ght to be carried out to the total abolition of all exclusions and disabilities which close any honest employment to a human being。 But it is not even necessary to maintain so much in order to prove that women should have the suffrage。 Were it as right； as it is wrong； that they should be a subordinate class； confined to domestic occupations and subject to domestic authority； they would not the less require the protection of the suffrage to secure them from the abuse of that authority。 Men； as well as women； do not need political rights in order that they may govern； but in order that they may not be misgoverned。 The majority of the male sex are； and will be all their lives； nothing else than labourers in cornfields or manufactories； but this does not render the suffrage less desirable for them； nor their claim to it less irresistible； when not likely to make a bad use of it。 Nobody pretends to think that woman would make a bad use of the suffrage。 The worst that is said is that they would vote as mere dependents； the bidding of their male relations。 If it be so； so let it be。 If they think for themselves； great good will be done； and if they do not； no harm。 It is a benefit to human beings to take off their fetters； even if they do not desire to walk。 It would already be a great improvement in the moral position of women to be no longer declared by law incapable of an opinion； and not entitled to a preference； respecting the most important concerns of humanity。 There would be some benefit to them individually in having something to bestow which their male relatives cannot exact； and are yet desirous to have。 It would also be no small benefit that the husband would necessarily discuss the matter with his wife； and that the vote would not be his exclusive affair； but a joint concern。 People do not sufficiently consider how markedly the fact that she is able to have some action on the outward world independently of him raises her dignity and value in a vulgar man's eyes； and makes her the object of a respect which no personal qualities would ever obtain for one whose social existence he can entirely appropriate。 The vote itself； too； would be improved in quality。 The man would often be obliged to find honest reasons for his vote； such as might induce a more upright and impartial character to serve with him under the same banner。 The wife's influence would often keep him true to his own sincere opinion。 Often； indeed； it would be used； not on the side of public principle； but of the personal interest or worldly vanity of the family。 But wherever this would be the tendency of the wife's influence； it is exerted to the full already in that bad direction； and with the more certainty； since under the present law and custom she is generally too utter a stranger to politics in any sense in which they involve principle to be able to realise to herself that there is a point of honour in them； and most people have as little sympathy in the point of honour of others； when their own is not placed in the same thing； as they have in the religious feelings of those whose religion differs from theirs。 Give the woman a vote； and she comes under the operation of the political point of honour。 She learns to look on politics as a thing on which she is allowed to have an opinion； and in which if one has an opinion it ought to be acted upon； she acquires a sense of personal accountability in the matter； and will no longer feel； as she does at present； that whatever amount of bad influence she may exercise； if the man can but be persuaded； all is right； and his responsibility covers all。 It is only by being herself encouraged to form an opinion； and obtain an intelligent comprehension of the reasons which ought to prevail with the conscience against the temptations of personal or family interest； that she can ever cease to act as a disturbing force on the political conscience of the man。 Her indirect agency can only be prevented from being politically mischievous by being exchanged for direct。 I have supposed the right of suffrage to depend； as in a good state of things it would； on personal conditions。 Where it depends； as in this and most other countries； on conditions of property； the contradiction is even more flagrant。 There something more than ordinarily irrational in the fact that when a woman can give all the guarantees required from a male elector； independent circumstances； the position of a householder and head of a family； payment of taxes； or whatever may be the conditions imposed； the very principle and system of a representation based on property is set aside； and an exceptionally personal disqualification is created for the mere purpose of excluding her。 When it is added that in the country where this is done a woman now reigns； and that the most glorious ruler whom that country ever had was a woman； the picture of unreason； and scarcely disguised injustice； is complete。 Let us hope that as the work proceeds of pulling down； one after another； the remains of the mouldering fabric of monopoly and tyranny； this one will not be the last to disappear； that the opinion of Bentham； of Mr。 Samuel Bailey； of Mr。 Hare； and many other of the most powerful political thinkers of this age and country （not to speak of others）； will make its way to all minds not rendered obdurate by selfishness or inveterate prejudice； and that； before the lapse another generation； the accident of sex； no more than the accident of skin； will be deemed a sufficient justification for depriving its possessor of the equal protection and just privileges of a citizen。 Chapter 9 Should there be Two Stages of Election？
IN SOME representative constitutions the plan has been adopted of choosing the members of the representative body by a double process； the primary electors only choosing other electors； and these electing the member of parliament。 This contrivance was probably intended as a slight impediment to the full sweep of popular feeling； giving the suffrage； and with it the complete ultimate power； to the Many； but compelling them to exercise it through the agency of a comparatively few； who； it was supposed； would be less moved than the Demos by the gusts of popular passion； and as the electors； being already a select body； might be expected to exceed in intellect and character the common level of their constituents； the choice made by them was thought likely to be more careful and enlightened； and would in any case be made under a greater feeling of responsibility； than election by the masses themselves。 This plan of filtering； as it were； the popular suffrage through an intermediate body admits of a very plausible defence； since it may be said； with great appearance of reason； that less intellect and instruction are required for judging who among our neighbours can be most safely trusted to choose a member of parliament； than who is himself fittest to be one。 In the first place； however； if the dangers incident to popular power may be thought to be in some degree lessened by this indirect arrangement； so also are its benefits； and the latter effect is much more certain than the former。 To enable the system to work as desired； it must be carried into effect in the spirit in which it is planned； the electors must use the suffrage in the manner supposed by the theory； that is； each of them must not ask himself who the member of parliament should be； but only whom he would best like to choose one for him。 It is evident that the advantages which indirect is supposed to have over direct election require this disposition of mind in the voter； and will only be realised by his taking the doctrine au serieux； that his sole business is to choose the choosers； not the member himself。 The supposition must be； that he will not occupy his thoughts with political opinions and measures； or political men； but will be guided by his personal respect for some private individual； to whom he will give a general power of attorney to act for him。 Now if the primary electors adopt this view of their position； one of the principal uses of giving them a vote at all is defeated： the political function to which they are called fails of developing public spirit and political intelligence； of making public affairs an object of interest to their feelings and of exercise to their faculties。 The supposition； moreover； involves inconsistent conditions； for if the voter feels no interest in the final result； how or why can he be expected to feel any in the process which leads to it？ To wish to have a particular individual for his representative in parliament is possible to a person of a very moderate degree of virtue and intelligence； and to wish to choose an elector who will elect that individual is a natural consequence： but for a person does not care who is elected； or feels bound to put that consideration in abeyance； to take any interest whatever in merely naming the worthiest person to elect another according to his own judgment； implies a zeal for what is right in the abstract； an habitual principle of duty for the sake of duty； which is possible only to persons of a rather high grade of cultivation； who； by the very possession of it； show that they may be； and deserve to be； trusted with political power in a more direct shape。 Of all public functions which it is possible to confer on the poorer members of the community this surely is the least calculated to kindle their feelings； and holds out least natural inducement to care for it； other than a virtuous determination to discharge conscientiously whatever duty one has to perform： and if the mass of electors cared enough about political affairs to set any value on so limited a participation in them； they would not be likely to be satisfied without one much more extensive。 In the next place； admitting that a person who； from his narrow range of cultivation； cannot judge well of the qualifications of a candidate for parliament may be a sufficient judge of the honesty and general capacity of somebody whom he may depute to choose a member of Parliament for him； I may remark； that if the voter acquiesces in this estimate of his capabilities； and really wishes to have the choice made for him by a person in