VOTES FOR WOMEN.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SP ROTATOR:]
Sn1,—The "Votes for Women" movement can no longer be ignored, nor will mere criticism arrest a movement which has for its driving-power the moral and intellectual force of a large section of the flower of England's womanhood. Save on the root-principle of sex, there can be no objection to granting to an educated and responsible woman the right to vote ; but it is certain that the organisers of the "Votes for Women" agitation will never be content with less than the same franchise as the men. On the basis of our present lodger and latchkey franchise, to grant women the vote means handing over the balance of political power to the most un- thinking and least responsible class in the community-. Our wives and mothers would remain voteless, unless adult suffrage were granted—which heaven forfend !—but the spinster factory girls would have the preponderating influence in all legislation. Unless, therefore, those who are opposed to granting the franchise to women display zeal and conviction, and exert efforts comparable with those exerted by the militant suffragists, we cannot hope to avert the threatened disaster, for the enfranchisement of women would be a political disaster of the worst kind, and absolutely irretrievable. Hitherto the Con- servative Party have taken a merely academic interest in the question, and too many have allowed themselves to coquet with women's suffrage. Have we the courage to make a firm and united stand on this vital issue,—to go to the country with " No Votes for Women" as the chief plank in our platform ? It needs courage. Obloquy, obstruction, bitter denunciation, will be the portion of the defenders ; but I believe that the party who should make this stand would sweep the country and settle the question for a generation. If through cowardice we refuse to face the attack, the courage and zeal of the assailants will most assuredly carry the citadel.-1 am, Sir, R. F.
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