THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DEPENDENCE OF WOMEN. Ἴσως δή, εἶπον, παρὰ τὸ ἔθος γελοῖα ἂν φαίνοιτο πολλὰ περὶ τὰ νῦν λεγόμενα, εἰ πράξεται ᾗ λέγεται. PLATO. The intellectual and moral differences between the sexes, seem to me to be entirely the result of education; using that word in its most extensive sense, to comprehend not merely the instruction received from teachers, but the habits of mind imposed by situation, or by the physical organisation of the animal frame.' DUGALD STEWART. 'Asserting the rights which women in common with men ought to contend for, we have not attempted to extenuate their faults, but to prove them to be the natural consequence of their education and station in society.' MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT. 'Parmi les progrès de l'esprit humain les plus importans pour le bonheur général, nous devons compter l'entière destruction des préjugés, qui ont établi entre les deux sexes une inégalité de droits funeste à celui même qu'elle favorise. On chercheroit en vain des motifs de la justifier, par les différences de leur organisation physique, par celle qu'on voudroit trouver dans la force de leur intelligence, dans leur sensibilité morale. Cette inégalité n'a eu d'autre origine que l'abus de la force, et c'est vainement qu'on a essayé depuis, de l'excuser par des sophismes.' THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DEPENDENCE OF WOMEN. [The subject of this inquiry is the Political Dependence of Women; but as some social considerations arise in the course of the argument, the larger title is adopted, the 'Social and Political Dependence of Women.' The foot-notes, except when indicated by a figure, only give the authorities for the objections noticed in the several pages. The reader who relies on the accuracy of our statements may altogether omit any reference to the unnumbered notes.] THE SUBJECT of the Enfranchisement of Women usually excites laughter and ridicule. That women should have votes is so novel a proposal, and therefore, to untrained minds, so absurd, that few can refrain from indulging in what are meant to be jokes and witticisms.* Writers who have hitherto laboured in vain to produce the faintest smile upon the faces of their readers, now find *It is a terrible fancy-that of papa arguing his daughters out of the Yellow ranks into the Blue, or giving his wife a choice between independence and pin-money. As we have said, it is nearly impossible to treat this subject with much gravity.'-Standard. 'Families and household matters would be neglected during election-time, and the husband and brother would be fortunate if they could obtain a hot dinner on those exciting occasions.'— Observer. 'What civil war ever caused more dire confusion than will arise at the various hustings during the contest between the 'female man' and the candidate of opposite tendencies ?'-London Review. B no difficulty in producing a broad grin. Success brings inflation, until at last these scribblers regard themselves as compounds of wit and wisdom, and ascribe to their own cleverness what is in fact due to the prejudice and ignorance which they address. Others say, that though ridicule is a most effective weapon they generously lay it aside, partly in deference to the great men who have made the ridiculous tenet an article of their creed, and partly on account of the inherent strength of their objections and arguments. They seem to be utterly unaware that ridicule never was and never will be demonstration. Ridicule is some times useful, but it is only in bringing to bear on those whom nobler feelings do not influence, the force which other people's opinions exercise. But unfortunately, in this, its only use, it is as * Though ridicule is not only a most effective but a perfectly fair weapon to employ when serious argument would be wholly thrown away, there are occasions on which its use is to be strongly deprecated. We take leave to say that the discussion as to the propriety of extending the electoral franchise to women is one of them. All the more because the laugh can be easily raised, should we guard ourselves against inopportune indulgence in extravagant humour.'— Daily Telegraph. There is yet another motive for treating the question with sobriety and candour rather than with invidious levity. The most conspicuous advocate of a female franchise in this country is one of its most illustrious and independent thinkers.'—Daily Telegraph. 'It is not very easy to speak with perfect gravity of a scheme which, perpetuating the disfranchisement of married ladies who are not separated from their husbands, and of young ladies who are not orphans, admits to the polling-booth a mixed multitude of widows and those whom, for want of a more respectful term, we must needs call old maids.'-Times. |