Miss Christabel Pankhurst
THE MILITANT SUFFRAGETTE
December 22，1908
Friends：
I cannot help thinking to-night of the manyhundreds of meetings that have been held in thiscountry in defence of the principle of women's en-framchisement.How many times have noble wo-men poured forth their very soul in an appeal forpolitical justice.How many times has such an ap-peal been made，and made to ears that were deafand unheeding.It is well for us all to rememberthat we are engaged in no new movement.Therewere those who came before us，pioneers of fortyand fifty-six years ago，who began the agitationfor woman suffrage.They worked well，theyworked devotedly，and yet，after all those years ofhard work，women have not yet got the Parliamen-tary vote.
Suffragists of old times made a mistake whichexperience—theirs and our own—has taught us toavoid.They relied too mucn upon the justice oftheir cause，and not enough upon their own strongright arm.It is because we have realized that thepolicy of persuasion，and of argument，and of talkhas failed that we have undertaken the new mili-tant campaign，which I believe，and I think youbelieve，is so very nearly at a successful end.When men begin an agitation like ours，they are，of course，open to all kinds of criticism and attack，but I do not think that the very dangerous and dif-ficult form of attack is brought to bear againstthem that is brought to bear against us.Men arenever told that they are hysterical，and that theydo not know what they are doing.They may betold they are violent，they may be told their actionis reprehensible，but people are usually willing toadmit that at least there is method in their mad-ness，and that，as there is a limit to human en-durance，if men are very much oppressed，theyhave a right to revolt against oppression.We inthis woman's movement，on the other hand，havebeen accused of not having thought things out，andof simply running along in a headstrong fashionwithout knowing where we are going or why we dogo.
No，my friends，we did not undertake thiscampaign in any light or heedless spirit.We knewwhat we had got to face；we knew we had to facedanger，sheer physical danger.We knew well thatin what we did we ran the risk of imprisonment.Now，that is a very serious thing.Imprisonment iswhat you reserve for those who are preying uponsociety，those who are enemies of the body politic；imprisonment is the worst thing you have to offerthem，and yet we knew full well that we，whowere trying，at any rate，to do our duty to otherpeople，must realize that for us this fate was instore.We knew that we should have to meet thebitter attack of the party politician—and I thinkthere is no form of attack which is more ve-nomous，which is more unscrupulous—and as wewere women，we had to face another thing，wehad to face censure as being unwomanly，as beingunladylike（you know，that is thought worse thanbeing unwomanly），as being，well，unconvention-al and ridiculous，and all the rest of it.
I assure you that if there were not a greatthing at stake，we should all of us prefer to followa course of life which would not expose us to thedifficulties of which I tell you.But think what is atstake.Human liberty.The most priceless thingthere is，the only thing that is worth fighting for，the only thing that is worth paying for.We arefighting for that.We are fighting for the emanci-pation of women.The emancipation of men wasbegun long ago，and men are now working out their salvation，although they will never see it infull measure until the women，whose brothers andwhose partners they are，see their emancipationtoo.We are working for the bread of women，weare working that women may not go hungry，weare working for what is even more important—weare working for the dignity of women.
Now，I am going to speak to those women here who want the vote，but don't agree with ourmethods.I ask them，why do you hold aloof，whydo you not believe in the methods，and why，if youbelieve in them，don't you practise them？Becauseneither from you nor from Cabinet Ministers do wewant sympathy.No，what we want is action.Wewould rather have you marching along with us sideby side than we would have your cheers or yoursupport or your praise.We do not look for that；we do not want you to come and say that we havedone well；we want you to come and do with us.Why then do you not throw yourselves into thisagitation，why are you not ready for prison？Youshould not see prison through other people's eyes，you should go there yourselves if you think that wehave done well to go there.You know the oldmethods of working for the vote are futile，and notonly futile，but humiliating，unworthy of you.Isay any woman here who is content to appeal forthe vote instead of demanding and fighting for it isdishonouring herself.Is the price too great？Can-not you make the necessary sacrifice？I can tell youthat we who are prepared for it take a great joy init.Why，the womem in this Union are the happiestpeople in the world.We have the love of our com-rades，we have the respect of our enemies，wehave the support of the people.We have somethingto live for，and we are going to do somethingworth doing.We are sorry for the people who gothrough their lives achieving nothing，leaving theworld no richer than they found it.Those peopleare poor indeed；those people we pity.As for us，we have the glorious pride of being made the in-strument of those great forces that are working to-wards progress and liberty.
