derance of
support had hitherto always been among the Liberal ranks, for
though the leaders of the Conservative party had given the
principle their hearty approval, their example had not been
followed by their partisans. It appeared probable therefore that,
if the government held itself neutral on the occasion and permitted
fair play, the amendment would be carried mainly by means of their
own friends.

During the spring, meetings of considerable importance were held in
the country. The first was at Edinburgh on March 22. It was a
demonstration of women inferior in no respect to those we have had
occasion to chronicle of former years. No more imposing assemblage
for a political object had ever been seen in Edinburgh. The largest
hall in the city--that of the United Presbyterian Synod--was
crowded to the doors, and an overflow meeting was held in the
Presbytery Hall. Banners were hung above the platform and a roll
inscribed with the names of the principal supporters of the
movement was conspicuously displayed.[556] Lady Harberton occupied
the chair and was accompanied by the delegates.[557] Letters[558]
of sympathy were read by Miss Wigham, the secretary.

LADY HARBERTON said: If our legislators say taxation and
representation should go together, it is right that they should
give expression to this opinion fairly and openly, and at all
times and seasons insist upon it that those women who are
ratepayers and who are in fact heads of households, ought not to
be excluded from the privilege of voting for a member to
represent them in the House of Commons. This is no question of
women usurping the place of men or any trivialities of that kind;
it is a much more serious matter. The exclusion of women from the
right to representation has already led to laws being passed
about them and their interests, that I do not hesitate to call a
disgrace to humanity. [Cheers.] That they are not more commonly
recognized as such is due, I think, to two causes. One thing is
that women of the upper classes, who are usually wealthy, are
able by the aid of money so to hedge themselves around with
barriers to oppose the inconveniences placed upon women by the
laws, that they very often do not feel them so much; while women
of the classes who are not wealthy are so crushed and oppressed
by the working of these laws that they are unable to take the