when they dittered the harm would arise. It in not a stretch of imagination to suppose that many a 'home would be made unhappy in which discord was previously a stranger, and many an unhappv home would be rendered un-h-'ippier. We do not believe that the class of women that could intelligently use the privil go of voting would take advantage of it with it uranted to them. !:eusii>le women would most assuredly be of opinion t at they had quite sufficient to occupy their time and attention without troubling themselves with those things which are quite safe in the hands of their husbands. Men, as a rule, admire a retiring, modest disposition in a lady beyond everything else, and we e;>" scarcely imagine that these characterisi • ! could exist in a lady politician.