THE announcement of the first lady candidate for Parliament reminds us forcibly of what a very real thing is that "march of the times" concerning which so much is said now-a-days, The public generally has probably not advanced beyond a feeling of languid interest in debates on woman's suffrage when suddenly it is noised abroad that Miss Helen Taylor and the Radicals of North Camberwell have planted themselves in the vanguard of human progress and resolved to carry the war of woman's rights into the heart, or perhaps we should say the front benches, of the enemy's country. The greatest credit is undoubtedly due to their strategy in this matter. Instead of a few academic debates in Parliament and thinly-attended meetings in public halls, at which the possibility of a woman voting for somebody else is discussed, we are all at once confronted with a lady who has apparently enfranchised herself without any unnecessary preliminaries, and now demands not merely a vote for herself, but the right of being-voted for by a whole constituency, As a means of bringing a matter within the range of practical politics the blowing up a prison or two will not bear a moment's comparison with the spirited action of Miss Helen Taylor and her North Camberwell allies. It merely remains for the public, in view of their evident seriousness, to discuss with as near an approximation to the same spirit as may be this novel and interesting1, if somewhat complicated, social problem. In the first place, Miss Taylor's actual chance of obtaining admittance to the House has to be considered, prosaic as it may seem that such a difficulty should threaten to cut short a career of promise. The news of Miss Taylor's candidature is too fresh to have enabled most people to familiarise themselves with the various statutes under which knights and burgesses and capable citizens generally are returned to serve in St. Stephens, It may be hazarded, however, that if women are not excluded by name, they are clearly constructively ineligible, Not only does every statute clearly refer to men only, but in the time of Edward III. several peeresses in their own right were summoned to appear in Parliament "by their proxies." In spite, therefore, of the occasional presence of an Abbess or two in the old Saxon Waits, there is a positive precedent against the admission of women to Parliament dating from the early days of a Second Chamber.
It is to be feared that even if Miss Taylor is triumphantly returned by the enthusiastic Radicals of her chosen constituency she will still have a few preliminary difficulties to encounter before she can take her seat, On the question of dealing with persons not qualified to sit, the precedents are explicit enough to cause a little alarm on Miss Taylor's account. The terrible occasion on which Mr. Bradlaugh's coat was incidentally ripped up in the course of an unavailing struggle with the myrmidons of Inspector Dining must be present to all minds. But it would sink into insignificance before the spectacle of Miss Taylor gently, but firmly, relegated to "Westminster Hall with bonnet awry and perhaps a torn flounce. Moreover, other constituencies may develop a liking- for this new form of petticoat government, and should Miss Taylor arrive at the door of the House attended by a large body of lady representatives the consequences might prove quite beyond the power of the existing Executive machinery to control. Here, again, there is a notable precedent. Lady Ames: "Worley Montagu has bequeathed to posterity an amusing account of the great battle between the Lords and the Ladies concerning the admission of the latter to the Peeresses' gallery. They had made such a noise, according to the opposite side, as Horace Walpole relates, that an order was issued that their presence could no longer be tolerated. The Lord Chancellor swore that they should not enter; the Duchess of Qeensberry, with equal warmth, swore that they should, and "pished at the ill-breeding of a mere lawyer." Words failing to carry their point, they commenced a regular siege at the door of the House. Business could not be proceeded with, and the vanquished Lords having yielded, the victorious Ladies rushed in and indulged in spirited and contemptuous comments during the remainder of the debate, "which is supposed the true reason," adds Lady Mary, "why Lord Hervey spoke miserably." If these ladies, who were merely actuated by caprice, could put one House to flight in this way, it is more then, probable that Miss Taylor and her friends, buoyed up by a sense of acting in the sacred cause of womans rights, might dare far greater things. If the courteous members of the police force were once swept from their path the task of bearding the Speaker and "chaffing" the Prime Minister would be comparatively simple. While the House still retains a masculine character which is only figuratively diluted it might be well to suggest the formation of a corps of able-bodied female police to assist in its protection in view of possible emergencies. It is quite certain that if women obtain the rights of men while retaining their own peculiar privileges, that Hercules must once more take to the distaff, for female lion's skin will always be more than a match for him.
Morning POST, June 4, 1885.
The Cashmere Earthquake
Navigation of the Suez Canal
Table of Contents
Miracles of healing - Christian Miracles or Healing
History of Russia: Christian Versus Barbarian
History of Japan: Early Christian Martyrs
The Jesus of History
The Assyrian Origin of Devil Worshippers
The Christ Of Dogma
The early history of Constantinople
