Smyrna times., 1869-06-16
MiSceIIUN ~ e OWS.
IFor the Smyrna Times.l
SUFFRAGE FOR WOMEN.

Mr.. Editor The subject at the head of
this article is one that is fast becoming an abb
sOrbing question and, willing or unwilling,
must be met. 1t is not only time that the cob
webs of superstition, but the stronger meshes
of error that have arrested and held back the |
wanted progress of our race for centuries
should be sundered, and bid the mind 60 on
in its search after truth, right and justice, un-
trammeled assured that it will find it, though |
it should perchance wander into devious by |
paths and wearily have to retrace its steps, |
The ages Of the past have been ages of des- |
pOtism-the children of one generation slaves
to the opinions and prejudices of the preced |
ing one; and such is this power in most of the
old countries that the inhabitants are living
over the same semi barbarous habits of their
ancestors of four thousand years ago. The Car
meitcs of to-day are scarce Y one whit different
from the inhabitants of Mount Carmel in the
days of Elijah the Tishbite.
| But, Mr.. Editor, it is proper for me 10 pre-
mise, before going further, that l do not wish
| to compromise you or the Times, in any way,
| to the subject, or cause any reflection upon
| your journal from any narrow minded indi-
vidual. Many persons have given the subject
but passing thought, and you may be one Of
that number. Whether so or not, | suppose
that the Times has an independence beyond
that point which shuts down upon everything
as unclean that does not square with the pro-
vincial ideas of life time.
The avarice Of man in the low state of his
mental and moral perceptions from the begin,
ming OF the race, so obtained the mastery of
him, as to bring nearly everything having any
influence on his sensibilities into a sembance
or actual condition of servtude. This feeling
entered not only into the daily business of his
life, and his polity of government, but also in
to the sacred relations of his domestic life, and
even shaded the higher sentiments of his re-
ligiOus life 1t is strange that this is so, and
still stranger that it is more than eighteen CEN
turtles after the birth of the Reformer of Re-
fOrmers-the study of whose transcendent vir-
+ tues has no doubt been stimulated by such
works as Ecce Homo and Ecce DeuS-that we
! are beginning to realize the value of the life
and principles that are to lead us from the
SerUitude Of the past to the freedom Of the future
Personal freedom is vital and integral part Of
Christianity. Christianity first introduced to
man the doctrine of individual liberty and in.
n dividual responsibility, and he who will care
fully read the tragic life of the great Master
will find that from Cana to Cavalry, the re-
. spoHsiblity of man and aconldn IS no lchcrt
dirided Woman, whether she will or not
must accept the divinely appointed and correla
, tive responsibility of free moral agent, and
no man can attempt to limit her conscientiou.
!. activities in any direction without assuming {
g prerogative belonging only to Deity. Mission
/. aries in heather countries are never weaTy
; in calling upon the women of Christian cotln
tries to rejoice over their mancipation from
bondage, and he must be an Uniformed mai
who does not know that just as Individuals
societies and nations, shut out the great ligh
set in the moral heavens by the Christ, in tn
same ratio they degrade woman, demoraliz
! themselves and reeede to barbarism Some
times mems feelings are moved with a sympa
thy for the sorrows of the weaker SEX" bu
with the most it is but the sentiment of mo
ment They are associated with certain rela
tions of life, and there is scarcely thought G
#. according them capabilities for higher.
The great benefit to be derived from tn
agitation of this subject is the elevation of tn
'r sex to a higher plain of responsibility, anC
conseqently usefulness. Woman has later
but unrecOgnized powers Whenever this
,o the case, the true point of safety is open r.
C. sponsibiHty.. The ballot, for the sake of II
cr ballot simply in political sense, is not I'll
nd question. The subjects of State policy
liberalized countries is usually safe with IL
ed men. But the question Of individual RICH
- and public morals is quite another thing. POI
OK sang that .......
"The greatest enemy of mankind is man."
and all history shows that the /" Lords
Creation" wherever they have the power, W
use it, whatever Of misery decentralization oil
~ death may follow in the train of their misd
z ings. Before the refining influences of civi
cation exercised control over the code of n
tions, conquered provinces were either put to 4
sword, or reduced to the most abject servitud
the women particularly, having no righ
which their brutal cOnduerors were bound
respect 1t is but little better to-day in Orie
tai countries Women have no position,
elevated employmcnt--their life only one
drudgery, and the wife but the mistress Of
,y Harem. The knght-errantry Of the midC
- ages was much the same, though oman imprC
ed scale; the 9 fair laydie p being little mc
49, than vtalized toy that challenged the dari
q of the adventurous knight.
Why is it that there is So much of vaDi
Ii emptiness and prohgacy among the You
aol women of this and European countries? WI