Blog Post #9 - Emmeline's Speech on the Argument of the Stone

This week I analyzed another speech that shows the early actions of the WSPU, this time from Emmeline’s perspective. Her speech, “The Argument of a Broken Pane” happened at a dinner party, celebrating the release of some of the Suffragettes who had been prisoners in 1911. This speech not only offered itself as a celebratory one for the freed women but also once again served as a central focus and call to arms for these women to remind them exactly what they fought to receive, the vote. Mrs. Pankhurst also directly refers to their motto, “Deeds not words” in her speech. She says, “’Deeds not words,’ is the motto of this movement, and we are going to prove our love and gratitude to our comrades by continuing the use of the stone as an argument in the further protests that we have to make,” (Jorgensen-Earp 144). Emmeline says it bluntly that the WSPU will continue to use the stone to make sure their argument is known and heard by those necessary, specifically the government and the public.

Emmeline continues in her speech to mention the importance of one thing, the numbers of women fighting for the cause. To her there can never be too large of a force of women, because of this she emphasizes the importance of ever recruiting new women to join in the battle for the vote. In her closing statements, Emmeline once again mentions the importance of truly equal rights between the sexes in concern with the political needs of both. Emmeline states, “If it is a good thing for a man to sacrifice for the public good, then it is a good thing for a woman to sacrifice for the public good,” (Jorgensen-Earp 146). To Mrs. Pankhurst there is no difference between a man or a woman fighting for what is right. She ends her speech, reiterating the importance of the argument of the stone, “Why should women go into Parliament Square and be battered about and be insulted, and, most important of all, produce less effect than when they use stones,” (Jorgensen-Earp 147). This statement means that because the Suffragettes are harmed when peacefully protesting the WSPU will instead move to more militant tactics because they are more effective.

Source:

Pankhurst, Emmeline. “The Argument of the Broken Pane.” In Speeches and Trials of the Militant Suffragettes: The Women's Social and Political Union, 1903-1918, edited by Cheryl R. Jorgensen-Earp, 144-47. Madison, WI: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1999.