The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-31
CHI A r L E ST ON.
SATURDAY MORNING. JULY 81, 1869.
the Woman Question.

The Woman Question. t4,
The SUByEoTIoN OF WOMEN. BY John Stuart
Mill. New York: D.. Appleton & Go. Charles
ton: John Russell.
1t is not easy to sum up in a few sentences
tho condensed reasoning Of Mr.. Mills essay
on the Subsection of Women; but its whole
purpose is defined in the first page, where
the author announces his intention Of ex
planning the grounds Of an opinion which
he has held with constantly increasing
strength Of conviction s.That the princi-
''ple which regulates the existing social re-
Citations between the two sexes-the legal
''subordination Of one sex to the Others g
"wrong in itself, and is now one Of the chi, (
''hindrances to human Improvement; al d
''that it ought to be replaced by q principle
''of perfect equality, admitting no power
"og1privilege on the one side, nor disabil-
city on the other" The essay is divided
into four chapters. The first is intended 60
rebut the general presumption against the
truth Of his theories. Mr.. Min ergaing that
there has never been an experiment Of any
other than the existing systcu,, that thu u.-
-.--~~ ~ wamen on men is relic of
oarbarous times, that we know little pnlIe- :
sophically as to the nature Of women, and
that if they are disqualified by nature from
any employments, we may trust to free
competition to find it out. In the second
chapter Mr.. Mill points out what are the
particular social arrangements Of which he
complains, showing that the most promi-
nent evil is the state Of the marriage law,
which gives the husband absolute rights
over the person and property Of his wife
This arbitrary power causes many evils;
but when ''two people ride horse one must
''sit behind" Mr.. Mill, however, says
that voluntary partnerships do not neoes
sarily imply that one partner is to have the
entire control, although such q principle
would be less dangerous in cases where the
union may be dissolved at will. The third
chapter is designed to prove the capacity
OF women for profitting by the propos, d
changes, and the final chapter is an answ,
to IN" question, what definite good result, 6
are to be anticipated?
The whole essay displays in high de-
gree the power of logical arrangement, the
capacity for COMPRISING into few pages
the essence 2f~a long train of thought, and
the fullness and, weightiness Of style for
which Mr.. Mill is distinguished; and it is
marked by an almost passionate enthusi-
asm in the cause which he advocates. The
work is one Of great power; but Mr.. Mill
has neglected to answer the strongest ar
gument that can be brought against him
ne has discussed marriage with scarcely
any reference to sexual morality. This
omission tells also against the argument for
the free admission Of women to professions.
Women will, 1t is true, only take to those
trades where they can make money; but it
does not follow that they viii avoid trades
which are demoralising, though not unprof-
liable. When women are made in everv
way the equals Of men they will no longer
nave claim upon the care and protection
OF men. They must shift for themselves,
and no legislation will be sufficient to save
them from obvious dangers. These c,n-
alterations are overlooked by Mr.. Mill, and
his book, though full Of generous feeling.
10 open to this objection. While we have
NO desire to see women dabbling in politics.
or treading the rougher walks Of life, we
should wish to giverthem every privilege
necessary to their comfort and security
The agitation on the subject will naturally
lead in the direction Of chan sing the mar.
riage laws and Of giving to women nro.
teotion against wrong, as we'll az tho ripht
TO enjoy their own Inherited or acquired
possessions. This is worth striving for,
and in later years Mr.. Mill's sspe-imen.
may be tried without dapgey. In the mean
while, those who are interested In the dis.
cussion Of one Of the great questions Of
the day may proAtably read the essay en-
1.-The Sabjection Of Women"
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