Now，the rightness of revolt，the rightness ofour militant methods，does not depend upon suc-cess.You may resist injustice and fail，or seem tofail，and still you have done right.When you areconfronted by oppression，when you are confront-ed by the forces of evil，then you must go and dobattle against them Unless you believe that mightis right you must agree with what I ssy.And Iwant you to believe that even if we had no hope ofsuccess，even if we thought our militant campaignwere destined to failure，we should go on with it.We should go on with it while life was ours，weare going on with it；so long as we live we are nev-er going to renounce this struggle.But we are go-ing to win because we have right on our side.No，you must not forget that“thrice armed is he thathath his quarrel just，and he but naked，thoughlocked up in steel，whose conscience with injusticeis corrupted.”Well，my friends，there is greattruth in those words，and I think you will admitthat our quarrel is just.Why，even the enemy hasto admit that.We could never win if we were notin the right，but because we are in the right we aregoing to win.
Well，I have been telling you why we adoptour methods；I have been trying to explain to youthe frame of mind in which we are，and the reasonswhy we have taken to these methods，and what themethods are.If you read the leading articles insome of our newspapers，you would think ourmethods were Russian methods，or even worse.You really would suppose that we were the mostdangerous set of people，and the most violent setof people that have ever been seen.The fact is，however，that we are singularly mild-indeed，weare just as mild as we can be，consistently with do-ing our duty.We do not want to go an inch fartherthan the Liberal Government drive us，because wedo not want to waste our forces；we do not want tooverstep the mark by a hair's breadth，and we havenever done so.We go to by-elections，and work a-gainst the Government.Surely that is not very un-constitutional or very violent.Our protests at pub-lic meetings have been very effective，but they in-volve no danger to life or limb—unless our own.As I say，these protests don't involve any physicaldanger to our Cabinet Ministers，yet they producea marked impression.Ministers are simply terri-fied.They hide from us behind locked doors.Theygo in secret nowadays.They dare not run the riskof meeting women even in a railway train.Haveyou read the Daily News to-day，and seen the ac-count of Mr.Lloyd George's attempt，not only tokeep women out of his meeting，but to escapethem？Well，if he were the Czar of Russia going a-mong his subjects，it might be natural.Why thisfear？Why not trust the people？They are decidedlyafraid of women in these days—and then you saythat women cannot pursue militant methods withsuccess.The proof of the pudding is in the eating，and I know this—they are more afraid of one Suf-fragette than they are of 5，000 men.
Then we go on deputations to the House ofCommons.What is there wrong in that？Men areconstantly having deputations，and I have neverheard of a men's deputation going to prison yet—but we have to go to prison.I wonder how it isthat you do not see that instead of our being vio-lent，violence is used against us.We have notcaused Mr.Asquith to languish for a single day ingaol—it is he who has vicariously attacked and im-prisoned us.We are very sorry to have to give allthis trouble；we would rather militant methodsshould cease，and they would cease if we were tohave the vote.Now，how simple it all is.Can'tyou understand that the Government have broughtthese troubles down on their own heads？We arenot responsible for it—they are responsible.Donot waste your sympathy upon them，my friends.It is all their own fault.If they would give us thevote，they would have no more trouble from us.
I call on the men who are here to-night to joinforces with us，to help us to overcome the Govern-ment which at the present moment is the greatestobstacle in the path of human progress.If men'seyes are still shut to these truths，yet neverthelessthe women are awake，and the women have thepower；they have the absolute power to gain theliberty which they want；they have the power andthe capacity to seize this indispensable weapon ofreform，which in their own interests，and in theinterests of the country that is dear to them，theyought to have，and which they speedily will have.
