THE WOMEN'S FRANCHISE MOVEMENT.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—It is both unjust and untrue to assert, as the Spectator did last week, that " the whole movement [i.e., for securing the protection of the franchise for women] is unreal to the last degree."
One hundred of the most distinguished women in England, with Florence Nightingale at their head,—women distinguished in art, science, literature, by high rank, and, above all, by good works and sound sense,—personally united in an earnest appeal to the members of both Houses of Parliament to support this
question, Several Liberal families, to my own knowledge, have
ceased taking the Spectator on account of its illiberal opinions in this direction. But considering that not a few of its series are filed by others for future reference, it might be expedient not to place on record either its ridicule of a righteous or its obstruction of a strengthening cause.—I am, Sir, &c., [We do not doubt that many movements are thoroughly unreal which could boast not merely a hundred distinguished supporters, but a thousand of such supporters. Right or wrong, we believe the women's franchise movement in this country to be utterly unreal. The majority of women do not desire it. Many even of its masculine supporters do not think it of any serious importance.—ED. Spectator.]
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