THE WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE QUESTION.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
write little and read less, but on Sundays—my only day of rest—I think a good deal, and it seems to me that nine-tenths of the arguments and remarks advanced on this question are beside the mark. I used to be a warm advocate of women's suffrage, now I am coldly opposed. There is only one sound argument in favour of a distinction between the sexes in Parliamentary elec- tions, and it is this :—The object of elections is not to secure the best legislators ; if it was, they would ridiculously fail to obtain their object. A very little reflection suffices to show that the most correct opinions must always be the exclusive property of a small minority, at least, so long as the nation continues to improve in understanding. The object of elections is to give legislative effect to the will of the majority of the people, the polling being a civilised substitute for a fight. And the triumph of mere intel- lect and knowledge over real force at the elections would mean a failure of the electoral system. If the vote of a woman repre- sents, on the average, an amount of force equal to a man's, then no harm will result to our electoral system by giving the suffrage to women ; but if the force of an average woman is less than that of an average man, then our electoral system would be destroyed by giving equal votes to men and women. A nominal power might be given to women elected legislators, only to be rendered useless by a display of mob violence in times of excite- ment. All the other arguments against women's suffrage are weak, and worse than useless ; and those based on the fear of contaminating women are simply "bosh ;" women, as a class, would be elevated by taking an interest in politics,—the one ennobling theme of every-day life. Those women who are good and pure now will remain so, despite a visit to the polling-booth once in four or five years. And those whose thoughts have never reached the comparatively noble elevation of the politician's would in all probability be benefited by the excitement of an election, stirring to patriotic aims and unselfish activity. Our electoral system is not intended to be an aid to the elevation of women, therefore their advancement is no argument for giving them the suffrage.
The advancement of women can be secured in other ways, by removing all barriers to their individual action, and giving ad- mittance to every profession and every post and place in the State (including, of course, Parliament) to the person who may seem best, without distinction of sex. For electoral purposes, women might be allowed half a vote, the only objection to that being the practical, but somewhat cowardly one that it would be the thin end of the wedge.—I am, Sir, &c., A COUNTRY POLITICIAN.
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