Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-01-19
From the Cleveland Leader.
EQUAL RIGHTS.
January LIST, 1851.

EGDhL hluhlo' |
The dispatches I frequently receive from the
various workers in this cause contain but little in
the aggregate save encouragement, and indications
of decided progress. The details are voluminous
aud Interesting, but it is needless to give them
The history Of this effort can be read in all the
struggles the world has ever witnessed between
despotic and liberal principles-it is the antOgo-
nism between a mistaken conservatism, and the
progressive tendencies Of an enlightened age. 1t
is always difficult to make the ruler understand
that the rights Of the subject are as sacred as his;
and a still more arduous task to make him com
prehend that they are equal, and exactly like bis
own. He has not been made to feel that his posi-
tion is q false one; and tho wrong he is doing may
be attributed, more perhaps, to q want Of thought,
than a want Of heart.
In this enterprise, however, there is but little
positive controversy. Planting ourselves upon
the Fundamental principles of our government,
those who think they are opposed to US, yield our
claims With discretion. There is no prejudice Of
caste or color against us; there is neither mental
nor social inferiority on the part Of those who de-
mand justice, hence every argument turns upon
'sphero'-that is the only sting left to play
upon.
Now the sphere of every human being is the
place that be or she can FIJI. Napoleon said
The tools to him who can use them" How alb
surd it would have been TO have made Queen Eliz-
abeth q housekeeper when she was every inch a
statesman; or to have tied Maria Theresa to a cook
ing stove, when she was born O commander. ItiS
quite refreshing to turn from tho cowardice and
imbecility CT a Chief Magistrate, who has evident
ly mistaken his sphere, to the vigorous administra'
ton of women. Macsuley thought that james II.
would have made a good clerk in a navy yard, but
was wholly unfit for a throne. Success is the test
of sphere, whether it be in the kitchen, or In the
Cabinet; on the farm. or on the rostrum; in the
workshop, or in diplomatic mission. Mrs. Brown
ing tested her sphere By writing the best poem,
according TO Ruskin,) that has been produced
within a century. Mrs. Summervillo indicates
her sphere By teaching science to The saVans Of our
age. So do Miss Mitchell, and others indicate
theirs. Rosa Bonheur puts to fight all ce7il about
her sphere, by painting animals better than any
other artist, if we except Landseer; while the
sphere Of many q woman, no human being can
doubt, who sees her enjoying that higher life in
the bosom of her own family, infusing her moral
perceptions, and her sense of justice into the
young and plastic minds around her, that they
may 60 forth to bless coming generations.
From the days of Plato down to the present,
there have been learned professors among women,
in astronomy, medicine, the classics, rhetoric
music, poetry, and other departments. Proofs Of
this are abundant in the records of all nations
1t is said that the rarest minds in England and
Germany row yield the point that woman is equa
with man in intellectual e~niGwments. But thu
-..-..1. =, - 80 II ..4.lI,,k ,t;ll onpo1sE1 -
this particular aids US, for those who practically
adopt the principle that might makes right, have
a shadow of justification in their own minds, fol
expressing an inferior class.
The only point, however, at issue, is this: l.
one human being created equal in natural righ;'
10 other human beings? No true American will
deny it, in theory at least, and this places those
who have no sympathy with Us at a wonderful
disadvantage; aud then our social position is such
that it leaves no ground for them to stand upon
Those who ask for justice are their wives and sis
tiers, their neigh6ors and friends. They are womer
who stand up in the dignity of wJmanhood, anC
call upon them either to discard the popular doc
trine that che who digs the gold out Of the eartl
is entitled to it, and that against the universe o
else secure to woman BY statute all she may &C
quire. They are thoughtful, earnest women of al
CLASSES, from the laundress in her plain attire t
those who wear yeiVe. and ermine-the very sam
beings to whom these men make gallant speeches
and to whose influence they often yield as tn
weatherVane to the wind. These women ask 70
legal right to the custody aud guardianship 0
their own children. They beg that if tho stronj
arm upon which they now rely, should be laiC
low, that they be not cast off with the widow
dnwars and thau dannanA for yroman pvapumharI
Abe availS Of their own industry.
Shall 1 30 told that I overstate the case-tha
women themselves are the strongest opposers o
our doctrine 1t is a frightfal carieature they
contend against, and May have not courage to in
~veGtigate and sec what it is. Some, unfortunate
Iy, have not rid themselves yet of the idea that
knowledge of n~eedlework and the composition 0
a pudding should constitute their chief glory an,
highest aAoi1Os. AID hence they dismiss the sab
ieet. But no one can Ger 6 noment believe tia
any woman, ia her senses, does not desire to POS
ssss tAs fruits of her owR Toll, that she discard
the right TO the children Of her love, aud Is eats
Eed vita the miserable provision made for the wid
oM. Il 10 trSe. G6sn. that whether womea con
plata Of the inj ustiee meted out them. whethe
Ehes take time 60 think Of IL, or whether, will
caHstie criticism Of cur measured, they uy T.
psease the other sex. that they 0eee, GO1 ia thei
q heants desire, oil that We claim for them.
J. ELIZABETH JONES.