The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-12-15
For the Guardian

Much has been said Of late of the pro-
priely Of ladies attending political meet
ings, enough, perhaps. to satisfy the
greater part Of the community; bu,
there are some aspects it which it has
not been viewed permit me to present
few to the public eye. That the female
part of society should have the right to a
share in the government Of state, and a
voice in the election of officers, | will
not argue. but that it is their duty to in
form themselves on the points at issue be-
tween the political parties of the present
day, so that they may form a just opin-
ion of the principles that govern them,
or rather which they are seeking TO es.
tablish-of their moral rectitude or de-
pravity SO that the powerful and con-
trolling influence they are capable OF
welding, may be exerted understanding
ly, and in support of the right. That
such is woman's duty. and that she has
such an influence. l do assert, and that
without fear Of successful contradiction
1t is duty she owes to herself, to her
fellow beings, and to her maker The
main and important distinction between
the parties as they are at present organ
lied, is on the slavery question the one
works for the spread and ultimate domi-
nation Of slavery and the slave power.
and the other for the restriction to its
present limits for the time, and the final
extinction, of slavery and all its attend,
ant evils. Now as slavery tends to the
degradation of all connected with it, but
especially the female portion of the COM
munity, both free and bond, it is there
fore easy 10 see where her influence
should be brought to bear in this case,
without further argument. Her duty to
herself leads her to favor the restriction
party. lest herself and offspring should
some day be engulfed in the miseries at
tendant on this horrid system. The SYM
pathetic nature of woman here sees du-
~ to others in warming them of the dan.
ger threatening herself. She is not as
selfish as man, and therefore wishes to
lead others into the way Of safety.
Another duty to her sex is in leading
the mind from the baneful influence OF
novel reading, which is SO prevalent at
the present day among females. The ex-
citement of political campaign would
have something in it of the real strivings
of noble mind, far superior to that ex-
citement and sympathy caused by some
trashy novel, whose pictures were per-
haps as unnatural as unreal. In a polit-
ical struggle there is something of life, a
graphing with things of reality. tangi-
BILE groundwork TO act upon. an activity
of the mind which leads all its faculties
into play, into strong energetic action
which, though it faligues, does not en-
feeble. and the mind, after rest, springs
forth refreshed, stronger. and more buoy
ant ready for the conflict Of every day
life. But how with the novel reader, on
ly one faculty of the mind is exercised
while the rest lie dormant these are en-
tirely uncultured, while that is forced in
to such a hot-house growth that it is al
most sure TO be blasted by the harshness
Of real life. After the excitement comes
depression, and languor. dismal and
dreary the mind has nothing real to rest
on. but seemingly sinks away into non
entity, on awakening from which, more
excitement for the Imagination is craved.
depression again experienced. until final
ly comes idiocy or insanity.
Woman's duties to mankind are mani.
fold. The training of the young stands
pre,eminent. In proof of this look at
the noble names in the history of the
world. whose possessors were not asham
ed to stand up in their palmies. days and
ascribe all their greatness and honor to
the direction given 10 their minds in ear
ly life by their mothers. The influence.
| admit, may tend TO evil, be wanting in
many of the points of proper culliva-
ton of the mind. and the restraining in.
tiuence of the passions. and may even
produce the bitter fruit of iniquiy. Still,
where n man has been educated under the
influence ofa fond mother. no matter how
deficient that education may be in other
points. he is not likely to be given to in
humanity in any form. Washington and
Lord Byron are prominent examples of a
mothers training, wisely directed in the
one case. allowed to run wild with the
foibles and follies of the pupil in the 9TH
er. Byron, although wayward in the ex.
treme. yet had that warm. soft sympathy
for poor suffering humanity. which ouly
woman's influence can impart.
The influence Of sister should not b,
forgotten, or lightly esteemed. How
many are there in the world who owe
much. very much, to sisters kindly in,
! iluence. extended over them a. some crit
ical period in their lives. when som,
strong temptation was like to overpowe,
tho feeble termination of good that ha
begun 70 spring up in tho heart Of Low