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7/28/45: Death of Margot Asquith, Countess of Oxford and Asquith (b1864)
Suffragette, renowned Wit & wife of PM (1908-16) HH Asquith (1852-1928).
I haven't seen her book, Lay Sermons anywhere, but I'd like to.
Excerpts from the c1922 address of Lady Asquith to the Women's Political
Partisan League of London.:
Special to the Times of London: We must have what the men have. It may
not be much but we mean to have it, no matter how large of how small it
may be. If we cannot have it without friction, then we shall have it with
friction. (Applause) If we cannot have it through our organizations we
shall have it through our combinations, or without them if necessary.
(Cheers) But we absolutely refuse to be poked on the floor of the house.
(Prolonged applause.)
We are willing to look up to the men above, but we do not want to be
forced or held down without being able to make a few motions of our own.
We women want to hold up our end and shoe the men our possibilities
whenever anything arises that will fill our expectations. We women are
deeply interested in good movements, and we will always accept any load
that is given to us. (Cheers) Nothing that comes up will be too hard for
us. (Wild cheers.)
We are willing to work under the men above us, now as in the past, and to
the point of exhaustion if need be. (Applause) But we are becoming
disgusted with their failures and shortcomings! (Hissing and boos.) Never
when anything arose and required our attention have we failed to come, and
we shall come again and again if the occasion presents itself. But too
often has our enthusiasm been aroused with false promises, and too often
have our hopes and strivings been met with feeble performances that have
left us disappointed and dissatisfied. (Cries of "Hear, hear!") That
drunken loafer says "Down with the Petticoats!" How often have our
efforts to push forward our ends met in the house with the cry of "Down
with the Petticoats!" Now I say "Up with the Petticoats!" and Down with
the Trousers!" Then and only then will matters be seen in their true
light. (Wild applause.)
As long as we women are split up as we are, the men will always be on top.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reprinted in _Southern Folklore Quarterly 40(1976), pp 78-79; edited G.
Legman. - The above speech has often been reprinted and attributed to
other 1920's female activists, Lady Astor, Dorothy Thompson, Eleanor
Roosevelt, Christabel Pankhurst (1880-1958)
© Abby Sale - all rights reserved
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