IN THE WAKE OF VIOLENCE by JORGENSEN-EARP CHERYL

Author:JORGENSEN-EARP, CHERYL
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Published: 2010-03-09T00:00:00+00:00

Handing the Opposition a Weapon

As one of their strongest proofs of the damage by violence to their movement, moderates point to the unbridled enthusiasm with which the opposition to reform greets violent action. In his first letter to Millicent Fawcett following the November window breaking, David Lloyd-George claimed, “Anti-Suffragists are of course exultant. They feel confident that the effect of our agitation will be neutralized by the antics of the Militants.” 95 Some of this same language was adopted by Fawcett when later writing that violence by the militants “injures our cause; is deeply deplored by our friends, while it is hailed by anti-suffragists with open exultation and joy.” 96 The sting of opposition delight was greatest for the British suffragists. Because the suffragists and antisuffragists headquartered their movements in London (to better lobby Parliament), there was a personal tone to the rhetorical one-upmanship among people who knew each other well. Fawcett admonished the antisuffragists for using WSPU violence to spread false rumors that still-loyal members of Parliament had defected, saying: The errors of Suffragists are the meat and drink of the anti-suffragists. But although we recognise that the anti-suffragists are entitled to their glee, and though we may feel in a measure “This is your hour and the power of darkness,” yet I think we may call upon them to restrict themselves within the somewhat prosaic limits of fact. Their joy is so hysterical that they have given rein to their fancy and are circulating many inventions. 97

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