The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-28
TIE ROMEN,S RIqHTs QUESTION.



TO 0.e Bciisor of ne bOenfl0 Telegroph;-
Many newspapers (THE EVENING TELE.
GRAPH amongst them) are taking up WIN hp,
PTons nf Wonen and are treating Doth with
earnest and respectful consideration Even
tho Sc who sneer at "woman's rights" (as they
understand tbem), honestly allow that women
dosufTer from some wrongs that need redress.
Almost ali people who have given the subject
any attention al ali, are obliged to knowledge
that some women are forced into positions
which necessitate a battle with the world, aud
are quite willing that those who are obliged TO
labor for their own support should be enabled
to do so with more easr and comfort than IL has
been In the past, and IS in the present, their lot
to know.
It's true that the fogies, in whose ranks may
be found many of the reverend clergy, ignore
This class altogether, and say, with Rev: Dc.
Todd, that "the root of the great error OF our
day is that woman is TO be made independent
and t-supporung-precisely what she never
can be- because God never designed she should
be. Her support her dignity. her beauty and
mother and daughter"
10 this subject of independence versus pau
perism Tor women l have devoted much care
ful consideration for the past fifteen or eighteen
years, and after thorough investigation, tnlnk
ihut ibe cause which has produced more of
mi cry and prostitution amongst women than
any other or all others combined, is TO be
found in the prnmulgation of such sentiments
fhe community, that "God never designed
woman to be made self supporting or tnde-
The best way to lift women out OF the "Slough
of Despond" which threatens to engult them,
aud place them IN positions OF safety and use.
fulness is q matter which may well and
WOrtbiiy engage the public mind.
Not long ago a writer in the New York sun
suggested thai practical business men help TO
form cooper alive associations for women,
similar to those which flourish amongst work
inpmen and also entreated the friends of suE
feIing WomanhOod to throw open or invent
new employ yments for females. To the sugges
tlon Of co operative societies, would say thaJ
the main obstacle to their success rests with
women themselves-they have, as a rule, not
sufficient business tact to control such organl-
cations, and in the present state OF fe'
male intellectual development. not suffi-
cient mental calibre to understand either
their design or proposed results BESIDES
this, women have no confidence In Others
of the ir own sex, and any femaleWho valued her
reputation would hesitate long before accepting
the position of President, Secretary or Urea
surer of any organization controlled by and de-
signed to benefit working women. Vhey never
give credit to their sisters for purely disinte-
Tested motives and, earning and handling only
small sums of money, they have not 1atth TO
believe that those entrusted with large amounts
can possibly resist the opportunity of appro-
priating q portion Of 1t TO their own uses:
therefore think 1t mere folly to talk of trades
unions or business combinations for women,
until they are educated into broader and more
intelligent views and business habits.
AS for the inventing new trades and employ
ments Tor them, that is equally foolish, as the
luxuries or necessities OF society alone can
create the demand for new branches of labor
No one can expect success In the invention OF.
q trade not demanded by the wants of the COM
munity Indeed, there is no dearth OF occupa-
ton at present for man or woman Throughout
the length and breadth of the land the prolific
earth is offering abundance of healthful, remu-
neTative, and manly occupation for men, whilst
there are dozens of the lighter mechanical
trades which may and will be opened to women
whenever they are mentally and physically
fitted to take them and until they do qualify
themselves to fill them, they will and should be
kept out of them. A woman's necessities, how
ever much they may appeal to the sympathies,
do not entitle her to take rank with compe-
tent person in Office or mandatory. The fact
that she is starving on needlework at twenty
or thirty cents per day (Which would be better
paid If it were better done), does not make it
imperative upon the humane and just to take
her into printing, telegraph, or other offices at
When women are, by proper training, pre-.
Same shops with men-when, by an apprentice
ship OF the same duration to the same trade,
| they are able to accomplish an equal amount of
| work as well as skilled artisans-then, and not
until then, should they expect or wish to receive
| the same pay. There should be no sex in labor,
| and no matter how strong feeling of chivalry
| may exist among men towards women IN social
relations, in matters of business equal and
| exact Justice is all that should be desired and
all that is really desirable. 1t is simply prepos-
| ferrous for women to go as learners for three or
| six months into printing or telegraph Office,
| and at the end of that time expect TO receive
! the same paw as the mechanic who understands
| every detail OF a business which he has spent
| five or seven years to acquire.
| The gist of the matter is just this:-Parents
(no matter how hard they may have worked
| themselves), accepting as gospel the teachings
| of their pastors, who proclaim all efforts TO
| render women Independent as opposed to the
| "honor, beauty, and dignity" of the sex, as
| well as to the design of God, bring up their
| female children 10 be useless ana uepenQenIi
| and when these unfortunates, by the death or
marriage of male relatives, are cast upon the
| troubled waters of life, they hnd themselves
| without chart or rudder, sail or compass, and
too often drift helplessly and hopelessly to de-
| siTuction.
| The only way to elevate them above the
| chance of such disaster is TO educate them Tor
the poss biities of life rather than It's prooaol-
| lities; TO bring them up not alone for the 'com-
| ing man." but for the coming reyerses, trials
| and temptations that may be their lotto IN
| struct them that God intended them to be
| co-laboqerS 1Oith and helps-neet for man, mol
| mere parasites to weaken and destroy-that
| woman who has no obligations as wife, mother
| or daughter, to contine her to home duties (thar
| which none can be higher or more imperative)
| is as much true womanly woman in office
| or workshop as in drawing-room or Kitchen
| aud more to be honored when she takes
| her place as helpful and intelligent worker
| beside her brother man, than when she con
| sents to remain burthen upon him, to cripple
| and retard his upward progress. NJ. A. o.
| The Presidents Thanksgiving Proc lamatiOn
BY the President of the United States:-
PROCLAMATION.