克里斯特貝爾·潘克赫斯特小姐
爭取婦女選舉權(quán)的女斗士
1908年12月22日
朋友們：
今天晚上，我不能不想起我們國家舉行過的好幾百次捍衛(wèi)婦女選舉權(quán)原則的集會。有多少次，高尚的女士們?yōu)榱撕粲跽喂螢r膽，慷慨陳詞。有多少次她們提出了這種呼吁，向那些已經(jīng)充耳不聞，漠然置之的人們呼吁我們所從事的并不是什么新的運動，記住這一點對我們大家都有好處。在我們之前，40年和56年前，已經(jīng)有先驅(qū)者開始鼓吹婦女選舉權(quán)了。她們工作勤奮，不辭辛勞，但是在那么多年孜孜不倦的努力之后，議會仍然沒有通過投票賦予婦女以選舉權(quán)。
以前爭取婦女選舉權(quán)的人犯了一個錯誤，他們和我們自己的這種教訓教我們別再重蹈覆轍了。他們過分依賴其事業(yè)的正義性，而沒有充分依靠自己的強大力量。正是由于我們認識到陳情、說理、議論的方法失敗了，我們才從事新的富有戰(zhàn)斗精神的運動。我相信，我想你們也相信，這一運動業(yè)已勝利在望。當男子們開始從事像我們這樣的宣傳鼓動時，當然也容易受到各種各樣的批評和攻擊，但是我認為，最危險和最令人難堪的攻擊不是針對他們的，而是針對我們的。從來沒人說男人們歇斯底里，說他們不知道自己在做什么。人們可能會說他們粗暴，他們的行為應(yīng)受譴責，但是人們通常樂于承認，至少男人們錯也錯得有道理，并且認為，人的忍耐是有限度的，如果男人們受到過度壓迫，就有權(quán)反抗壓迫。相反，在這次婦女運動中我們卻被指責為沒有經(jīng)過深思熟慮，一意孤行，不知道我們在干什么以及為什么那樣干。
不，朋友們，我們從事這一運動決不是出于輕率或考慮不周。我們早就知道我們面對的是什么。我們知道我們面對的是危險，十足的肉體危險。我們非常清楚，自己是冒著被監(jiān)禁的危險在工作。那可是一件非同小可的事情啊。在你們看來，監(jiān)禁是專門用來對付那些危害社會的人、與國家為敵的人的。監(jiān)禁是你們對他們最嚴厲的懲罰。我們還十分清楚，我們這些竭力對他人盡自己義務(wù)的人必須認識到，這種命運隨時會降臨到我們頭上。我們早就知道，我們肯定會受到黨派政客的刻薄攻擊——我想沒有比這種攻擊更惡毒、更無恥的了。而且，因為我們是女人，我們還不得不面對另一件事，即面對這樣的攻訐：我們不像女人，有失淑女風范（你們知道，這后一條比前一條更惡劣），有失體統(tǒng)，荒唐可笑等等。
說句真心話，若不是有一件至關(guān)重要的大事刻不容緩，我們大家本來寧愿過正常人的生活，而不必讓自己遭受我所說的那些艱難。什么事刻不容緩呢？人的自由。這是一件超越任何價值的事，值得為之奮斗的事，值得付出代價的事。我們正在為之斗爭。我們正在為婦女的解放而斗爭。男子的解放很久以前便開始了，目前他們正在設(shè)法自救。但是在作為他們的姐妹和妻子的婦女也看到自己的解放之前，男子根本看不到徹底的解放。我們在為婦女的福利而努力，我們在為婦女的溫飽而努力，我們在為更重要的東西——婦女的尊嚴而努力。
在座有些女士希望有選舉權(quán)，卻不同意我們的方法?，F(xiàn)在，我要對這些人講幾句話。我要問她們，為什么你們袖手旁觀，為什么你們不相信我們的方法，而如果你們相信，為什么不加以實行呢？要知道，我們既不需要你們的也不需要內(nèi)閣大臣們的同情。不需要，我們需要的是行動。我們寧愿你們和我們一起前進，而不要你們的歡呼、支持或贊揚。我們不希罕那個。我們不希望你們來說我們干得好。我們希望你們來和我們一起干。你們?yōu)槭裁床煌渡碛谶@種鼓動呢？你們?yōu)槭裁床蛔龊萌氇z的準備呢？你們不應(yīng)當通過別人的眼睛去看監(jiān)獄，而應(yīng)當親自到那里去，如果你們認為我們?nèi)ツ抢锸歉傻煤玫脑挕Ｄ銈冋J為爭取選舉權(quán)的老辦法不管用，不僅不管用，而且不光彩，不值得你們采用。我說，只滿足于呼吁選舉權(quán)而不要求選舉權(quán)并為之斗爭的婦女才不光彩哩。代價太大嗎？你們不能做出必要的犧牲嗎？我可以告訴你們，我們這些甘愿作出犧牲的人從中得到了極大的快樂。是啊，參加這個聯(lián)盟的婦女是世界上最幸福的人。我們享有同伴的友愛，我們受到敵人的尊敬，我們得到人民的支持。我們有生活的目標，我們準備去做值得做的事。我們?yōu)槟切┮簧德禑o為、離開這個世界時并不比來時更充實的人感到難過。他們的確一無所有。我們可憐他們。至于我們，我們?yōu)槌蔀闋幦∵M步和自由的偉大力量的工具而感到無比光榮、無比自豪。
