Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-02-01
NO. o.
The Cause Of Woman.

sufficient amount of political knowledge to en-
able her to cast her vote properly at the polls,
and not vindicato herself
Has one portion of humanity right to say
what powers the other shall shall not exercise
The elective franchise is privilege so dear to
the hearts of frecnon that few would be will
ling to relinquish it at any price, even the fclon
who has tramplcd the laws of his country un-
der foot cannot be deprived of it. A foreigner
coming from the most despotic country of the
Old World, where the science Of political econ
omy was to him a sealed book, is invited to the
polls before he has acquired enough of our Lam
guage to converse freely, much less read and
understand the nature of our institutions and
Jaws. Can this privilege be consistently con-
ferrcd on such as these, and at the same time
denied to others who have been born in the
country, who arc capable Of strong local attach
mcnts, and who have ever been found able and
willing to exert themselves when their country
required it, as far as their lords would permit
The women of the Revolution are a glorious
example of devotion and patriotism. The
courage and fortitudc with which they encoun-
tered danger. or endured privation, was not ex-
celled by the other sex. Since that, has woman
rstrogradcd, or is she not interested in the well
fare Of her countryi We often hear public or
stors talk about keeping the fire of patriotism
still alive, and not suffering one spark to be ex
tinguished; but do they not desdcn the very
fountain from whence this fire is to be replen-
ishcd when they deny the wife. mother and
sister any interest or participation in the con-
Germs Of government, and tell them the social
circle only is their sphcrei What mind, under
such circumstances, can be expected to foel an
interest lively enough to incite it to study that
must be forever useless, and at the same time
endure the ridiculc of those who reserve to
themselves tho sole right of legislation: And
how do they lcgislatc, what Colleges or Uni
vsrsitics have they endowed for the education
Of females, or what means Of improvement are
provided for the greater portion of them, except
what the common schools afford And in
even these equal advantages arc not allowed
them F; IL is not thought at all necessary to in
struct them in the higher branches of Mathc-
mstics, OF any of the sciences that tend to
strengthen the judgment or improve the reason
ing faculties. The lighter studies, such as re-
quire no effort but that Of memory, are fre-
qusntly all they are permitted to engage in, and
works Of fction are allowed to ergross their
leisure hsurs. These and the silly gallsntrics
che men are pleased to amuse them with, rem
Der them in some instances creatures Of mag
nation and unfit for higher duties. But once
spen to them the same avenues to improvement
the other sex enjoy, and encourage them to ar
duous study, and if mistake not there will be
found among them minds as comprehensive and
Judgments as clear as arc met with elsewhere.
The assertion, so often made, that woman 10
physically tho weaker sex, requires something
more than mere assertion to make it so. There
appears but little difference in the strength of
children before what is termed their education
Is commenced. The boy, allowed the full use
Of his limbs and encouraged to those athletic
exercises, so necessary to the full development
Of muscle and strength of sinew, gains an ad-
vantage over tho poor little girl, who is scarce
iy permitted to breathe the fresh air, and COM
PEELED to sit for hours at time at the piano, or
employing her needle. No wonder she should
lack muscular strength yet how often do VIC
and these very beings who seem all dolicacy and
sensibility, bearing up against Affections that
their self-styled protectors would sink underf
Who is it that can endure the fatigue and anx-
iety of watching beside the couch of the sick
and the dying; and what is it that gives her
that insight into their wants and feelings but
the activity Of her mind which frequently
scsms capable of sustaining both itself and the
bodyi In Abolition, Temperance and other
Conventions, where ladies have been invited to
an equal participation in the business of the
aecting, have they abused the liberty, or has
any evil rcsultedi Have they not on many oc-
sasions filed the various offices to which they
were chosen with honor to themselves and the
meetngi If scenes are enacted at political
meetings which ladies ought not TO witness, is
not this a strong argument in favor of elccting
them to Office, in order that such scenes might
be at an cndf No one supposes that in coun-
try noted throughout the whole civilized world
for the Difference and respect paid to ladies, any
sasn, however abandoned he may be, would so
FAR forget himself as to be guilty Of such acts in
their presence, though it must be acknowledged
tha. their presence in the galleries has not al
ways kept our Representatives in Congress
quite in their places. Perhaps their votes might
leave them at home another time.
The politics of the day has always been IA
Vorite theme for conversation with men, and
has often been an inducemcnt to them to coll
iect together in the ncghboring store or grog-
shop to read political papers and talk over their
contents. Would not this state of society be
improved, il in the domestic circle were found
that congeniality and sympathy necessary to
the enjoyment of these topicsi And would
net woman, in her efforts to please and enter
tain him in whom her happiness is centcrcd,
make an effort to improve her mind and elevate