Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

10 articles on this Page

THE CIVIL EIGHTS OFI WOMEN.

News
Cite
Share

THE CIVIL EIGHTS OF WOMEN. LIBERAL MEETING AT BARRY DOCK. On Saturday evening a public meeting was held it Harry's Restaurant. Barry Dock, to hear addresses from Miss Amy C. Morant and Mrs. Inglis on the" Organisation of Women for Political Purposes." Miss Amy 0. Morant. late cf Newnham College, is organiser of the Welsh branch of the Liberal Women's Federation, and it is rather regrettable that there was not a larger muster to hear the very able addresses delivered by Miss Morant and Mrs. Inglis. Dr. Lloyd- Edwards presided, and there were also present Mr. and Mrs. Inglis, Miss Lowdon, Mr. and Mrs. W. Llewellyn Williams and Miss Jenkins, Mrs. Gore, Miss Weyland, Mr. Benjamin Lewis, kc. The Chairman, in introducing Miss Morant, regretted the small attendance, but remarked that from small beginnings in the ppst they had very large and flourishing- associations, and in many places where they had started under quite as dis- couraging circumstances they had done a lot of work. (Hear, hear.) Some of them knew from personal knowledge of the admirable work done by the Women's Liberal Federation during the last election in educating the people. The first political public work done by women was in con- nection with the Primrose League. They sought, by the aid of their Women's Liberal Associations to educate the people by mere force of intellect, not as the Primrose League did, who threw open magnificent parks and invited the people to Punch and Judy shows, and threw in a little politics with the shows. He hoped the women on the Liberal -side would never condescend to that. (Hear, hear.) Miss Morant said she was there that night to re- present the cause for political organisation for women. She admitted thao the movement was a comparatively new one. It v.ras prepared to give an account of itself, and prepared to still encounter misrepresentation and opposition, to reach its ambition—the broad ground of social welfare and the permanent progress of the race. (Hear, hear.) Some said this movement was a freak of fashion; j that might be the foam on the surface, but they knew that had little to do with the deep currents rushing underneath. In dealing with the question, Miss Morant took the negative side first and considered the objections most frequently brought against it. She 1 would first take the objection based not upon the inferiority of women, but rather from a sense of chivalry amongst men. She mentioned this objec- tion because it was raised by men whom they felt bound to reverence and respect. They wourd have women kept within a charmed circle, protected from contact with the hard realities of life. It was too late for that HOIV. Hundreds and thousands of women had to contend with the hard realities of life. The charmed circle did not exist for them it might for a few. but the case of the few in the purity of their homes was opposed by the heavy degradation of the many thousands of women. In the second place there were the arguments based on the inferiority of women. She was not con- cerned to debate that question. She held with the poet that woman was not the undeveloped part of man. She was willing to grant any amount of inferiority, and still she said women ought to enter into the political field. Some said women ought not to be politicians and have votes because they were not fitted to be soldiers, sailors, and police- men. (Laughter.) It was a curious argument that because there were some offices for which women were unfitted they should therefore not exercise the rights for which they were fitted. (Laughter and cheers.) They might as well say that men should not have political opinions because they were not specially fitted to stay at home, mind the baby, wash the clothes, and cook the dinner. (Hear, hear.) Thirdly, Miss Morant dealt with the medical objections raised. There were three con- siderations. First of all, since women were not able to remain within that charmed circle to which she had referred, since they were forced out into the battle of life, everything that tended to remove disabilities and incapacities must lessen the nervous wear and tear amongst women. Agsin they knew that new circumstances created new conditions. Therefore it was laid upon women to find means to adjust themselves to the new condi- tions of life. (Hear, hear.) It was often said as an argument against these movements that women often neglected their homes and children to rush into politics. She did not admit that Wail an argument. Suppose they found thirty women who did so, it did not prove that women should not undertake these things. There were few movements with any force grafted into them which did not go into extremes at first. Women were the mothers of the nation, and surely if they could get a wiser and nobler set of mothers of the nation, surely they might expect to get a wiser offspring, with broader ideas, wider sympathies, and nobler purposes. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Women would form political judgment, and express their opinions in the same way as men by the vote. She considered that power should be fallowed them to fill any public office for which they were fitted. There was the case of the lady who was elected for the first time on a Board of Guardians. She discovered that the children of the workhouse school were terribly crippled with chilblains. She spoke to the doctor and the Guardians who seemed to think there was nothing in it, but through being able to exercise her power as a Guardian she discovered that as the children's socks became torn, the matron was in the hatit of cutting the feet right off, and the ohildren walked about in their boots. There were other offices, such as on the School Board, upon which they knew women had done a good work. Education was a matter women took up before they took up political organisation, and upon which they had earned a right to speak. (Hear, hear.) They bad a clear case, both for a Parliamentary vote for the rank and file of women, and the opportunity of ■servino- in public offices for the few. There was only one way for the women. They must organise and combine, and that was why she thought there should be Women's Liberal Associations—(hear, hear)—to teach the Liberal women to combine and stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the work of the country (Applause.) In the last place, she would mention what she regarded as the positive advantages of this movement. It produced kindly and mutual hope, for the women would be able to keep up an interest and public spirit. There was ,an old saying that man was the head of woman. 'Shi was willing to adopt it if they would allow her to add that woman was the heart of man. 'They hoped to supply the motive power, whilst they called upon men to devise the practical ways ,and means of carrying out reforms. A woman would not lose her womanliness, but would add true manliness to men by taking her share of life's severer tasks. (Hear, hear.) Miss Morant con- ,eluded a very, excellent address by repeating' -the following lines :— And if she now in vision see her duty To lav aside for man her chiefest beauty, Her clinging, fond, and self-annulling mood, To ta.ke her share of life's severer burden^ And claim therewith the labourer's fitting guerdons, To buy her freedom, even with tears and blood. To leave sweet trammels, ay, than freedom sweeter, That all men'sflives through her's may grow completer, A full-grown woman guide the child that grows. If for the sake of all most greatly daring She burn to share the weights that men are sharing, While she may not escape her special love. Who is there man among ye, menan-1 brothers, Beloved of sisters, daughters, wives, and mothers, Who shall not draw deep breath and strain the arm Till every sinew, in strong tension, knitted. Ye stir gigantic griefs which these have pitied, And hand-in-hand with them, face storm and harm ? Unto your strength we look both now and ever To crown the work of our most true endeavour Tura not in scorn from this our call away, For there is sweetness in a two-fold sorrow, And promise fair of a diviner morrow, When ye, with us, shall hail the brighter day. The brighter day of manhood's rich fruition, When new and old, fresh genius, past tradition, All, all shall fuse and fertilise the soil. With purest light true womanhood surrounded, Her struggles healed and her true empire founded, To social peace shall pass this vain turmoil. Mr. Benjamin Lewis said as far as he could assist he should be pleased to help forward a movement similar to that mentioned by the speaker. Some women were physically strong, although they were looked upon as the weaker vessel, and he should be sorry to see the day when they would be acting as soldiers sailors, and policemen, but he hoped to live tosee the time when they would enjoy their rights. After a humorous reference to the Apostle PAl. Mr. Lewis expressed his sympathy with the moment, and said he should be glad to help on th cause. (Applause.) Mrs. Inglis next delivered a very forcible address, in the course of which she said :— It was somewhat unfortunate that meetii?^ con- vened more especially for women, or to flvocate women's rights, do not receive the supprt they ought to do from women themselves. It does seem to me that we are not yet fully awak to our duties and privileges, the fact is, ma,nyof. our sisters are content to dream and sigh for thi thmgs that ought to be. but that never will be solong'. as they indulge in that state of apathy which characterises so many half hearted people. Woman's political position is far from s&tis^kory, and is a subject on which there is much cfreraity of opinion, but to my mind there are thrP very good reasons why we should have a Vlce in politics. (lst) Because the duties and impossi- bilities of women are equally important P those of men. (2nd) Because under certaii laws women and children are the greatest s#erers. (3rd) Because as politicians we could CR-ini a right to be heard, and should have a better opportunity of stating" our grievances, and lavmg our wrongs redressed. (Hear, hear.) Fcause the duties and responsibilities of womlt are equally important to those of men. In n¡:nhcrs we form the larger part of the community,^0 are expected to obey the laws, and therefore ofto have a voice in the making of the same. Ai^vives and mothers and sisters we hold a