因此，反抗是否正當，我們戰(zhàn)斗性的方法是否正當，并不取決于成功與否。你們反抗非正義也許失敗或者表面上失敗了，但你們?nèi)匀蛔龅脤?。當你們面臨壓迫時，當你們面臨邪惡勢力時，你們必須挺身而出，與之斗爭。除非你們認為強權(quán)即公理，否則你們必須同意我說的話。我希望你們相信，即使我們沒有成功的希望，即使我們認為富于戰(zhàn)斗精神的運動注定要失敗，我們也要繼續(xù)干下去。一息尚存，此志不渝，我們將繼續(xù)干下去；有生之年，我們決不放棄這一斗爭。但是，我們將取得勝利，因為正義在我們一邊。是的，你們務(wù)必不要忘記：“一個有理的人，雖手無寸鐵，卻好比身披三重盔甲；一個蠻橫無理、喪盡天良的人，縱然披堅執(zhí)銳，也如同赤身*。”是啊，我的朋友們，這話深有道理。我想你們會承認我們的爭執(zhí)是有理的。唔，連敵人都承認這一點。假如我們不在理，我們永遠不會勝利，正因為我們在理，所以我們必將勝利。
好，我已經(jīng)告訴你們，我們?yōu)槭裁床扇∵@些方法。我已經(jīng)盡力向你們說明我們的心情、我們采用這些方法的理由以及這是些什么方法。如果你們讀過我國某些報紙的社論，你們會認為我們的方法是俄國人的方法，甚或比那更壞的方法。你們的確會以為我們是一幫最危險的人物，是你們所見過的暴的人物。其實我們非常溫和，一貫克盡職守，真的已經(jīng)溫和到極點了。我們不愿比自由黨政府逼迫我們的往前多走一時，因為我們不想浪費我們的精力。我們不愿也從來沒有越雷池一步。我們?nèi)⒓友a缺選舉，反對政府。那肯定并不很出格，也談不上什么暴力。我們在群眾大會上提出的*頗為引人矚目，但是除了對我們自己的生命以外，并沒有對任何生命構(gòu)成危險。正如我所說，這些*并沒有給我們的內(nèi)閣大臣們帶來肉體危險，雖說產(chǎn)生了很深刻的印象。大臣們簡直怕得要命。他們在上了鎖的大門里面躲著我們。現(xiàn)在他們行蹤詭秘。他們甚至不敢冒險在火車上遇見婦女。你們看過今天《每日新聞》關(guān)于勞合·喬治先生不僅不愿會見婦女，甚至想躲開她們的報道沒有？如果他是處在其臣民中的俄國沙皇，那倒并不奇怪。而他怕什么呢？為什么不相信人民？近來他們確實無疑地害怕婦女——你們還說婦女使用戰(zhàn)斗性的方法不會成功哩。布丁好壞，嘗后方知，這方面我有經(jīng)驗：他們害怕一個女權(quán)主義者勝過害怕5000個男子。
所以我們要通過委派代表的方式進入下議院。這有什么不對呢？男子一向有代表，我從來沒聽說過男代表被捕的事，而我們要被捕入獄。我真納悶，你們怎么沒有看到：不是我們使用暴力，而是別人對我們使用暴力。我們沒有讓阿斯奎思坐過一天牢，是他通過代理人攻擊和監(jiān)禁我們。我們對被迫引起這一切麻煩感到十分遺憾；我們寧愿停止使用戰(zhàn)斗的方法，如果我們有選舉權(quán)的話，是會停止使用的。瞧，事情多么簡單。難道你們就不明白政府是搬起石頭砸自己的腳？對此我們沒有責任，他們應(yīng)該負責。不要對他們浪費你們的憐憫吧，朋友們。全是他們自己的錯。如果他們給了我們選舉權(quán)，他們就不會在我們這里再遇到麻煩了。
我號召今晚在座的男士們同我們聯(lián)合起來，幫助我們戰(zhàn)勝這個在當前成為人類進步道路上障礙的政府。如果說男子仍然閉眼不看這些事實，那么婦女則是清醒的，而且婦女有力量；她們有贏得她們所需要的自由的全部力量；她們有力量和才能奪取這一不可缺少的改革武器，她們應(yīng)當進行改革，改革符合她們自己的利益，也符合她們所熱愛的國家的利益。她們很快就會進行改革。
THE MILITANT SUFFRAGETTE
December 22，1908
Friends：
I cannot help thinking to-night of the manyhundreds of meetings that have been held in thiscountry in defence of the principle of women's en-framchisement.How many times have noble wo-men poured forth their very soul in an appeal forpolitical justice.How many times has such an ap-peal been made，and made to ears that were deafand unheeding.It is well for us all to rememberthat we are engaged in no new movement.Therewere those who came before us，pioneers of fortyand fifty-six years ago，who began the agitationfor woman suffrage.They worked well，theyworked devotedly，and yet，after all those years ofhard work，women have not yet got the Parliamen-tary vote.
