New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-07-18


raised llst high enough to drag III others down
10 hens selves
We have LETT behind hos: ofvliga: objections,
either as MT worthy IF an answer, or IS answered.
; bv the general course OF our remarks
few words however, must De sand on one plea,
which III England Is made much use OF tor giving
an unself:sh err - the UNFOLDING OF selfish pFl'l-
lego. and which. with unobservng, unredectng
peonle. passes for much more than = Is woEtl.
Women, II Is sand, DO not deslre-to not seek,
what is called their emancipation. On the con
trarv, they generally dlsown such claims when
made in their behalf, and fall with GchlTHeafnf
upOn any one of themselves who Ideniihes her-
>tli with their common cause
Surprising the fac. 10 be true IN the fullest eA-
tent ever asserted # Il proves that European
women ought TO remain as they are. Il proves
exactly the same with respect 10 Aslatlc women
Tor they too, instead Of mUrnurlng at then Sc
cusion, and at the restraint imposed upon tnem'
pride themselves on II. and are astonlshed al the
enronterv of women who receive visits from male
aceuaintances. and are seen IN the street I'M
yelled Habits of submission make men as wei
as women servlle- minded. The vas, population
of Asia do not desire or value. probably would
not accept. political liberty, nor the savases OF
the forest, civilization, which does not prove
that either OF those things Is undesrabetor them
or that they Will not, at some future time, en]ey
II Custom hardens human beings 10 any KIND
of degradation, by deadening the part OF their
nature which would resist H. And the case OF
women Is, IN this respect, even peculiar one,
for no other inferior caste that we have heard or
have been taught 10 regard their degradation as
their honor. The argument, however, implies
secret consciousness that the alleged preference
of women for their dependent state Is merely ap-
/ narent and arises from their being allowed no
choice tor If the preference be natural, eheIe
can he no necessity for enforcing II by law 10
make laws compelling people TO ioHow then III
/ clination. has not hitherto heen thought neces-
sary by any legislator The plea that women 90
not desire any change, Is the same that mas oeen
urged. times out of mind. against the proposal OF
} aholshing any social evil" there Is no COM
plant :" which Is generally not true, and when
true only SO because there Is not that hope OF
+ success. without which complaint seldom makes
itself audible TO unwilling ears. How does the
director know shat women do not desire equahty
and freedom Tie never knew woman who
did not or would not. desire II Tor herself ndl-
/ vldually 1t would be very simple to suppose
that If they do desire II they Will say so lheH
posltion Is like that of the tenants or laborerS
/ who vote against their own political interests To
please their landlords or employers with the
. uulcue addition, that subnlssIsn IS mcucated on
them from childhood as the peculiar attraction
and grace Of their character They are taught
f to think that to repel actively even an admit
ted INJUSTICE done 10 themselves. Is somewhat
unfemnne and had better be left to some male
friend or protector To be accused OF rcbeilng
against ANYTHING which admits OF beng called
an ordinance OF society, they are taught to re-
gard as an ImpuiatlOn 0f "a serious otcnse, TO say
the least. against the properties OF their sex 1t
requires unusual moral courage Is well as dlsll-
terestednesS m a woman, to express OPINIONS Ia
yorahle 10 wOmen'S cniTanchlse nent, until ~
least, there Is some prospect OF obtaining H. Inc
comfort Of her individual life. and her social con
slderatlou. usually depend on the good VIII oil
hose who hold the undue power and 10 pos
SCISSORS OF power and complaint, however bitter,
of the misuse OF IL. Is a less fragrant act oil IN
+ suboldination than TO protest against the power
itself The professions of women III this matter
remind Us Of the state offenders OF ola, VINO, on
the point of execution, used TO protest tnelr love
and devotion 10 the sovereign by whose unjust
mandate they suffered GrlSelda herself might
he matched from the speeches put by Shakspere
mic The mouths OF male victims 81 htngY caprice
and tyranny the Duke OF Buckingham, Tor eX-
ample. III Henry the Eighth and even Wolsey.
The literary class of women, especially IN Eng
land, are oStentatlous IN dlScanlng the desire tor
equality or citizenship, and proclaimlng their
complete satisfaction with the place which So
cIoy assigns to them exercising IN this, as IN
uauy respects most nONlOuS influence oVerthe
feelings and opinions of men, who unsuspectlng-
IN accept the scrylllleS OF tOadylsm as cOnceS-
SONS 10 the force 81 truth, not considering that
: the personal interest of these women 10 pro-
icss whatever opinions they expect will he agree
able to men Il Is not among men OF talent,
sprung from the people, and patronIzed and Hat
tered by the aristocracy, that we look Tor the
leaders OF democratic movement. Successful
literary women are lust rs unlikely TO prefer the
cause OF women to their own social consldera-
ton They depend on mems opinion for their
4 literary as well as for their feminine success;
and such Is their bad opinion OF men, that they
believe there Is not more than one IN ten thou
sand who does not dislike ana fear strength, SIN
Cerlty. or hgh splrt III a woman. IneY are
therefore ANXIOUS to earn pardon and federation
ion whatever oitheSe qualities their writings may
exhibit on other subjects, by studied display OF
submission on tins that they may give no oc-
caslCn for vulgar men 20 say (what nothing VIII
prevent vulgar men from SAYING that learning
makes women uniemmue. and that literary la
Gies are likely to be bad wives.
But enough OF this especially the fact
which affords the occasion for this notice makes
it impossible any longer to assert the universal
acqulescence of women Saving individual eX-
CeptlOns) IN Their dependent condition. In the
United States, AT east, there are women, seem
Mgiy numerous, and now organized tor action
on the public mind, Who demand equality IN the
ulles, acceptatIou OF the word, and demand It
by a straightforward appeal to mems sense OF
Justice, not plead for 1t with tlmd depreciation
OF their dlsple assure.
Like other popular movements, however, thus
may be seriously retarded by the blunders OF It's
alherenl> Tined by the ordinary standard Of
public meetings, the speeches at the Convention
are remarkable for the preponderance OF the IA.
tiOnai over the decamatory element; but there
( are some exceptions and things 10 which 1t Is
impossible 10 attach any rational meaning have
found their way into the resolutions. Thus the
resolution which sets forth the claims made IN
behalf Of women after claiming equality n ed
ucation, III industrial pursuits, and IN political
rights, enumerates as a fourth head of demand
something under the name OF social and spirit
ual union, and medium of expressing the
highest moral and spiritual views OF justice"
with other similar yerbiage, serving only - mar
The SIMPLICITY and nationality Of the other de-