August 11, 1911, To the Editor of The Stratford Upon Avon Herald.
“The Suffragists and Their Recent Demonstration”
Whether the militant tactics of the WSPU advanced or retarded the passage of women’s
suffrage is still debated. This letter indicates the spread of opinion and the frustration that
attended the issue of militancy. In England, as in the United States, the passage of Women’s
Suffrage came only after a long period of “peaceful” campaigning. In England the militant
movement co-existed with and intermingled with the so-called ‘constitutionalists,” the
suffrage movement Davison applauds at the beginning of the second paragraph.
Sir, — In your issue of July 28th you have a long and excellent description of the Midland
Suffragists’ demonstration held on July 26th. Your editorial comment upon it is very fair and
accurate, except in the latter part, where you say that suffragists “recognize that they are
now within easy reach of the privilege for which they have been fighting for the last thirty
years, and fighting heroically, and in the majority of cases constitutionally. No sympathy
need be shown for the militant portion of the party, although we are told that it is their
physical exploits that have brought the question so much nearer a solution.”
It is true, of course, that the fight for women’s suffrage was carried on for nearly fifty
years before the militant campaign began, all honour to the brave pioneers who struggled
on so valiantly and hoping against hope. But your view of the militant work is evidently
entirely biased. It was the militants, for example, who organized this peaceful and beautiful
demonstration, for, as you do not appear to know, the constitutional side of the work has
always gone forward side by side with the militant.
You say that “violence is so utterly opposed to woman’s nature, that she disgraces
herself when she enters upon any undertaking involving its employment.” The blame for
the need to resort of violence lies upon those who would listen to no other methods. Why
did not the Government listen to the patient, persistent, and constitutional pleading of the
women? Why did they force them into militancy as the only way? Yours, &c.,
EMILY WILDING DAVISION