omething. You men
have taught us that women can get a great deal by coaxing, often far
more than we deserve! But justice isn't one of the things that's ever
got that way. Justice has to be fought for. Justice has to be won.'

Howls and uproar.

'You men----' (it began to be apparent that whenever the roaring got so
loud that it threatened to drown her, she said, 'You men--' very loud,
and then gave her voice a rest while the din died down that they might
hear what else the irrepressible Ernestine had to say upon that
absorbing topic). 'You men discovered years ago that you weren't going
to get justice just by deserving it, or even by being men, so when you
got tired of asking politely for the franchise, you took to smashing
windows and burning down Custom Houses, and overturning Bishops'
carriages; while _we_, why, we haven't so much as upset a curate off a
bicycle!'

Others might laugh, not Ernestine.

'You men,' she went on, 'got up riots in the streets--_real_ riots where
people lost their lives. It may have to come to that with us. But the
Government may as well know that if women's political freedom has to be
bought with blood, we can pay that price, too.'

Above a volley of boos and groans she went on, 'But we are opposed to
violence, and it will be our last resort. We are leaving none of the
more civilized ways untried. We publish a great amount of literature--I
hope you are all buying some of it--you can't understand our movement
unless you do! We organize branch unions and we hire halls--we've got
the Somerset Hall to-night, and we hope you'll all come and bring your
friends. We have very interesting debates, and _we_ answer questions,
politely!' she made her point to laughter. 'We don't leave any stone
unturned. Because there are people who don't buy our literature, and who
don't realize how interesting the Somerset Hall debates are, we go into
the public places where the idle and the foolish, _like that man just
over there!_--where they may point and laugh and make their poor little
jokes. But let me tell you we never hold a meeting where we don't win
friends to our cause. A lot of you who are jeering and interrupting now
are going to be among our best friends. _All_ the intelligent ones are
going to be on our side.'

Above the laughter, a rich groggy voice was heard, 'Them that's against
yer are all drunk, miss' (hiccup). 'D--don't mind 'em!'

Ernestine just gave them time to appreciate that, and the