Suffragists of old times made a mistake whichexperience—theirs and our own—has taught us toavoid.They relied too mucn upon the justice oftheir cause，and not enough upon their own strongright arm.It is because we have realized that thepolicy of persuasion，and of argument，and of talkhas failed that we have undertaken the new mili-tant campaign，which I believe，and I think youbelieve，is so very nearly at a successful end.When men begin an agitation like ours，they are，of course，open to all kinds of criticism and attack，but I do not think that the very dangerous and dif-ficult form of attack is brought to bear againstthem that is brought to bear against us.Men arenever told that they are hysterical，and that theydo not know what they are doing.They may betold they are violent，they may be told their actionis reprehensible，but people are usually willing toadmit that at least there is method in their mad-ness，and that，as there is a limit to human en-durance，if men are very much oppressed，theyhave a right to revolt against oppression.We inthis woman's movement，on the other hand，havebeen accused of not having thought things out，andof simply running along in a headstrong fashionwithout knowing where we are going or why we dogo.
No，my friends，we did not undertake thiscampaign in any light or heedless spirit.We knewwhat we had got to face；we knew we had to facedanger，sheer physical danger.We knew well thatin what we did we ran the risk of imprisonment.Now，that is a very serious thing.Imprisonment iswhat you reserve for those who are preying uponsociety，those who are enemies of the body politic；imprisonment is the worst thing you have to offerthem，and yet we knew full well that we，whowere trying，at any rate，to do our duty to otherpeople，must realize that for us this fate was instore.We knew that we should have to meet thebitter attack of the party politician—and I thinkthere is no form of attack which is more ve-nomous，which is more unscrupulous—and as wewere women，we had to face another thing，wehad to face censure as being unwomanly，as beingunladylike（you know，that is thought worse thanbeing unwomanly），as being，well，unconvention-al and ridiculous，and all the rest of it.
I assure you that if there were not a greatthing at stake，we should all of us prefer to followa course of life which would not expose us to thedifficulties of which I tell you.But think what is atstake.Human liberty.The most priceless thingthere is，the only thing that is worth fighting for，the only thing that is worth paying for.We arefighting for that.We are fighting for the emanci-pation of women.The emancipation of men wasbegun long ago，and men are now working out their salvation，although they will never see it infull measure until the women，whose brothers andwhose partners they are，see their emancipationtoo.We are working for the bread of women，weare working that women may not go hungry，weare working for what is even more important—weare working for the dignity of women.
Now，I am going to speak to those women here who want the vote，but don't agree with ourmethods.I ask them，why do you hold aloof，whydo you not believe in the methods，and why，if youbelieve in them，don't you practise them？Becauseneither from you nor from Cabinet Ministers do wewant sympathy.No，what we want is action.Wewould rather have you marching along with us sideby side than we would have your cheers or yoursupport or your praise.We do not look for that；we do not want you to come and say that we havedone well；we want you to come and do with us.Why then do you not throw yourselves into thisagitation，why are you not ready for prison？Youshould not see prison through other people's eyes，you should go there yourselves if you think that wehave done well to go there.You know the oldmethods of working for the vote are futile，and notonly futile，but humiliating，unworthy of you.Isay any woman here who is content to appeal forthe vote instead of demanding and fighting for it isdishonouring herself.Is the price too great？Can-not you make the necessary sacrifice？I can tell youthat we who are prepared for it take a great joy init.Why，the womem in this Union are the happiestpeople in the world.We have the love of our com-rades，we have the respect of our enemies，wehave the support of the people.We have somethingto live for，and we are going to do somethingworth doing.We are sorry for the people who gothrough their lives achieving nothing，leaving theworld no richer than they found it.Those peopleare poor indeed；those people we pity.As for us，we have the glorious pride of being made the in-strument of those great forces that are working to-wards progress and liberty.
