THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S ANTI-SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT.
LTO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR." J SIR,—I do not often write to newspapers, but the subject on which I address you is exceptional, and the Spectator an exceptional channel in which to write of it. It is my belief that if this noisy agitation for women's suffrage which is dis- turbing and perplexing the land is successful, not only will our women be permanently injured in all that is most precious to them and the country, but one of the root-principles of our British Constitution will be destroyed. It is abundantly evident that the "militant suffragists" (as some of the party delight to describe themselves) will lose far more than they can gain, and they will lose it by succeeding. But unless they are silenced by the voice of their own sex, they will not rest till they have obtained the Parliamentary franchise. But what would follow such success ? They would elect their leaders, their most pronounced Amazonian comrades, to sit in the House of Commons ; and if unable to take their places there by law, they will agitate still further and disturb the whole work of legislation, having a preponderance of voting- power. The question cannot be discussed at any length in your columns, but may I say just this ? By their noisy agitation suffragist women are not only injuring themselves, but their whole sex—their sisters, mothers, children—and retarding the development of schemes for their welfare. If they strive to enter the political sphere, it is certain that their home life will suffer ; and their character, instead of being elevated, will be lowered and will deteriorate. Their very freedom will be lessened if they seek to be competitors with men in the arena of political strife. I have had some things to do in past years with the higher education of women, and rejoiced to further it in every possible way; but the most ardent advocate of that cause will be disinclined to proceed further if this new political demand is associated with it. Every one who has laboured for it— Conservative, Liberal, Unionist, or Radical—must know that the education of women does not imply or carry with it trespass on their part into the sphere assigned by Nature to men, unsexing themselves by so doing. But what the nation has a right to know is this. Do the women of our country, by a substantial majority, really wish that this revolution (for it is nothing short of one) should take place in Great Britain? Many of us are of opinion that while the noisy few are clamouring for it, the silent majority are opposed to it. But if there is a time for the latter to keep silence, there is also a time for them to speak, and that time has arrived. A very notable union, called the "National Women's Anti-Suffrage Association," is being formed to counterwork the agitators in its favour. Its central Organising Committee consists of representative and distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Peeresses, literary and philanthropic women, Members of both Houses of Parliament, and others. Their aim is "to counteract the pretensions of a section of women to speak for their sex." They have issued an admirable manifesto and an exceedingly able pamphlet on the subject. All women and men who think the suffrage movement fraught with disaster to the country, and to women themselves, should join this Association, and help forward its work. As in one of your paragraphs last week on another subject—that of proportional representation—you remarked, "what we ask is that the authentic voice of the nation shall be attended to, and not that of a minority masquerading as a majority." But the
women who do not desire the suffrage must now let their power be felt, if their voices are not heard. May I also suggest that some who have been accidentally caught by the suffragists should read a letter written by the late Herbert Spencer in 1867 to John Stuart Mill, which will be found in the recently published "Life and Letters" of Spencer ? I make the fol- lowing extract from it :—
"The giving of political power to women would, I believe, restrain and even diminish liberty in two ways. It would strengthen the hands of authority, for women as a mass are habitually on the side of authority. Further, it would aid and stimulate all kinds of State administrations, the great mass of which are antagonistic to personal freedom. Men in their political actions are far too much swayed by proximate evils and benefits; and women would be thus swayed far more. Given some kind of social suffering to be cured, or some boon to be got, only the quite exceptional women would be able to appreciate detrimental reactions that would be entailed by legislative action. Political foresight of this kind, uncommon enough in men, ts extremely rare in women. Of course, whoever holds that the minds of men and women are alike will feel no difficulty of this kind. But I hold them to be unlike, both quantitatively and qualitatively. I believe the difference to result from a physio- logical necessity, and that no amount of culture can obliterate it ; and I believe further that the relative deficiency of the female mind is in those complex faculties, intellectual and moral, which have political action for their sphere."
These wise words should be pondered by all the suffragists.
[We are delighted to publish Professor Knight's letter, and trust that women who are opposed to the suffrage movement, be their reasons for such opposition never so' diverse, will join the new Association. If they will, we are convinced that they
will succeed in destroying this most mischievous proposal. The only danger is apathy, and the notion that the extension of the vote to women is now inevitable. That is the most foolish reason for yielding ever stated. It is only inevitable if the majority are supine enough to let the minority impose their will upon them. The name and address of the honorary treasurer of the National Women's Anti-Suffrage Association are the Hon. Ivor Guest, M.P. (to whom inquiries may be sent), 22 Arlington Street, S.W. It is hoped that next week a formal announce- ment as to the officers and office of the Association will
be published. At present the organisation is only in process of formation. Though men cannot, of course, leave women to fight the battle of the suffrage alone, it is very much to be hoped that this particular movement will remain entirely
in the hands of women. Its importance is due to the fact that so large and so distinguished a body of women are determined to resist the "Votes for Women" movement.
We want to hear the authentic voice of the women of Britain,
and not to give any one an excuse for saying that the Association is really a male organisation with a few women tacked on for ornament.—En. Spectator.]
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