The Kanzas news., 1857-08-22
Vol. 1---No. 9.
The Rights Of Women.

There Is evidently something wrong
somewhere, When-in q land like this,
which is sparseIy settled and produces
more than enough of the neeessaries of life
lit is impossible for large class to keep
gaunt hunger from their doors. If, in the
large cities, there is a larger male popula-
ton than can be employed pro6tably, it is
certain that a portion of it should go into
the country, for the country is never full,
and always something may be found to do
that viii keep starvation att distance. The
broad and fertile prairies Of the West
need hands to cultivate them, and if those
who strive for precarious subsistence IN
the cities would venture forth upon them
thevs would as least make enoslglssto eat and
/ IN a few years place themselves above the
danger % want.
We speak now OF the male sex. That
there are multitudes OF females In all parts
of the United States who exc ont miserable
existence by ceaseless and searee-rewarded
toll, and who cannot flee from want by any
means in their power is too true. There is
no resource for these. They cannot till.the
land be it ever so productive. They cannot
travel to distant parts where want viii not
follow them, for in every village in the Uni
ted States may be found the suffering widow
and poorly paid needle woman, struggling
to make a decent and honest living for
themselves and those depending upon them.
As matters now are there is no escape for
such in this world. The sphere in which
society tolerates them is so limited that
while all want some must starve.
Now, we have no idea of giving honily
on ''woman's rights" as this expression is
popularity understood. We have no better
opinion of the Mrs. Jellibys than the most
antiquated fogie, nor do we think preaching
or leading an army the proper business for
females, And yet we contend that there is
broad and noble sentiment of benevolence
underlying the woman's rights movement.
There is an important principle at the bot.
tom of it and one that We should well con-
slider before we unqualifedly condemn it,
In every city, if not village, of the Uni
ted States there are three times as many fe-
males dependent on their own labor as can
find employment that will give them de-
cent support. Those who have no one de-
pendent on them but themselves can gener-
ally, so long as sickness keeps away, man
age to get along from month to month and
year to year. But sometimes they have
children, young brothers and sisters, or
aged parents, all relying for bread on the
poor pittanee that can be earned by one pair
of hands at needle-work. If work fails then
they must starve, and if it does not they
must "stitch, stitch, stitch, till the heart is
sick, and the head benumbed, as wellas the
weary hand" There being so many to do
the work which so few could do, the prices
are necessarily low. The scramble is for
labor at any price that would keep out star
vation and death. They ask 'tfor leave to
toiI'' and when that is refused them is it
strange that many turn to infamy to avoid
death?
What reason we would now ask is there
WHY the sphere for female labor should be
so limited? Why should there not be many
avenues of labor left open to female hands
that are now monopolized almost, if not en-
tirely, by males? Is there any good reason
why women should not work at making
iewelry? in tending retail shops? in binding
books? in waiting at hotels, and in fine,
in every occupation where great physical
strength is not required?
1t may be said if females engage in such
kinds of labor they must drive out from
their business on which they rely for sup
port an equal or nearly equal number of
men, and that the former may as well suffer
as the latter. But this objection amounts
to nothing for the reason that men can al
ways get something else to do. It may be
necessary for some of them to move away
from the large cities and go to farming. If
they do it viii be better, not only for them
selves, but for the country. There viii be
more producers andless non-producers. The
many thousand females now just living will
then be able to earn enough TO live in COM
fort There would be more work for them
to do and the prices would be increased
Licentiousness and crime would be immeas-
urably diminished. The general morality
would be improved, and traces of want and
suffering would be far, very far less fire.
quent.
If the advocates of s3Wornan's Rights
would confne their efforts TO this view of
the subject and seek only to enlarge the
sphere of labor to woman, who would then
hesitate to go with them? But when they
talk of speechifying, preaching, and voting,
they 90 too far, and injure the cause of
"Woman's Rights Woman has right
to live, and to have chance to live honest
ly by her labor. It is mans duty to see
that this right is accorded to her, and he is
a selfish tyrant who will not lend his aid to
her in securing such right Chicago CAroa-
otype.