very pro^lneiit and important position in the world ai com- panions and helpmates to the men, and as t^ner» of the rising generation, to advocate the jheral eause, the federation scheme by which %4 are leagued together to send only such m11 to Parliament as shall pledge themselve in favour of reforms, calculated to veto such things as the opium and liquor traffic, rorm in the marriage and divorce laws, equity of the sexes, and so on. As it is a fact theB are many thousands of women who have to earr £ heir living, it is only just and right they shouli>lave the same privileges as men. (2nd). Because nder t certain lawe women and children are the gr*test sufferers. Take for instance the licensing for the sale of alcohol which is a disgrace t "ur civilisation. Surely as law abiding citizen! and ratepityers we have a right to demand consiera- tion, and ought not to quietly submit to hye a public-house forced upon us whether we w^ or not; for who knows better than the wornei the evils arising from drink, the temptR.tiof of husbands and children the emptying of the ,ard- robe and cupboard, the tireless grate, the 1-tter cry of ianocent children, the undeserved crses and blows of husbands lunatic with the drinkfthe unrequited wrongs of a drunkard's wife are Hugs that stir UR to the very depths of our ri;ilu'e- God having laid on us the same responsibilD" as men, intended us to have the same privilegesand use our voice and influence in the making o the ,tl laws that govern our country. The ternpefUce party are as Loid Salisbury says the backbo? Of the Liberal party, and as that party we are::On- vinced that there are many wrongs that ougt to be righted, then why not unite our energies*111*! push this question of female franchise to^le front, eo that we can in time show an imptved state of things under petticoat government. M'd.) Because, us politicians, we could claim a rig* to be heard, and should have a better opportuhiP stating our grievances, and having our wi"1/8 redressed. We are much better adapted tc many public positions than men. We ougl" to be admitted into the law courts and serve as jifors in all cases where women are concezled. Our marriage and divorce laws w.ich most closely affect us are open to improvenf^t. Sir. I haow that many object to our taking par Ui and giving time to public affairs on the grcPld that it will make us indifferent to home dutiesind unwomanly in nature, but that is a great mist^e- Every true woman will use the development ,iber mental faculties and increased knowledge tc fit her more than ever to be a companion and a hlp- mate to her husband. To the unmarried therelre many other subjects which they can with ad^n_ tage study and turn their energies to. Weall now reckon on 270 members of Parliament plerS^d to the cause of justice to women. By united etprts we shall in time revolutionize society, and woien will then be, in a far wider and truer sense, the co-workers and hejpmates of those who #ve carried the burden of political affairs so 1119 alone. (Applause.) Mr. Llewellyn Williams expressed his sin^re sympathy with the movement, and read a Idt(--r regretting inability to attend from Mr. and frs. Alexander (Bryneithen). Miss Jenkins (vice-chairman of the Llanga<fe^ School Board) felt sure the movement wClld gather strength in Barry. In Carmarthen, a \lry scattered district of over 14 miles, they had a rol1:1- bership of about 70. If the women of Barry w<°W only take it up—women of all classes-and ifec together eocially, it would benefit them a g-eat deal. (Hear, hear.) The question of appointing a secretary was hs- cussed. Mr. Llewellyn Williams suggested Mrs. Inflis for the post. Mrs. Inglis said owing to other duties she est decline to accept the office. The usual votes of thanks concluded the business. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. On Monday afternoon a meeting was helO at Harry's Restaurant, Barry Dock, to form a Womb's Liberal Association for Barry, when there present Miss Amy C. Morant (organiser for^ Welsh Union), Miss Kate Jenkins (Llangadojp), Mrs. Llewellyn Williams (Aelybryn), Jj}X Christmas Lewis, Miss Lewis (Cadoxton), Edwards (Gwynfryn), Miss Harry (Barry Dvlk), &c. After some discussion the rules and objecti of the association were determined upon, and ';Ile following ladies were appointed officers of Ihe association :— President: Mrs. Arthur J. Williams, CoeJY- mwstwr. :+ Vice-presidents Mrs. O'Donnell, Mrs. It .e,At Miss E. P. Hughes, and Mrs. Christmas Lewis. Secretaries Mrs. Sibbering Jones (for BartO, Miss Harry (for Barry Dock), and Miss Atwiocl (for Cadoxton). Forty members were enrolled at the meeti^> and the whole proceedings were most encouragi^- It is confidentially expected that by next W¡d- nesday—when Miss Morant will address anotber committee meeting-over 50, if not 100 members, will have been enrolled. The association will be entitled to one representative on the Cent¡t11 Council for every 50 members on the books. Á hearty vote of thanks to the energetic organislr, Miss Morant, brought the proceedings to a close.

GLAMORGANSHIRE INTERMEDIATE…

BARRY DISTRICT TEMPERANCE…

[No title]

RE-OPENING OF THE WESLEYAN…

A VESSEL FROM BARRY WRECKED.

[No title]

Advertising

DANGERS OF SPORT.

Advertising