The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-04-01
A REPLY TO THE "AGlTATED."

REPLY TO THE "AGlTATED."
T. W. Higginson in a recent article
upon woman suffrage, says: sit must
be admitted that the argument has
been, thus far, entirely on tho women's
side. It is an alarming feature of this
discussion, that it has reversed very
generally, the traditional positions of
tho sexes; the women have all the
logic; and tho most intelligent men,
when they have attempted the other
side have limited themselves to satire
and gossip"
The readers of The JOURNAL have
striking proof of the truth of at least |
the latter part of this sentence, in the
attempted satire.shall say? Of some
agitated one, who assumes tho feminine
dress as impcrfectly as did memorable
fugitive from justice, tho unmistakable
boots showing beneath all DISCUSSES.
MIR. Agitated cites as direful results
OF agitation, Brigham Young, and the
wives Of Henry the Eighth. Examples,
1 should think scarcely likely to be
used by one who so evidently favors
woman's continued subjugation, as the
system Of the one, and the experience
Of the others, show the extent to which
mans tyranny under favoring cir
cumstances sometimes reach. He also
exhibits remarkable familiarity with
Lucifer and his position in Pandemoni-
UNI declaring that he attained that Pc
sition by agitation. I anu happy to
believe it was not the agitation of the
suffrage question, but must defer to
superior wisdom for information in all
such matters.
1t is somewhat suggestive of our
writer's lack of material, that in at
to mpting to illustrate the evil effects Of
agitation, he in every case save one, re-
fcrs to instances of over weaving love
of power and self-aggrandizement; as
witness, Lucifer, Alexander, Napoleon,
whom no one, not even themselves,
imagined to have the good of others at
heart, or aught except selfish and pure
ly personal interests; remaining silent
concerning Moses, the great agitator.
Luther, whom more than one clerical
diguitary warned of winning for him.
self an uuenviable "distinction;" Crom'
we'll, aud the trainers of the Declaration Of
Independence; and later still, the brave
men and women who so persistantly
} through lite, and in death, protested
: against our Nations crimes and with {
conservative horror Of agitation in
general, falls to discriminate between
those aggressive usurpers Of power
whom millions cursed as the destroyer
: of thcir liberties, and the murderers G
their sons and daughters, and those tru'
agitators who, throughout the civilizet
S world, have wrought the various grada
: tons Of change from despotism to de
mocracy, and are fast securing to tn
d people the largest civil and religion
liberty.
The idea thai cwoman is bonn t
e flourish in the shade" &C., though nc
it the perfection Of poetical expression
l. yet contains far more poetry than trut
j. or reason. If the poet had but locke
,, about him, he would have seen tn:
{, human beings, as well as plants
L invariably become weak, colorless an
t.. dropping, insipid and aimless, by to
much shade that the ife-giving sui
8 invigorating air, and ample space al
e essential to attain vigorous and health
Y growth. And it is because We desi1
l. this growth for women, we ask thu
t. all her energies may be developed, an
E, her capabilities increased. To this emf
u We ask that all suitable employment
'e may be thrown open to her; that CIR
be freely admitted to our colleges, an
ed it they feel called to preach, to practie
, at the bar, or as physicians, let thc'
- have the same assurance of support an
! encouragement that young men Of lik
b abilities would receive.
r. The insane fear manifested Lex
&c women gaining the ballot, shall furth{
: desire to command armies and navic
f. build forts and railroads, is entire]
in without weight, except with those ON
y, sided natures who are unable to pc
10 ceive the beautiful harmony Of natur
ut laws, which, selfajusting, always sati
4 fly their own requirements. Take cou
" age brother, and defer your needle
- anxiety, until women having exhauste
II higher vocations, ask to lead armi
nt and navies, or until they threaten
wrest the spade aud pickax from Il
,er hands of the Irish laborer. But mea
while, see that you withhold no polite
aud civil privilege granted to men, wi
physically disqualified for the