Mr. FITZROY has just brought before the House of Commons the startling principle of English law that women are of less value than Poodle dogs and Skye terriers. They do not receive the same measure of protection as these nobler quadrupeds. Where punishment consists in fines, of course the amount of the fine affords us a certain measure of value as to the worth of the object injured. Any peculator who infringes against the provisions of the Dog Stealing Act may be imprisoned with hard labour for a period of six months, or be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding 20. With regard to women, any man may, at his pleasure, kick, bruise, beat, knock down, and stamp upon them, and all that the magistrate can inflict by way of summary punishment is a fine of 5, or, in default, two months' imprisonment with hard labour. It would be a very material improvement in the position of women if a short clause were introduced into the Cruelty to Animals Act which should include them in the provisions of that beneficent statute. All that would be necessary would be, "And be it enacted that for the purposes of this act any woman or women, shall be taken and held to be ewes, donkeys, cats, dogs, and not otherwise; and that any person or persons who shall be proved to have inflicted bodily injury upon any woman or women as aforesaid, shall undergo the same penalties and punishment as though he had inflicted bodily injury upon any of the ewes, donkeys, &c., as aforesaid."
Now, Mr. FITZROY wishes that women should at least be placed upon the same footing as the lower animals, and receive the same amount of protection from the law.
.lcThis jesting speech was made during a debate on the Cruelty to Animals Bill.
