The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-05-29

is a woman; and yet this is really the
fact We reverse the divine law which
tells us not to oppress the weaker, and
turn and oppress them simply because
they are weak. To some men, the shirts
they have made. might be the shirt OF
Nessus. wish these old scrougers who
pay five cents for making shirts. might be
haunted with women's ghosts. who should
bear the inscription, "More work and
better paw But there is another class
who perish morally. We must not shrink
from all the facts, and it is g fact that
want of work has great deal TO do with
driving 70 shame the 10000 women II
our city who walk our streets, whose
smile is only seen by the gas light But
the shame is not all with them. Shame
upon him who offers the price Of dishonor;
shame upon those honorable women who
smile unon the victorious debauchee;
shame upon ourselves if we nourish any
prejudice which depreciates the value OF
woman. Let all these shames blend with
the shame of the poor lost girl, and ligatsn
a little the curse that bears too exclusively
upon her. Here are these two classes " no
must have work or else honorably or dis
honorably perish.
But there is another class of women,
who are compelled to work. concerning
whom one of the noblest women OF our
day (AIrs. Jameson) asks if a more
enlarged social sphere cauno; be allowed
woman? can merely say, thst this
field is indicated in the philanthropic
institutions of our age. 1t is exempIItied
in women like Elizabeth Fry, and Flor
ence Nightingale. [Applause One OF
those poor soldiers of the CFiInea SAID,
that her shadow seemed to do him good
as it passed over his bed. What CONF
pliment to her was that of another poor
sick man, who said to her, 7" ] believe you
are not a woman, but sn angel" How
much better is that than the homage OF
the drawing-room, or triumph OF hirta-
ton. IApplause.l How many a woman
might be an angel to the poor hollow eyes
that followed her from sick bed. Let
us remember that this is not an ettempt
to draw woman from her sphere. Let Us
consider how many claims there are ousof
this sphere. Let US not fear any ridicule
which may be cast upon US. Ridicule is the
feeblest weapon that can be used; Il
proves the lack of heavier artillery it
fires scattering shot, and does not hit the
mark. [Applause. It is rather feaf-
full picture to be sure, of masculine
woman, scheming in Wall street, or shout.
inc in Tammany Hall. But when called
to step forward to the line, who SHOWS
more manliness, more courage than wo-
man? Look at the maid of Saragossa,
look at Grace Darling, and at that noble
woman who, but year ago, brought hons
the ship of her poor disabled husband;
she NAV have been out of her sphere, but
she circumnavigated the globe. AP-
plause.l am inclined to believe thai
woman starving in the streets, is fully a.
incongruous as q woman in the Senate or
the Forum.
The true idea of civilization wiz never
be unfolded till woman has been placed
upon an equality with man. lnthe cabin
of the Mayfower: in the war of the
Revolution. when the wives loaded the
muskets. there were such men because
there were such women. The grandest
transactions Of history are unfoideo, when
she stands nearest to man IS an equal
and when Christianity shall have reached
its highest point, her heart viii Be near
his hand. Let woman stand upon sne
ground of her human nature, then tners
will be mutual honor and mutual help;
then there will be no discordant music In
the march from the paradise which they
left together-to that paradise which they
hone to attain. GGrest applause.l