Page:The case for women's suffrage.djvu/48

 members of the Cabinet are hostile to Women's Suffrage. The rest are apathetic as regards the question. Some women clung until lately to the belief that the Prime Minister was favourable, but his speech on March 8th has destroyed their illusion. Behind the Cabinet stands the largest majority of modern times. Most of the men who compose it are pledged supporters of Women's Suffrage, but they take no steps to force the Government to deal with the question. In fact, several of these pledged supporters now openly state that their pledges meant nothing, and some are actually found in the ranks of those who opposed Mr. Dickenson's Women's Enfranchisement Bill.

Looked at superficially, the position is discouraging, but it is in truth most encouraging. This is because two other factors have to be taken into consideration. One is the growing determination and strength of women, and the other the sympathy of the electors. The largest majority ceases to suffice for and protect a Government which has lost its hold on the country, and nothing is now more dangerous to the popularity of the Government than its treatment of the Women's Suffrage cause.

The Women's Social and Political Union has been driven to adopt the only sort of methods which politicians understand and will take notice of, the sort of methods too which have enabled men in this and other countries to win their political rights. The Chartist agitations, even the breaking down of Hyde Park railings, are referred to with the greatest respect by the very Liberals who loudly condemn