Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-08-10
WOMAN-Her poyitiop and duties.
CONTINUED

CONTINUED.
1t is as mothers, that woman should consc-
crate themselves to the work of preparing tier
future for their children. Is there an intelligent
mother worthy of that name, who does not eXpe-
rience profound anxiety III seeing these traiI
creatures cast out to grow up amid the dstur-
Dances ofreyolutionary eras. and in thinking Of
the storms which an improyidcnt system of poll
tics, selfish at once and cruel, has brought upon
their heads All mothers, whatever their social
position or their faith, must have the same inter
est, the same enc, the well being of their chill
dren. All then should equally desire a social
organization which would give them a feeling of
security as to the future fate of beings so dear
This never has been given never could be given
by societies based, as those of The PAST have been
on the right of the strongest, on privilege. on
the oppression Of man. But this feeling oisocu-
rity and will spring mp in societies. based, as
those ofthe future are to be, or the principles of
of fraternity and universal solidarity Of which
woman should be the most ardent apostle.
fwOmen of the privileged classes could but
be made to understand that their present high
condition can not protect their children from the
vicissitudes of fortune if they could but learn
to remember that their own ancestors perhaps,
once bent the knee as slaves and serfs, before
the progenitors of the very half-clad beggar boys
upon whom they now look down with pity If the
veil of the past could but be lifted before them
then would they comprehend that their maternal
love must not be confined to their own children
but enlarged to embrace the young of this and
all succeeding generations; then would they rec
ognize the truth, that only when unitary societies
shall pledge themselves TO ensure the well being
of each of their members however humble, can
security be felt for the happiness ofany one how
ever honored.
And if women OF the working classes would
but comprehend that it is one OF their duties 10
reclaim the right of being completely mothers
if they could be taught that society is hound 10
exert a watchful providence over the child before
its birth by eXempting the mother from exhaust
ing toll during the period when she is fulfilling
her sacred function of supplying society with
new members,-members who will be active, in
telligent useful, and every way fit for adyan-
cling the general prosperity, in proportion to the
harmonious development of all their faculties
then would they become convinced of the neces-
sity of that grand social reform which can alone
ensure them the right of preserving their chill
dren from misery, ignorance and despotism.
When women of all classes shall accept these
great truths then will all mothers unite to ac-
complish that grand Mission of humanity, which
religion and the true science of society make
known.
| The mission of woman in the present age, is
an apostleship, whose end is the Introduction oil
| Gods kingdom upon earth. The means of full
/ filling that end, is TO lead mankind into the way
which Providence marks oat, by reconciling in
dividuals families, classes, nations, now sonar
ated from one another by hostile interests, vary
| ing opinions, and incessent competition. But the
indispensable condition for this reconciement is
tha &,
/ between the two grand halves ofhumanity, man
/ and woman. And the very first step toward
this reform is TO proclaim on high the civil and
political equality of the sexes, and TO demand the
practical realization of the rights of women, by
the press, by speech, aud incessent protests
against the violations ofthose principles liberty
| equality, and fraternity, which are the law OF
God. 1t should be clearly understood, that the
abolition of the privileges ofrace, birth, caste for
tune, can not be complete and radical, until the
privilege of sex is entirely destroyed, because