28 FEBRUARY 1891, Page 2

On the women's franchise question, Mr. Chamberlain admitted that he

had now distinctly made up his mind that a. women's franchise would benefit neither women nor men. In 1876 or 1877, he had once voted for the women's franchiser in deference to the view of Sir Charles Dilke. But he had not even then a clear opinion on the matter, and now he has a clear opinion the other way. We think he has shown his wisdom by the change. If all qualified women were compelled to vote, their influence in eleotions would probably be much too Conservative. But if not,—as, of course, they would not be,—only the heady female politicians would usually vote, and their votes would swell the revolutionary scale.