The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-03
REFORM CLUB.
Marriage and the Ballot for Womcn-Essny
by lIrs. :. +. Norton.


by iIrs. =. Il. Norton.
The regular iortnighty meeting OF the club which
formed for the free discussion by both sexes OF
general topics HaS held last evening at Plimpton
Building. There was lair attendance OF elderly
gentlemen, with the usual congregation OF ancient
workers in the cause OF women's right
Mrs. S. T. NORTON was the first to ascend the
rostrum, and without much delay proceeded 10 set
forth her views upon stne important subject OF
marriage. she, of course, protested vigorously
against the right of property in women. What
was marriage? That excellent history called
the Bible clearly indicated what 1t was considered
In those days whn that was written by the con-
sonantly recurring phrase stock her to wifen and
'siven him TO wed," she always as the subjective
and he the possessive. There was the property
idea; neither the rae nor the inference had changed
and following 1t out DOWN to the present day 1t
found that marriage in its nodded form meant
simply the SUD- ecilen OF one person to another and
that person always the woman. The speaker be-
eved IN marriage and her idea OF true marriage was,
nrst suitable age second the absence VI all mer-
cenary motives; tnrd on the agreement mat the
WIFE sinai rule the misunderstanding at
gree wnicn viii compromise their equanimity
or their Individual freedom; fourth that the purse
be equally divided between them; dfth, when they
mn they have mistaken each other and there Is no
prospect OF permanent peace between them that
they win separate by mutual consent; tnaJ the law
sanction the separation proof that any OF these
contracts nave been violated ana that Society ap-
prove She advocated that the parties marry them
selves by each repeating the same formula, ana,
lastly, ia the equal rights and responsibilities which
tnat ormr.a orcshadows. The more intellectual
the present marriage obligation-namey, that
Obligation to society which competed peo-
pie TO 1--we together and waste their
lives in the vain effort to assmilare, when apart
both might become grand ana noDle 10 somebody
else ana Sso Of soce Eye gay we
luz out OF the idea OF property right in woman.
The most lanentaole incident OF mat nature was
the case of Albert ID. Richardson, now dead Now,
there was woman mentally cultivated TO outgroW
her husband. Tue knowledge she acquired rom
year to year would In oil probability nave brought
with IL sufficient wisdom 10 have enabled her to bear
the disappointment OF her husbands nondeVelop-
ment for the sake 81 her children anu socsy put ne
put it out or power TO do so oy committing acts
OF violence against herself 10 the extent 81 arousng
the dormant feeling OF resignation to one OF active
contempt ani resistance against q iatc Wnlcn sue
could see no Just reason for submitting TO- inc iacts
were that went every night TO me Winter Garden
to earn ner bread and his. she was compeHed 10 so
and return alone save when some chance OF re-
turning acquaintance offered an escort. Her nus
nanying her 10 her place OF labor; society would
tolerate any other company ior hei, anu
neither Would nga n What &c should ssn sne o s
Would society erect a suitable building Tor the IN
generation OF women similarly situated and pledge
Itself 10 support them as well as they would support
thenseivesf Away with that unjust and ungracious
prejudice against equal freedom for women. Mrs.
Norton proceeded to state the facts IN relation
20 the Richardson case, and considered that had
Mcfarland been mau OF sense he would at once
have recognized the folly OF attempting TO regain his
wlfe's allenated affections by force. She Thought
tnat free love was perfectly proper, since love
itself must be Iree she would not have
the law grant divorce on the mere asking, but
when the oonas nad become so utterly unbearable
that an honorable and conscientious person would
brave the law and society rather than endure nate
fu bondage longer Let the law sanction her course
and tnat speedily. Mrs. Norton concluded by earn
esty advocating womans rights generally and her
claims 10 the ballot.
Mrs. MCKINLEY was the next speaker, and in the
course OF spirited address endeavored TO show thas
women had perfect right to give applause when
prompted by impulse to do 3d. she objected 70 90
merely included when the male portion OF an Au-
dience manifested their appreciation.
After brief discussion as to the questions at issue
the meeting was brought " o closa