Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-09-19
Women and Politics.

those which they profess TO hoId, eN0eaNor
to silence the speaker BY clamor and ridicale.
Whoever is rash enough to speak against
these peculiar doctrines must expect to be
out-tdlkad unless he has very strong lungs
and is willing to use the same kind of weaV-
0ns used by his opponents-loud talking and
misrepresentation. These wise and fair
minded ones vino set themselves up for Ora
eics have most sublime contempt for reason
and cherish an utter disregard for facts.
The one who can make the most noise they
consider the best at argument, If Il woman
undertakes to express an opinion. state
fact or read an article in support Of her
statement, they cry in alarm, women and
ministers have taken up politics" This alb
surd alarm cry may intimidato some. but Oh
Others it has no effect beyond that of cScit-
ing contempt for its originators. And have
women and ministers No right to "takc up
politics - Have they 10 interest in the af-
fairs Of the country III which they live?
Are they not subject to its laws7 LET
them not meddlo with polite" say the enc
mics Of freedom. 1t is nothing to them who
rules the country or what kind Of govern
ment they have to live under. Strange, in
comprehensive creed The minds of those
who maintain it are narrow as itself As FOR
ministers of the Gospel, their duty and mis-
sion is to denounce crime Of whatever nature
it may be, whether national or Individual.
Let them then "bear testimony fearleSly
against wrong and injustice else they We're
, unworthy of their high calling. And shall
not ,pomen be allowed to raise their voices
in defence Of justice and right? Must thsy
sit silently and hear sentiments expressed
which are abhorrent to every generous soul
Shall not their powerful Influence be exert
ed against wiekedness and oppression? Is
there no 'sfree speeches or free action for
them? There are Il think) among women,
{ rs many true patriots as among men. They
: love their country as wei they feel as much
$ patriotism as man can feel sthey would
. sacrifice as much for their country good.
:, They desire that the land which is SO dear to
them may be honored among nations, that
> her people may enjoy the blessings of peace
and prosperity, that her name may be spok-
C en- with pride by her children, and with rev.
erencc by those of other lands. They can
not see her disgraced in the "eyes of the ma
r tons without emotions Of indignation and
, shame. They cannot read the merited re-
proaches of foreign papers without NORTH
cation. Strangely insensible must be the
= heart which is stirred by no feelings of pat
riotism-the instructive love of country
which is inherent in almost every human
It breast But if the present deplorable state
v of national affairs is spoken of before some
females they say-''we don't caro- anything
about the affairs of the nation, if men can
take care Of the country women can't No
they don't wish to take care Of the country
alone, but they can assist and encourage the
men who labor in good cause. Who will
say that the prosperity ola country does moi
! depend upon its women? that they exert ne
: influence over the affairs Of government
: That they do help rule this Republic either
directly or indirectly few will deny. Thei'
y influence is always exerted for good or to'
r evil, in favor of right or against it. Wher'
g they cannot 90 themselves, they send then
Representatives, their husbands, their broth
ers or their lovers. If they cannot act them
selves they send agents who will act iol
them. There is enough for them to do
u They can consecrato all the powers wit
: which nature has endowed them to the sup
: port Of liberty and ri hteous law. If they
8 have sons they can teach them that theii
c country has claim upon their love and pre-
. lection. They can instruct them in the du'
d ties which every man owes to the land OF Ills
e birth duties which cannot be neglected with
j.. out criminality. They can inspire in them 4
= sublime love of country superior to all selfsh
considerations. If they have husbands or
lovers, brothers OF friends, they can reason
with those who have adopted false doctrines
and perhaps win them to the right side
they can stimulate the spirits of those who
: are Indifferent and infusc new life into dis
: couraged hearts. How can any one who calls
n herself a woman take pride in declaring that
! she cares nothing about the country which
is called hers? SHAME.. Not thus spoke
. the Spartan mothers, who, when their sons
went forth to fight for the glory of their
i country babe them "return with their he'll
NETS, or on them" The sons were heroes
/. because they had heroic mothers. They in
herited from their mothers as well as from
n their fathers that love of liberty and nation
al glory which made them despise danger
and rush into the battles for freedom with an
unalterable determination to "conquer or
die" They learned lessons of patriotism
from maternal lips. Both by precept and
example they were taught to seek their coun-
try's 'good and glory above all other
things. And the women of &c. Did they
! sit idle and listless while men fought for in
, dependence? Does no share of the glory of
the revolution belong to them? Search the
; history Of that trying time and see if the
women scared nothing about their country