The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1860-10-04
Female Patriotism.

Female Patriotism.
In one of our exchanges (the Southern Guard
any writer gives the sentiments of lady who
speaks for her sex in spirited terms in opposition
to submission in the event of the election of Lin
coin. In answer to gentleman who feared thai
submission would be the policy Of the South she
said:
..if this be so, turn over the Government to us,
and we he women OF the South) will see to it that
our households are protected from that outrage
and violence, from which it seems our husbands,
brothers, &c., are too craven to protect US"
What dastardy submissionist does not feel re-
buked by such sentiments coming from woman
the creature man is accustomed to regard as the
weaker vessel, and as timid and lrresoulute mere
" because she manifests spasmodic excitement at
beholding bugs and spiders, or any of the reptile
oenus. We presume that it is natural for woman
to have an antipathy for serpents, for the reason
that one deceived Old Mother Eve and caused her
to lose that beautiful home which the sex SO much
prize But how different are the feelings ana ac-
tions of woman when her country IS wronged
when her household is invaded and her rights are
wont to be sacrificed by ruthless soldiery? Wo-
man does not shrink from danger and suffering in
the darkest hours of her countrys peris. With
the spirit of Il Boadicia or Zcnobia, though led
captive by naughty conquerer, she will not speak
words of submission. Her patriotism lasts as
long as the arm be nerved for vigorous effort or
the tongue is capable of telling the language Of the
soul.
Happy is it for man, in his present degenerate
state, that amid the gloom that has been wrought
in human character, that the love of country still
remains in woman's heart. Her influence cannot
be estimated. Some OF the greatest political OF
religious resolutions recorded in history are at
tributablc TO woman. To woman Rome owed
the abolition of regal dignity, and the establish
,ncnt of the Republic; to woman she owed her
delivery from the tyranny of the decemviri, and
the restoration of the consular government and to
a woman she owed that change of constitution by
which the plcbians became capable of holding the
HIGHEST Offices of Government. "Shc knows her
rights. and will dare maintain them" This is the
spirit that actuatcl mothers in the revolution
ary struggle. There are instances i'll the history
of that struggle illustrative Of the traeness OF wo
man to her country's cause. Oftentimcs when
husbands and brothers had deserted their coun-
try's standard, their wives and sisters perillcd
their lives and domestic happiness in the cause Of
liberty.
TO the honor of the sex that spirit yet livcth TO
LIGHT the sun of liberty. There many who will
resist any attempt to place the negro upon social
and political equality with the white man, When
she reads of the patriotism and devotion OF such
women MS Margaret Elliot, Eliza Wilkinson. Mar
tha Bratton Jane Thomas, Dorcas Richardson
Elizabeth Grace and Rachel Martin, her soul is
filed with desire to emulate their virtues their for
titude and patriotism. When she reads
..The mothers Of our forest land stout hearted
danes were they,
With nerve to WELD the battle Brand and join the
border fray;
To load tho sure old rifle to the lcadcn balls,
And watch battling husbands place and fill it
should he fall -
she can but be moved to follow their examples
when our country and rights invaded.
But notwithstanding our confidence in woman S
PATRIOTISM we aresnot yet willing for her to have
Govcl..- s ;i:l1 cTJ IN:
tgi;cdi form OF government on the western hemis-
phc-e so far as IRE kaow. We fear that her gov
crnmcrt would SAVIOR of tyranny in the rcmem-
br;.nce Of he many wrongs she has suffered at the
hands Of sex.
Then, Woman be content to exert your in
fucncc i'll your present sphere, arouud the fire.
side encourage your cowardly husbands, sons
and brothers. Teach them how to stand up in de-
fence Of their coun.ry's rights, and how to resist
Black Republican rule.