Old Orchard
Broadstone
Wimborne
Jan[uar]y 27th 1909
My dear Mrs. Marshall,
So long as I have thought or written at all on politics I have been in favour of Women suffrage. None of the arguments for or against have any weight with me— except the broad one which may be thus stated— All the human inhabitants of any one country should have equal rights and liberties before the law. Women are "human [2] beings"— therefore they should have votes as well as men. It matters not to me whether ten millions or only ten claim it. The "right" & the "liberty" should exist even if they do not use it. The term "liberal" does not apply to those who refuse this natural
& indefeasible right.
"Fiat justicia ruat coelum"
Yours very sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace.[signature]
Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP1678.1555)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
[1]1 [p. 10]
At a meeting in support of woman suffrage at Godalming last night, at which Sir William Chance presided, a letter was read from Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, O.M.
Dr. Wallace wrote:— "As long as I have thought or written at all on politics, I have been in favour of woman suffrage. None of the arguments for or against have any weight with me, except the broad one, which may be thus stated:— All the human inhabitants of any one country should have equal rights and liberties before the law; women are human beings; therefore they should have votes as well as men. It matters not to me whether ten millions or only ten claim it—the right and the liberty should exist, even if they do not use it. The term 'Liberal' does not apply to those who refuse this natural and indefeasible right. Fiat justitia, ruat coelum."
A letter was also read from Mrs. G. F. Watts expressing her sympathy with the movement, and stating that if a branch were formed she would be glad to become a member.
Status: Draft transcription [Published letter (WCP1678.8401)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP1678,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP1678