Now，the rightness of revolt，the rightness ofour militant methods，does not depend upon suc-cess.You may resist injustice and fail，or seem tofail，and still you have done right.When you areconfronted by oppression，when you are confront-ed by the forces of evil，then you must go and dobattle against them Unless you believe that mightis right you must agree with what I ssy.And Iwant you to believe that even if we had no hope ofsuccess，even if we thought our militant campaignwere destined to failure，we should go on with it.We should go on with it while life was ours，weare going on with it；so long as we live we are nev-er going to renounce this struggle.But we are go-ing to win because we have right on our side.No，you must not forget that“thrice armed is he thathath his quarrel just，and he but naked，thoughlocked up in steel，whose conscience with injusticeis corrupted.”Well，my friends，there is greattruth in those words，and I think you will admitthat our quarrel is just.Why，even the enemy hasto admit that.We could never win if we were notin the right，but because we are in the right we aregoing to win.
Well，I have been telling you why we adoptour methods；I have been trying to explain to youthe frame of mind in which we are，and the reasonswhy we have taken to these methods，and what themethods are.If you read the leading articles insome of our newspapers，you would think ourmethods were Russian methods，or even worse.You really would suppose that we were the mostdangerous set of people，and the most violent setof people that have ever been seen.The fact is，however，that we are singularly mild-indeed，weare just as mild as we can be，consistently with do-ing our duty.We do not want to go an inch fartherthan the Liberal Government drive us，because wedo not want to waste our forces；we do not want tooverstep the mark by a hair's breadth，and we havenever done so.We go to by-elections，and work a-gainst the Government.Surely that is not very un-constitutional or very violent.Our protests at pub-lic meetings have been very effective，but they in-volve no danger to life or limb—unless our own.As I say，these protests don't involve any physicaldanger to our Cabinet Ministers，yet they producea marked impression.Ministers are simply terri-fied.They hide from us behind locked doors.Theygo in secret nowadays.They dare not run the riskof meeting women even in a railway train.Haveyou read the Daily News to-day，and seen the ac-count of Mr.Lloyd George's attempt，not only tokeep women out of his meeting，but to escapethem？Well，if he were the Czar of Russia going a-mong his subjects，it might be natural.Why thisfear？Why not trust the people？They are decidedlyafraid of women in these days—and then you saythat women cannot pursue militant methods withsuccess.The proof of the pudding is in the eating，and I know this—they are more afraid of one Suf-fragette than they are of 5，000 men.
Then we go on deputations to the House ofCommons.What is there wrong in that？Men areconstantly having deputations，and I have neverheard of a men's deputation going to prison yet—but we have to go to prison.I wonder how it isthat you do not see that instead of our being vio-lent，violence is used against us.We have notcaused Mr.Asquith to languish for a single day ingaol—it is he who has vicariously attacked and im-prisoned us.We are very sorry to have to give allthis trouble；we would rather militant methodsshould cease，and they would cease if we were tohave the vote.Now，how simple it all is.Can'tyou understand that the Government have broughtthese troubles down on their own heads？We arenot responsible for it—they are responsible.Donot waste your sympathy upon them，my friends.It is all their own fault.If they would give us thevote，they would have no more trouble from us.
I call on the men who are here to-night to joinforces with us，to help us to overcome the Govern-ment which at the present moment is the greatestobstacle in the path of human progress.If men'seyes are still shut to these truths，yet neverthelessthe women are awake，and the women have thepower；they have the absolute power to gain theliberty which they want；they have the power andthe capacity to seize this indispensable weapon ofreform，which in their own interests，and in theinterests of the country that is dear to them，theyought to have，and which they speedily will have.
