Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-06-18
tFrom the Philadelphia Gazette.

From the Philadelphia Gazette.
THE RIeHTs OF WOMEN.-As the whole
community is agitated with measures adopt
cd to assert the rights and advance the IN
tcrests OF abouring men, it would he well to
consider for Il moment the claims Of indusiri-
Gus women:
There is a strange and cruel mockery in
the conduct OF the lords Of creation to the
weaker sex. They are fond of speaking in
extravagant terms Of the excellence OF wo-
man, they delight in manifesting their refine
ment by unmeaning compliments, and exhibit
their galantry in u thousand superfluous at
tentons. Here their justice ends. They
call themselves the defenders of wolnen-do
they protect her? they praise her virtue
does their conduct manifest real respect?
they compassionate her weakness? do they
sustain her IN poverty, cheer her loneliness
with the voice of encouragement, or do
aught, in any shape, to supply her wants, or
alleviate her Affections? The world is q
scene of violence, where every man scram-
bles for his share of the plunder-but weak
woman is constrained by her physical inferi-
ority, to stand apart and gaze hopeessly up
Oh The struggle, with little TO sustain her, or
may fall in her way. She is still, as in the
olden time, n cleaner in the harvest of life
and though her responsibilities are equal to
those of man, she is expected to supply all
her wants, and perform all her duties upon
the miserable pittance which the reaper
leaves behind him as unworthy to be gather
ed. Such is the justice, such the kindness of
man to woman.
1t may be admitted that man is gentle and
atiectionate to those Of the other sex, who
may be related TO him. Strange if he were
not. How unnatural would be the ingrati-
tude that would requite mothers pains, a
w!e's soicitude, sisters tenderness, with
harshncss. How strangely cold and heart
less, must be the bosom which, not only in
sensible to the loveliness, gentleness, and
purity of woman, should also prove alien even
to the ties of nature. Man has not been thus
unnatural, for the necessities of his being
forbid it. But what has he done for that por-
ton of the sex, disconnected with himself
the lone, the friendless? What support or
encouragement does the widow with her
flock Of little ones, or the unprotected orphan,
or the aged and iriendless female, receive
from man? How is her labor rcquited-how
are her rights maintained? What encourage
ment do the laws extend to her; what sup
port is offered by society; what champions
spring forth in her cause?
The sturdy laborer complains that his wa
ges are low, and thousands in a moment
unite and procure for him redress but the
widow may toll with superior assiduity, and
receive less than the tithe of the wages of
the man-and who strikes for her? Is her
labor less useful or necessary? BY no means.
Are her orphans more readily or cheaply sus-
tained, than the children of the laborer? of
course they are not. Yet she is allowed to
toll Increasingly, and receives paltry pit
tance, which if quadrupled, would be spurned
II by man-laborer with scorn. Again, the
man complains, justly perhaps, that IL hours
labor is too much Tor his herculean frame,
and he strikes for an ameioration of his con-
ditlon. The press is Glamorous in support OF
the poor loJorer ; orators and politicians es-
pouse his cause; and he trumphs. But the
lone widow sits at her solitary labor, plying
the needle with her hands, and rocking the
cradle with her foot. The sun rises and sets
upon her, and the stars almost fade from the
sky, before, with tevered and exhausted
frame, she sinks upon her couch. But who
we ask again, strikes for the lone widow
Who conpassionates her wrongs, and asserts
her rights? Perhaps it will be asserted that
woman has no rights. Men are entitled to
high wages--but woman should not expect
it men must not labor more than ten hours
but woman may toll day and night. Might
makes right; and the woman being weak
and unable to demand her fair share of the
advantages that result from labor, must con.
sent to be, as she has been, the drudge and
slave of those who prate about her beauty
and their chivary.