Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-12-09
For the Republican.
The "WOnsam's Rights Discuss
sion.


~. Editor:-While listening to the
very spirited discussion on the "Wo-
mans Rights Question" in the public
Iyeeum last Friday evening, l was
not 8 little surprised to notice the di-
rection which public opinion took
If the negative failed, as it seems to
me it did, it was not through lack of
enthusiastic support and sympathy.
One speaker, Judging from the earn
estness with which he was put forward,
is the champion, in Toledo, OF those
who oppose the Woman's Suffrage
movements. To him, therefore, we
gave due attention, expecting tc hear
grave and weighty. arguments. The
reverend gentleman commenced by
wishing that the question could be dis
cussed from the standpoint of Nature
alone. leaving the, Bible and History
out of the discussion; but he did,
nevertheless, so into the Bible ar
gument at some length, and l cannot
bu, think it would have been better
tor the cause he pleaded, if he had let
it alone. l was particularly struck by
his version OF the story of Ahab and
Jezebel, coupled with the assertion that
in the time of the Jews, God held men
accountable, and punished them for,
the sins Of their wives. II the reverend
gentleman believes that, he must also
believe that all unchanging God judges
III the same way now, since woman's
nature is the same in all ages, and SINCE
he wishes her to be kept in the inferior
position she held among the Jews
This would be pleasant and comfor-
table doctrine tor women if they could
be induced 10 believe IN it. Unhappily,
most women of civilized countries be-
lieve they have souls OF their own
He is not, however, alone in his be-
lief. Brigham Young and his apostles
teach most zealously that a woman's
own acts avail her nothing, and that
only through her husband can she at
tain Heaven.
But going back to the account OF
Ahab and Jezebel. Do the facts bear
out the speakers statement? Though
making no pretensions to being q di.
vinely appointed interpreter ct the 81.
bic. as l suppose this gentleman does,
yet l think | can understand plain
story, plainly told; and nowhere in the
Bible, it seems to me, is there clearer
record of individual punishment tor
individual sin than in this narrative
TO Ahab it is said, "In the place where
dogs licked the blood OF Nabo,h shall
dogs lick thy blood" OF Jezebel it is
said, THE dogs shall eat Jezebel by
the wall Of Jezreel." And note the
fulfilling of the prophecies, Ahab dies
by what is always considered an hon
orablc death-a wound received on
the battle field, and the dogs merely
licked the blood which flowed to
his chariot floor. But how different
and how terrible the fate OF Jezebel
In the height of her own power and
glory. and that of her sons, she was
suddenly berett Of those sons and then
hurled into the street to be trodden by
horses and eaten by dogs. Surely, if
Jezebel's sins were great, God held
her to account for them all. And nu-
merous are the instances in the Bible
which show that God looked upon wo-
wan as en- individual human soul, and
requited her deeds accordingly.
Leaving this to get upon the stand
point Of nature. Does the gentleman
really wish that We should go back to
brute nature chat is the only nature
he spoke OIL as guide in our social
affairs: There Brigham Young is with
him again, who models his household
so closely after the brute system that
he does not know his own children.
M.