克里斯特貝爾·潘克赫斯特小姐
爭取婦女選舉權(quán)的女斗士
1908年12月22日
朋友們：
今天晚上，我不能不想起我們國家舉行過的好幾百次捍衛(wèi)婦女選舉權(quán)原則的集會。有多少次，高尚的女士們?yōu)榱撕粲跽喂螢r膽，慷慨陳詞。有多少次她們提出了這種呼吁，向那些已經(jīng)充耳不聞，漠然置之的人們呼吁我們所從事的并不是什么新的運動，記住這一點對我們大家都有好處。在我們之前，40年和56年前，已經(jīng)有先驅(qū)者開始鼓吹婦女選舉權(quán)了。她們工作勤奮，不辭辛勞，但是在那么多年孜孜不倦的努力之后，議會仍然沒有通過投票賦予婦女以選舉權(quán)。
以前爭取婦女選舉權(quán)的人犯了一個錯誤，他們和我們自己的這種教訓教我們別再重蹈覆轍了。他們過分依賴其事業(yè)的正義性，而沒有充分依靠自己的強大力量。正是由于我們認識到陳情、說理、議論的方法失敗了，我們才從事新的富有戰(zhàn)斗精神的運動。我相信，我想你們也相信，這一運動業(yè)已勝利在望。當男子們開始從事像我們這樣的宣傳鼓動時，當然也容易受到各種各樣的批評和攻擊，但是我認為，最危險和最令人難堪的攻擊不是針對他們的，而是針對我們的。從來沒人說男人們歇斯底里，說他們不知道自己在做什么。人們可能會說他們粗暴，他們的行為應(yīng)受譴責，但是人們通常樂于承認，至少男人們錯也錯得有道理，并且認為，人的忍耐是有限度的，如果男人們受到過度壓迫，就有權(quán)反抗壓迫。相反，在這次婦女運動中我們卻被指責為沒有經(jīng)過深思熟慮，一意孤行，不知道我們在干什么以及為什么那樣干。
不，朋友們，我們從事這一運動決不是出于輕率或考慮不周。我們早就知道我們面對的是什么。我們知道我們面對的是危險，十足的肉體危險。我們非常清楚，自己是冒著被監(jiān)禁的危險在工作。那可是一件非同小可的事情啊。在你們看來，監(jiān)禁是專門用來對付那些危害社會的人、與國家為敵的人的。監(jiān)禁是你們對他們最嚴厲的懲罰。我們還十分清楚，我們這些竭力對他人盡自己義務(wù)的人必須認識到，這種命運隨時會降臨到我們頭上。我們早就知道，我們肯定會受到黨派政客的刻薄攻擊——我想沒有比這種攻擊更惡毒、更無恥的了。而且，因為我們是女人，我們還不得不面對另一件事，即面對這樣的攻訐：我們不像女人，有失淑女風范（你們知道，這后一條比前一條更惡劣），有失體統(tǒng)，荒唐可笑等等。
說句真心話，若不是有一件至關(guān)重要的大事刻不容緩，我們大家本來寧愿過正常人的生活，而不必讓自己遭受我所說的那些艱難。什么事刻不容緩呢？人的自由。這是一件超越任何價值的事，值得為之奮斗的事，值得付出代價的事。我們正在為之斗爭。我們正在為婦女的解放而斗爭。男子的解放很久以前便開始了，目前他們正在設(shè)法自救。但是在作為他們的姐妹和妻子的婦女也看到自己的解放之前，男子根本看不到徹底的解放。我們在為婦女的福利而努力，我們在為婦女的溫飽而努力，我們在為更重要的東西——婦女的尊嚴而努力。
在座有些女士希望有選舉權(quán)，卻不同意我們的方法?，F(xiàn)在，我要對這些人講幾句話。我要問她們，為什么你們袖手旁觀，為什么你們不相信我們的方法，而如果你們相信，為什么不加以實行呢？要知道，我們既不需要你們的也不需要內(nèi)閣大臣們的同情。不需要，我們需要的是行動。我們寧愿你們和我們一起前進，而不要你們的歡呼、支持或贊揚。我們不希罕那個。我們不希望你們來說我們干得好。我們希望你們來和我們一起干。你們?yōu)槭裁床煌渡碛谶@種鼓動呢？你們?yōu)槭裁床蛔龊萌氇z的準備呢？你們不應(yīng)當通過別人的眼睛去看監(jiān)獄，而應(yīng)當親自到那里去，如果你們認為我們?nèi)ツ抢锸歉傻煤玫脑挕Ｄ銈冋J為爭取選舉權(quán)的老辦法不管用，不僅不管用，而且不光彩，不值得你們采用。我說，只滿足于呼吁選舉權(quán)而不要求選舉權(quán)并為之斗爭的婦女才不光彩哩。代價太大嗎？你們不能做出必要的犧牲嗎？我可以告訴你們，我們這些甘愿作出犧牲的人從中得到了極大的快樂。是啊，參加這個聯(lián)盟的婦女是世界上最幸福的人。我們享有同伴的友愛，我們受到敵人的尊敬，我們得到人民的支持。我們有生活的目標，我們準備去做值得做的事。我們?yōu)槟切┮簧德禑o為、離開這個世界時并不比來時更充實的人感到難過。他們的確一無所有。我們可憐他們。至于我們，我們?yōu)槌蔀闋幦∵M步和自由的偉大力量的工具而感到無比光榮、無比自豪。
