Edith Palliser

“ The countries where the cause of women has made the least progress are the republics of France and Switzerland. In Italy, where the agitation has only been started in recent years, the appeal of women has already been carried to the practical stage. In the new world the English colonies have granted full political rights to women, while America, which was the first to formulate the claim of self-government for all, still denies political rights to its women. ”

“ Among these were Mary Carpenter, who may indeed be taken as a type of the woman who, in beginning her work for the benefit of others, had no thought of the need of the franchise for her sex, but who was slowly brought to realise that legislation would not be established on its true basis until women had the same power of voting as men. ”

“ These facts may perhaps be taken to prove the truth of Mr. Leckey's words that "the success of a movement depends much less upon the force of its arguments or upon the ability of its advocates than the predisposition of Society to receive it." ”

“ Inaccurate statements circulated by opponents in the press can be readily met and corrected by the organisations keeping each other in close touch with the actual facts of the progress of the movement. The position of the movement in different European countries offers some features of general interest. Finland has been granted the franchise by the sanction of the Czar, the representative of autocratic government, and the first European monarch to recognise the claims of his women-subjects. ”