The cause of Womanhood Suffrage was ably pleaded by Madame Barbara Bodichon at the Social Science Congress, and Madame Bodichon was gallantly followed on the same line by Dr. Mary Walker. It may safely be said that if every man is fit to vote, so is every woman; on conditions. These, of course, are, that if women are to exercise political functions, like men, they must accept all the obligations of the sterner sex. For instance, the right of voting would give women a voice in the organization of the army. This ought not to exist apart from liability to be drawn for the Militia, or to become subject to conscription, if that method of recruiting should come to be adopted in this country. The ladies who sigh for the suffrage should lose no time in enrolling themselves in regiments of Amazonian volunteers to signify that whilst they demand the rights, they are ready to accept the duties of citizenship. Dr. Mary Walker was the American lady who wore a masculine or semi-masculine garb; Madame Bodichon was the benefactress who invented and endowed Girton. [Sidenote: _J. S. Mill on the Suffrage_] It was reserved, however, for John Stuart Mill, when, in the debate on the Reform Bill,[25] he moved that in Clause 4 the word "person" should be substituted for "man," to come nearest to breaking down _Punch's_ opposition to Woman Suffrage. Mill's speech shook him very badly, as may be gathered from the full and eulogistic summary in the "Essence of Parliament":-- And now, Ladies, _Mr. Punch_ does you the justice of believing that you would like to know what arguments your Friend advanced. You may be sure that all that could be said was said in the best manner by Mr. Mill, and that such of you as wish to fight the battle may have all the weapons, elegantly polished, at hand, _Mr. Punch_--your devoted slave--lays them before you in the most convenient form. Mr. Mill urged that at present:- Neither birth, merit, exertion, intellect, fortune, nor even accident can enable any woman to have her voice counted in matters which concern her and hers as nearly as any person in the kingdom. It is not just to make distinctions between the Queen's subjects, except for a positive reason. Are women who manage property, or business, or teach more than most male electors know, unfit for the function of voting? Would they be revolutionary? Taxation and Representation should go together. Women pay taxes. The real difficulty felt is not a practical one; it is only a feeling of Strangeness. That is a thing which wears off. What are the objections? 1. Politics are not women's business. 2. You don't desire the suffrage. 3. You are sufficiently represented by your influence over male relatives. 4. You have power enough already. The answers are:--