ns, who would meet all the
conditions so clearly laid down by the prime minister. Against the
charge of inopportunity in bringing the subject forward at this
crisis, he reminded the House of Mr. Chamberlain's words on a
recent occasion, that it was always opportune to do right.

Mr. Gladstone said there were two questions to be considered. One
of these was the question whether women were to be enfranchised,
the other whether the enfranchisement should be effected by a
clause introduced in committee on the present bill. The second
question was that on which he was about to dwell. He deprecated
the introduction of new matter into the bill. The cargo which the
vessel carried was, in the opinion of the government, as large as
she could carry safely. The proposal was a very large one. It did
not seem unreasonable to believe that the number of persons in
the three kingdoms to be enfranchised by the amendment would be
little short of half a million. What was the position in which
Mr. Woodall placed the government when he requested them to
introduce a completely new subject on which men profoundly
differed, and which, it was clear, should receive a full and
dispassioned investigation? It was not now practicable to give
that investigation. This was one of those questions which it
would be intolerable to mix up with purely political and party
debates. If there was a subject in the whole compass of human
life and experience that was sacred beyond all other subjects it
was the character and position of woman. Did his honorable friend
ask him to admit that the question deserved the fullest
consideration? He gave him that admission freely. Did he ask
whether he (Mr. Gladstone) wished to bind the members of the
Government or his colleagues in the cabinet with respect to the
votes they would give on this question? Certainly not, provided
only that they took the subject from the vortex of political
contention. He was bound to say, whilst thus free and open on the
subject itself, that with regard to the proposal to introduce it
into this bill he offered it the strongest opposition in his
power, and must disclaim and renounce all responsibility for the
measure should Mr. Woodall succeed in inducing the committee to
adopt his amendment.

On motion of Lord John Manners the debate w