Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-09-25
From the Chicago Times.l
A Btprcnu for Women.

A cotemporary OF the newspaper press
suggested not long since the establishment
OF a Government bureau, which should
charge itself with the interests of four mil
lion of poor women who are found in this
country. 1t was argued that if we can af-
ford bureau for the care of the same
number of starving negroes, we can, in a
philanthropic view, much better afford the
same thing with reference to weak, helpless
white women. ||| -''. HE
1t is probable, that in broaching the idea
OF a bureau for women, the thing was done
as a burlesque upon that department under
charge of General Howard. A very large
element in the population of this country
Is composed of Women who depend upon
their own labors for support, and who, all
their lives, travel along the line which di-
vides bare existence and starvation. They
are the white slaves of our social system,
with the difference between them and the
African bondmen that their condition is in
finitely worse, vastly more degrading, and
accompanied by greater sufferings. These
women equal in number the negroes just
released, from slavery, and they include
larger amount of misery than belongs to
African servitude, even mi its worst days in
the Southern States. ..-.-r.r, -...--.,.-a
If the freedmen have claim upon us on
account of their number and helplessness,
how much more strongly do the same things
appeal to our humanity iu the case of these
white womenp If it be Christianly and le
gal to employ the machinery of the Govern
ment to relieve the healthy black freedmen,
why not as much so to use the same means
to relieve the urgent necessities of white
bondwomen? If the former is benevolent
and constitutional, the latter would be
equally so; If the Federal Government has
the authority to assist the broad -shOuldered
negroes of JEFF. Davis, who worked for their
living and were owned by their master, we
see no reason why it may not likewise re-
lieve the emaciated white slaves of Moses
Abrahams, who work for less than living,
and own themselves. Clearly, then, if hui
manity requires and the Constitution per-
mits the establishment of freedmen's bu-
reau, there exists the same reason and the
same consent for the organization of one
having for its province the affairs of poor
women.
We do not by this course Of reasoning de-
sign to indorse the efficiency of the bureau
already in existence, or that of the pros
pective or prOblematical one which should
charge itself with the interests of labOring
white women. The first named, while be-
i0g meritorious in theary, is faulty in prac-
tce, and though Ostensibly designed for the
benefit of freedmen, is in reality largely
used for the advancement of the mendcan-
cy of the dominant political party. Its pro-
fessed objects OF relief are freed negroes;
its real object is the support of impoverish-
ed politicians.
If we could construct for the benefit of
our poor women bureau which would
possess in practice all the merits appertain-
| ing to the theory OF the present bureau, and
which, while selecting all the virtues of the
other, should copy none OF its faults, then
would we have something which would be
a credit to our humanity, and substantial
benefit to those in whose interests it would
be created. But we despair of obtaining
any such result, at least at present. Ii we
do secure it, it will be when the Democrat
ic party has resumed the national manage
ment, and there are men available for the
bureau who possess this necessary virtue,
nobility, benevolence and sympathy. A sue
cessful, valuable women's bureau would be
about as practicable now as the establish
ment of safe powder-house in the infer
| nal regions. 200
1t is therefore useless, as philanthropic
! measure to attempt at present to establish
bureau for women. To be effective for
anything except the purposes OF political
! partisanship, it must be deferred until the
days which shall restore the integrity, pur-
| ity and unselflshness of Democracy. Till
that time we know of no remedy, that will
materially ameliorate the condition of poor
laboring women. Women have always de-
| veloped great capacity for, as well as en-
! durance OF, suffering; twill not, therefore,
be worse for them than usual,lf they con-
tinue to suffer until the philanthropic DEM
ocratic party shall come into power, and
shall be able to devise and execute compre-
hensive measures for their relief. Prior to
that period, life will be to them probably
what it was to Mr.. Matilini-"a demnition
grind;" and the most we can say about it
| is, that it will not become amy less grind"
before the advent of Democracy, even
if it should after that much-to- be-desired
/ event