The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-12-31

/ Iii nothing more encouraging in
her behalf is apparent we may
we'll be inspired by hope. In con
temptation of the fcct of which the
most obtuse eau not be insensible,
that there is abroad in the land, a
more restless unsatisfed spirit OF
free discussions dis; ositiOn to
subject to reason and tull examin-
alton any and all questions affect
ing the interests OF the nasses-of
ail-regardless Of any mere acct
dental differences Of condition--as
well as restless feeling--to
call in controversy the propliety
and the justice of many customs,
that have obtained sanction and
adoption, and continuance, by the
mere force Of almost superstitious
tradition. 1t is in the collision III
mind with mind, in the struggle Of
thought with thought. 1t is in
the strife and actual controversy Of
life-naturai, human, free'-that
valuable truth can be elected, pos
tive facts developed and utilized,
and knowledge rendered promotive
of the highest good to all.
Nay more It is even desirable
that vital important truths-truths
of the gravest import-should be
subjected to question, called in
doubt, to the end that they may
become more vigorous, healthy, and
more firmly established by necessi
tating their defence. Truth, facts,
and their practical application can
not be submitted to too severe an
ordeal Mental torper, intellectual
apathy are the worst enemies Of
all Improvement.
The enfranchisement Of woman,
her elevation to the dignity Of q
human being-the rational devel
opmeEt of all the faculties of hel
mind, and the opening up 10 her Of
all avenues of legitimate employ
ment-to which she is suited and
Of which SHE must be the judge
unrestricted by partial laws, and
untrammeled by despotic customs
can not but be among the assured
results of a near future. Man il
too much given, under the influ-
ence of habit, vicious custom. dis
torted education, to invest woman
with ideal attributes. to remove
from her incentives, motives, to &C
ton, to dwarf her understanding,
to,render her mere thing Of fancy,
fit.only TO dress, ornament and dec
crate her person, to derress every
ennob.ing aspirations, to encour-
age her TO indulge only IN t. cor
stant.round of idleness and folly
for bis capricious amusement, and
in word to degrade her to the
mere scmblance of humanity and
then to dignity (? this caricaturc
with the truly ludicrous t:tle-'wo
mans sphere - and whenever sh {
attempts to assert true womanhood
Ito acquire a better knowledge oil
her duties. with a view to theil
better performance, TO store hoi
mind with the acquisition of useful
information, TO cultivate the iacul
tics OF her mind rationaliy--and in
brief to live and to act az q ration.
al being, and by all accessible
means, by all proper agencies &c
perfect herself morally, physically
and mentally. why then she is
.unsexiDg' herself!! she is trans
cending her sphere Away with
such arrant mockery--such u mis-
application ofwords.
I am induced the more readily
to give the statement Of the Bill
of Rightst of the women referred
TO in my last communication, il
order to exhibit the pitiable weak
| ness of their arguments, of thei
assertions in support Of bad anC
indefensible cause Rutsthea 1 ar
far from certain that their rea
soningT is not fully equal to, ant
that their conduct is not quite a.
| sensible, as the efforts of some IN
.FIBaI men in the same direction.
Under the heading of Woman
Question, there appeared in thu
indianapolis Journal of the 22nt
inst, an editorial ia comm end ator,
| review Of a lecture on Nv oman ant
her physician, delivered recently
in the medical department OF tn;
University Of Louisville, by an n
| d not unknown to LOCAL fame il
| the former city. Well, the afore
said DR.. appears from the review
in question, to have taken the po
clifton that woman hadn't ought
to try TO study and practice medi
cine--that morally and mentally
she 'is anedua. TO the task--quo
ting frcm Moreau's Natural Histo
| ry Of Woman that there are many
/ differences in the physical struc
| ture Of the sexes =! that Anacreon
the Greek poet says, beauty is wo
mans dover, that woman's brain
the organ of the mind, is decided
/ ly inferior in size to mans |! tina
there never have been any grea
women intellectually J.! that fe
males, though having greater
| quickness and superior READINGS.
to learn, don't retain their learn
ing as Welt! that they can no
trace the steps of the solution will
equal .cleaEness and certainty
and by the authority Of some un.
named English author, that woman
cnn I;o Urap6lv that wanna.