October, 17, 1911, To the Editor of The World

This letter constitutes the third in a cluster focused on the role of women’s perspectives in

bettering the nation. In it Davison draws on her faith in social evolution, her conviction that

educated, free women better themselves as well as their children. It reiterates her acceptance

of essential British conservatism in matters of social change, and her faith that substantial

change is about to come. Most interestingly, it articulates the rationale for her campaign of

letter writing to newspapers—the power of the press to shape public opinion and stimulate

John Bull, the personification of the British people, to move.

Madam, The way the Press nowadays is opening its portals to the woman’s point of view is

a source of the greatest interest to those who believe in the gradual evolution of the race.

Now, the most powerful lever for evolution is undoubtedly public opinion, and

public opinion to a great extent is moulded by the Press. For over forty years the cause of

woman’s enfranchisement has been before the nation, ever since John Stuart Mill brought it

to public notice in 1866; but it had not public opinion behind it. As a matter of fact, public

opinion and the Press were deadly opposed to the whole movement. This fact was in strict

consonance with the British character. We are, as a nation, extremely cautious and slow to

change. When such a tremendous change as that of the status of woman was involved, it is

not to be wondered at that time and the woman were needed to make it acceptable. But

the matter was lagging too much a decade ago. In order to make John Bull move it has been

proved in the past that he must be given an electric shock. He got it in the uprising of his

womenfolk. That women should stand up and demand justice was, to the slow-going old

gentleman, absolutely unthinkable. He opened his eyes; he wondered if he were standing

on his head or his heels. But the shock had succeeded in its object; it had roused him. Now

the result of the shock was this: John Bull was first pained and surprised; he then was led

to examine the matter; and the last stage is conversion. He is hovering between the last

two stages now, but he has at any rate reached the stage of interest. That is well shown in

the Press.

At the dinner of journalists given last year it was said that any just cause that was

taken up by the Press was certain of success. What we Suffragists have now to do to the

Press is to prove the justice of our cause, and that we can easily do with a ‘fair field and no

favour.’

Now the men of the nation have been given this fair field, but the women have not.

The men cannot, however, take full advantage of their chances because they are

handicapped by having undeveloped mothers. It is a well-known domestic truth that the

boy usually takes after his mother, and the girl after the father. That is why, with all their

opportunities, men are still held back from perfect development. But what of women?

Their condition is deplorable. With the dawn of liberty ahead of them they are struggling

upwards, but it is a bitter fight. One by one they are breaking the fetters and gradually

gaining power. The day is not far distant when they will stand free, side by side by men,

untrammeled, erect, with the proud bearing of equals; diverse, yet equal. Then indeed it

will be possible to set the true standard of manliness and of womanliness. Then, and not

till then, for each will have risen to full stature. Then and not till then will a perfectly

developed race be shown to the world.

Yours, &c.,

EMILY WILDING DAVISON

(B.A. Lond. and Oxford Final Honour School)