New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-21
WOMAN AND HER NEEDS.
By MRs. E. oAxEs sMTH".,For The Tribune


By Mrs. Z. CAKES SMITH,, For The Tribune
Therecent movements of w omen in our Country
in the shape of Conventions, the one in Ohio, and
the other in Massachusetts, have called forth from
the Press one grand jubilee of ridcule " from Dan
even unto Beersheba, if it were the funniest
thing in the world for human beings to feel the
evils depressing themselves or others, and to look
round for redress.
There is q large class of our sex so well cared
for, whom the winds Of heaven not allowed
to visit too roughly" that they can form no estl'
mate of the suerings of their less fortunate sisters
Perhaps do wrong to say less fortunate, for sui
tering to a W oman occupies the place OF labor to
man, giving breadth, depth and faness not
otherwise attained Therefore let her who Is
called to suffer beware how she despIses the cross,
which it implies rather let her glory that she Is
accounted worthy to receive this testimony TO the
capabilities of her soul
But there is, as have said, class unconscious OF
this bearing delicate amiabe, lovely even but
limited and superficial These follow the bent Of
their masculine friends and admirers and lisp
pretty rdcule aboutthe folly OF " Woman Rights
and Woman Movements" These see no need
Of reform or change of any kind indeed they are
denied that comprehensiyeness OF thought by
which they could hold the several parts OF a sub
ject in the mind and see its bearings. Society is
a sort of grown-up mystery which they pretend
not to comprehend, supposing it to have gradually
grown to its present rise and shape from Adam
and Eve, by natural graduation like Church shops.
Then there is another class doomed to debase-
/. i - 1I.t,,;
rible manifestations Daughters of suffering with
out its ennobling influence; too weak in thought
it may be, to discern the best good; or it may be
too strong in passion to resist the allurements of
the immediate or it may be ignorant only they
wake TO the sad realities OF life too late TO lind
redress fer its evils. These are the kind over whom
infinite Pity would weep as it were drops of
blood. These may scott at reform, but it is the
scoing OF lost spirit, or that OF despair.
Then come the class OF our sex capable OF
thought, of impulse OF responslblllty-the Wor-
thy to be called Woman. Not tree from faults
any more than the strong OF the other sex, but OF
that full humanity which may sometimes err, but
vet which loves and seeks Tor the true and the
good These include all who are identified with
suffering in whatever shape and from whatever
cause; for these when suffering proceeds from
their own acts even have that fund OF greatness
or goodness left that they perceive and acknoW-
ledge the opposite of what they are. These are
the ones who are victims to the talseness oil So
ciety. and who see and feel that something may
and will be done to redeem it, They are not con-
tent to be the creatures OF luxury, the toys OF the
drawing ROOM however well they grace lt-they
are too true too earnest in life to trfe with It's
realities They are capabe OF thinking, 1t may be
far more capable OF it, than those OF their own
household who help to sway the destlnles OF the
country through the ballot box Ihey are capable
/ 81, Tor he r.
round themselves and otbers-they have mdlVIdq-
aity. resources, and that antagonsm which weak
men rdicule because it shames their own lmoe
cilitv. which makes them obnoxious to those OF
less earnestness Of character, and helps them to
an eclectic power at once their crown OF glory
To say that such beings have no right 20 a near
inc in a world whose destines they effect, s TO re-
nroach the First Cause for having impaired 70 MS
GREATNESS q superfluous nteIlgence-to say tney
have no interest in the nature OF legislation, "Gen
ira terrible Denalties hang like the halr suspended
sword of Damoces over their heads, IS contra
dictiou as weak as 1t is selfish and cruel.
Ti(lneDy women have acted sngly-they have
heen content with individual influence however
exercised and it has often been OF the very worst
Mind but now they seem disposed to associate
as do our compeers OF the other sex, tor the pur-
nose of evolving better ylews, and OF confirming
some decree of power. There is no reason why
thew should not do this They the mothers
ANSIAC44Nt
interests cannot be separated from the fathers and
husbands and brothers OF the Republic IL loiy
to meet them with contempt and rldlcule, for the
period for such weapons Is passing away
Their movements as yet may not be aito9ether /
the best or the wisest all IS asyet new; buttnelr
movements truly and solemnly point TO astep
higher IL the scale OF influence. There IS holy
tignificance in them-a prophetic power that
sueaks well for themselves, well Tor the world
II cannot be from the nature OF things, that so
much Of human intelligence can be brought into
vivid action without some great and good result
1t has always been so in all subjects that have en-
listed thoucht-men have come from the turmoil
Of mental action, with new and broader percep
tions, higher and ireer humanity, better dent-
fcaton OF the individual with his species, and Why
should not Woman the same
True it is women who sheer most at these
movements OF each other-true women ottenest
turn their backs upon the suterings OF each other
douot mean the grleis or physical pans OF those
in their own rank and circle lar from 1t, their
hearts are rarely at fault there out to the cry OF
ose ready TO perish to the needs OF the ernng
the despised and neglected OF their sex they are
deaf and blind To the long, torturing dscofds OF
i'll assorted marriages. to the expressions Of the
family circle, the evasions OF property and the
lengtbenipg catalogue OF domestic dlscomiorts
growing out OF the evils OF society, they are c7's|'
selfsAly indifferent rsmorSe!essly Sttefe upon
each other. ,.o
1t is true they lave not condemned such to , the
stake literally have rot roasted them alive num-
euafte1ed, tortured with thumb-screws z, i9P9ieu
on hooks, confined in dungeons, aad oeneadeu gH
HICKS. az ntl have I01c the good the treat tn9
heloic. .soi wlom the world is not #otsD}' Oh