The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-11
MES. EORToN,s POSITION.
What the Indy Said at the W0man's Suffrage
Mceting-What Imagination Might Lead

hcelin&-What Amaxiaaoon Mixnt Acaa
To.
NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 1850.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HRRALD:-
Icoud bear the false report by tho World or yes
terday OF what said at the Suffrage meeting with
some degree OF equanmity, because believed II TO
be Misrepresentation on the part or the reporter
rather than an Intentional msstatement but when
you. VINO have been 30 JUST to me In times past,
take up the o1lous sentence from the Word and
bazon forth editorlay the entire continent,
two continents, as q fact 1t Is too much for even
my courage to Withstand.
or course you do not know but that it is true.
tell you 1t Is not The fact this:I sald ~ con.
tend that Mrs. Blake has no right to quote French
laws or any other laws Tor that matter, unless IN
dong 80 she can prove that the condition OF women
under those la VS. worse than II Is at present;
that II the domestic relations were peace I'll and sat
lsiactory 10 them there was no sense nor logic In
quoting the laws under wnlca they lived. Iwant
nothing lett 10 inference or 'lmaglnaton' give us
the results OF those laws upon the people.n Further
more, In regard to the children OF divorced parents
"a mother guards her young and children better
oil aWay from both parents tnan 10 DC reared under
the baleu influence OF incessant cling and dis
content.n And VIII add here That the cvli of this
nlneteenth century lies In the simple ana sole fact
that We are trying 20 lit an as5's head TO an eagles
body, thereby making an unnatural connection
against whica nature revuits. Mans stupidity may
prevail for time and While 1t does nature will find
an outlet IN excuses and crimes. New conditions
demand new laWs-nOt q rehash OF cid One5-and
1t Is the very transcendentasm OF thckskuled asst
ninity to predicate present needs upon past prac-
tees, or ancient customs, or old laws
logical and conclusive argument for or against
any reform must be based upon present conditions
and present needs, and the only warranable ground
upon which to quote is IN showing how TAR the facts
OF the past viii sustain assent or dissent from the
point OF argument. In SUCH connection ''lmaglna-
tlon'' can have no part, but, on the contrary, is
superfluty and marplot Mrs. Blake stated the fact
OF lax laws III France, and also said That as conse
quence OF those laws women could not go anywhere
without meeting six or eight divorced husbands,
ana added that she would leave 1t TO our 'lmaglna-
tlon" what the consequences must have been.
Now In the space OF about two ticks Of the clock
could imagine the air Oiled with flying legs and
arms OF conLendlng jealous husbands and partisan
wives; but my Imagination would not make /. 20.
neither would anybody e.ses. Hence ny assertion
that II they were contented II u or bust.
ness by what laws they gained their contentnent II
not, then what are the Iacts upon winch the oppO-
slton to our argument Is Daseda This was my
point and said nothing whatever Ike that quoted
III your editorial, and nothing which could be dis
tored TO mean IL unless sfted through the Drain OF
somebody whose own mind took that direction. by
giving space TO the above you Will be both just and
generous. SARAH I. NOhfUN.