The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-05-01

ANYTHING in trowsers with twenty thou
sand a year. This was in early times;
and while there have been some varla-
tons in the social condition of women.
there has always been the same general
estimation that she was of an inferior sex.
And although the loyeliest traditions OF
| Christianity are interviewer with names OF
the Madonnas, the Magdalene and the
Marthas-although in its theory woman
is brought to an equality-yet she prac-
tically has no legal and industrial equality.
In the celebrated debate in England,
Mr.. Gladstone said, when the Gospel came
into the world, woman was elevated into
an equality with her stronger companion.
So she was in theory. But if Christianity
taught the equality of woman, it taught
that men were brothers; yet in Christian
nations, as matter of fact, women have
not enjoyed that equality any more than
men have enjoyed that brotherhood. At
that very time the English law of divorce
was denounced as demoralizing in its
operation, barbarous and disgrace to the
country, shocking to the sense of right
have thus far spoken of other times, but
If we now come straight to this land of
the free and home of the brave, we dis
cover whole people bowling and giving
the best seats in cars and lecture rooms to
women, and even not allowing Woman's
drunken husband TO squander her wages,
we shall exclaim, here is a nation where
woman has her rights as a member Of
society. And there is - doubtless gen.
eral feeling in this country that women
are about as well off as they can be, and it
rs very silly to talk about woman's wrongs,
and no doubt both men and women are
better off in this than in any other eoun-
! try, despite negro slavery, which is both
a crime in morals and blunder in econ
omy. Applause. In some parts of the
country there are laws which justify the
assertion that woman is respected. but
this is by no means the general spirit of
our society. We may be as gallant as
Lovelace, or courtly as Sir Chas. Grandi-
son; but this is profession, and it is our
national weakness to confound our pro-
LESSONS with our performance. We pro-
fess to hold as distinctive principles that
all men are born equal yet nearly one
seventh of our population are degraded
by the most od:ous system of servitude
known to history. We also claim to be a
Christian nation; when cardinal princi-
| pie of Christianity is love otGod and to
our neighbors as ourselves. We all know
whether people go down town every day
to love their neighbors. Laughter We
all know whether the universal principle
of trade is not Every man for himself
and the devil for the hind most" We
are ex-officio Christians, just as boy is
an ex-Oficio Democrat, because his father
is a Tammany Saehem. These are simple
facts, and | mention them to show
there is great deal more to be done than
has been yet done, ard nobody need look
for the Millennium before the end of
Summer. Is the practical public opinion
m this country a just and noble one? Do
we open to woman every industrial OPP
portunity, and admit her to equal rights
in society? When we hear that old
Herodotus said there was place in Baby
lon where they sold women, we remark,
"That was before the Christian era"-
When We are told that wives are sold in
Asia, we say, "Those are unciyilized
lands" But how about this in Paris to-
day, where Clotilde is taken from con-
vent and married to the old roue of 20,
whom she has never seen, or having seen,
she hates? How about this in London.
where Ethel Newcome is sold to the
Marquis Farintosh, who bids highest?-
Does she not protest and protest and pro-
test, with all her heart, and-submit?-
How, too, about New York? But. mol
put off my shoes. This, am told is a
Christian city-this is not Constantinople
Here we marry for love. This is not
London or Paris. Of course it is not
/ Laughter. May we not read in the
morning papers of those delightful public
dinners at which men only are present.
When the serious business was disposed
OF; when the great speeches were made
that complimented women so prettily,
while the privileged ladies were behind
the screen; after the orators had retired.
the army and navy were drunk with
cheers, and song had been sung, the last
toast is proposed, acknowledgements
last, best gift to man." it is received with
tremendous cheers, and the gallant editor
fof the Weekly Flopdoodle responds;
many shed tears; after which those of the
company that were able rose, and holloo-
ing 1--WE won't 60 home till morning u
| hicuped to their homes. TGreat laugh
| ter. There are hundreds of young
men in this city saying to hundreds OF
young women that life is blank till
/ they will consent to make them happy;
and when the long eourtship is over, they
settle down to their sphere and become
either beautiful flower in the parlor, OF
head book and superintendent of breeches
buttons. Are these pictures unfair? Do
they not occur here continually? Is not
the position of woman in this country.
after all, somewhat Similar to her position
in the Turkish harem? If. unmarried. is
she not obliged to drudge for a living, and
be laughed at if,she strives to rise above
that position? If married, does. she not
fbecofne a simple mother of children. a
lay figure for milliners, figure head for
her husbands table? I hope there are
women here who are indignant at this
description. In painting, sculpture, litera-
ture and science, a few women are patron
fizingly said to be doing very we'll for wo-
men. And in the English census of 1851,
there are certain number of women
classed as in the learned professions; they
are pew-openers. Though women are
peculiarly fitted to soothe suffering hui
mainly, they are met with stormy troubles
when they attempt to obtain medical
education. But, thank God that there
are women who fight their way through;
that, within stones toss of the place
where l am speaking, there are noble
women, who, under the ban of public
doubt and contumely, have chosen TO do,
and answer to God, and not to Mrs.
Grundy. Literary women are still sneered
at. But among the industrial classes.
where always must be most men and
women, there are sadder sights. Thou
sands of miserable men and women sur
round US. The men have their work