The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-10


dern Worssippsrs uf Naturss
The last annual meeting of the Women's
Rights Convention at Mozart Hall in this city
bias been followed up by similar demoustra-
ton at Rutland. At the former we had the most
singular and barefaced propositions of Mr.. Pearl
Andrews-a mock pearl we should think-who
declared to the hybrid representation present
that it was TIE duty of the women of this coun-
try to study and carry out the principles Of
'siring and eeneratinR;' and at the latter Mrs.
BraDch-a branch of the same impudent fami-
ly-tb.t it was the right of every woman to de-
termine how, when, where, and with whom, she
should undertake the business Of maternity, IT.
respective of all laws, human or divine. 1t is
with reluctance we again allude to the gross in
decepcy and immortality of these doctrines; but
If they are allowed to pass without Reproduction
by the moral and respectable portion ofthe press
OF this country, it will be another proof-and
we have too many already-of the decline of
public morals and the deterioration Of public
taste. 1t is remarkable that both these PROPOSE
tions were received without any appearance Of
disgust, or even dissatisfaction, by the women
who figured on this occasion; indeed, the speak
ers were encouraged to 60 on; and, If we mis-
take not, Mr.. Pearl Andrews was called on by
one Of The faithfully Garrison himself-homo-
bped implumis-to enter into the particulars of
his theory, and develope its process and results.
1t is, perhaps, great pity that the pearl did
not reply to the molluscs, who were 80 ready to
swallow his explanations; the world would then
lave been able to learn something more of the
real object of these free love reformers and to
see what, under the new system, would become
of social and married life, the education of
children, the duties of husbands and fathers, and
the value and utility of wives. Happily, how
ever, come slight regard for public opinion
seemed to linger in this bold and impudent as
semblage and, for the nonce, in what manner
the duty of studying and applying the prin-
ciples Of string and generating" is to be full
filed is not yet offered to the consideration of
more decent American women. At Rutland
however, according to their official organs, the
New York Tribune and the Ne,V York Times, the
mask was thrown of, and the Paphian priest
ess etood before Us in all her nakedness.
Let us see for q moment to what this new
branch of education would lead. In the first
place the anatomical and physiological structure
of the sexes would become the subject of text
books for female seminaries, doubtless Illus
trated by drawings by Mr.. Andrews, Lucy
Stone and Mrs. Brancb-we viii not say from
the life Illustrations from Pompeii of the
special worship would also be introduced, to
give an air of ciassicality to the production, as
well as to show how accidents such as happened
even to Venus from want of proper attention to
the principles advocated by Mr.. Pearl Andrews,
may hereafter be prevented. A thorough I'M
Outstanding Of the subject being thus obtained.
new topic of conversation would prevail
throughout society, and all others be ignored.
Maternity" as was observed by one of the
lady orators at the Convention, is woman's d.
vinity, and of course no other theme would have
such ON exalted rank In social discussions.
From this step, In the next place, 1t would be
easy and natural to take another; to pursue o
series of philosophical experiments in public in
situations properly regulated and scientifically
conducted in which the facts could be arrived at
which Mr. Pearl Andrews and Mrs. Branch deem
indispensable to the permanence and advance
ment of the human race. These might be endow
ed by the State, and placed under the especial
care of the females prominent at the Convention,
"who would know their rites, and knowing.
dare maintain" AT once the whole form OF
society would assume o new aspect. new
Arcsoia only q little more so, would take the
place OF the distracted world, which now de-
mands of us other duties as urgent as those an
nounced In the Woman Rights Conventions. A
new Eden. without fig leaves and without shame,
would, like another Central Park rise in our
midst, among the blasted rocks and thorny briars
around us, and regeneration from generation to
generation would give increasing occupation to
humanity. Such are the moral doctrines and
worship Of the New York Times and New Fork
Tribune.
Our readers muh excuse us II we enter
no farther into the penetration Of the
new philosophy. Each one for himself may, at
his leisure, follow up the details at which we
have barely hinted, and to which such system
would lead, and Judge what would be left Of
the female character. Our object Is at once 10
interpore strong protest against the infamous
assaults upon the female character by the theor-
lists of this new school, without even a blush
upon their cheeks or pause of modest doubt
For years past there has been an insidious at
tempt made in various quarters to undermine the
whole fabric of female virtue and the sacred re-
lations Of married life. The doctrines Of Fourier
ism and fee love, of spiritual wives, Of woman's
rights, as published In the Tribune and Tines, have
all lad this one purpose-to accustom the public
mind to lcok upon chastity as an over-estlmated
and useless quality. and to give courage to bad
women to act as boldly as bad men. To main
tain that the animal reproduction of an animal
is the greatest, the only important function of
womanhood, lie libel on the sex. deathblow to
the peace and happiness Of man, and denial