因此，反抗是否正當，我們戰(zhàn)斗性的方法是否正當，并不取決于成功與否。你們反抗非正義也許失敗或者表面上失敗了，但你們?nèi)匀蛔龅脤?。當你們面臨壓迫時，當你們面臨邪惡勢力時，你們必須挺身而出，與之斗爭。除非你們認為強權(quán)即公理，否則你們必須同意我說的話。我希望你們相信，即使我們沒有成功的希望，即使我們認為富于戰(zhàn)斗精神的運動注定要失敗，我們也要繼續(xù)干下去。一息尚存，此志不渝，我們將繼續(xù)干下去；有生之年，我們決不放棄這一斗爭。但是，我們將取得勝利，因為正義在我們一邊。是的，你們務(wù)必不要忘記：“一個有理的人，雖手無寸鐵，卻好比身披三重盔甲；一個蠻橫無理、喪盡天良的人，縱然披堅執(zhí)銳，也如同赤身*。”是啊，我的朋友們，這話深有道理。我想你們會承認我們的爭執(zhí)是有理的。唔，連敵人都承認這一點。假如我們不在理，我們永遠不會勝利，正因為我們在理，所以我們必將勝利。
好，我已經(jīng)告訴你們，我們?yōu)槭裁床扇∵@些方法。我已經(jīng)盡力向你們說明我們的心情、我們采用這些方法的理由以及這是些什么方法。如果你們讀過我國某些報紙的社論，你們會認為我們的方法是俄國人的方法，甚或比那更壞的方法。你們的確會以為我們是一幫最危險的人物，是你們所見過的暴的人物。其實我們非常溫和，一貫克盡職守，真的已經(jīng)溫和到極點了。我們不愿比自由黨政府逼迫我們的往前多走一時，因為我們不想浪費我們的精力。我們不愿也從來沒有越雷池一步。我們?nèi)⒓友a缺選舉，反對政府。那肯定并不很出格，也談不上什么暴力。我們在群眾大會上提出的*頗為引人矚目，但是除了對我們自己的生命以外，并沒有對任何生命構(gòu)成危險。正如我所說，這些*并沒有給我們的內(nèi)閣大臣們帶來肉體危險，雖說產(chǎn)生了很深刻的印象。大臣們簡直怕得要命。他們在上了鎖的大門里面躲著我們。現(xiàn)在他們行蹤詭秘。他們甚至不敢冒險在火車上遇見婦女。你們看過今天《每日新聞》關(guān)于勞合·喬治先生不僅不愿會見婦女，甚至想躲開她們的報道沒有？如果他是處在其臣民中的俄國沙皇，那倒并不奇怪。而他怕什么呢？為什么不相信人民？近來他們確實無疑地害怕婦女——你們還說婦女使用戰(zhàn)斗性的方法不會成功哩。布丁好壞，嘗后方知，這方面我有經(jīng)驗：他們害怕一個女權(quán)主義者勝過害怕5000個男子。
所以我們要通過委派代表的方式進入下議院。這有什么不對呢？男子一向有代表，我從來沒聽說過男代表被捕的事，而我們要被捕入獄。我真納悶，你們怎么沒有看到：不是我們使用暴力，而是別人對我們使用暴力。我們沒有讓阿斯奎思坐過一天牢，是他通過代理人攻擊和監(jiān)禁我們。我們對被迫引起這一切麻煩感到十分遺憾；我們寧愿停止使用戰(zhàn)斗的方法，如果我們有選舉權(quán)的話，是會停止使用的。瞧，事情多么簡單。難道你們就不明白政府是搬起石頭砸自己的腳？對此我們沒有責任，他們應(yīng)該負責。不要對他們浪費你們的憐憫吧，朋友們。全是他們自己的錯。如果他們給了我們選舉權(quán)，他們就不會在我們這里再遇到麻煩了。
我號召今晚在座的男士們同我們聯(lián)合起來，幫助我們戰(zhàn)勝這個在當前成為人類進步道路上障礙的政府。如果說男子仍然閉眼不看這些事實，那么婦女則是清醒的，而且婦女有力量；她們有贏得她們所需要的自由的全部力量；她們有力量和才能奪取這一不可缺少的改革武器，她們應(yīng)當進行改革，改革符合她們自己的利益，也符合她們所熱愛的國家的利益。她們很快就會進行改革。