New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-12
10 THE WOMEN or NEW-YORK CITH

There are two classes Of benevolent persons in this
City. both aiming to relieve large numbers OF
wronged and suffering women and yet each Is act
ing on principles diverse from those OF the other ana
these principles ought to be clearly made known.
One class maintains that the ballot is natural
right ofa that it is unu5tly withheld from women
while il is a powerful method by which they can
| remedy their Wrongs The other class assumes That
nothing is right which is contrary to the 0es' goo"
of society," that the exctements OF politics ana ONCE
seeking would withdraw interest from the moro lu-
portant duties of woman, now too much hegiecteu,
would be contrary to the best good oil society ana
therefore that the ballot is not right unJusty
! withheld from woman
Again one party claims that the wrongs OF Woman
which they would remedy caused by unjust GUS
toms and laws which can be remeded only by giving
| IN woman the law-nallng power. The other party
hold that the chief cause OF these evils IL neglect IN
| training woman for tho many difficult and sacred
duties of her profession chief educator OF child
| hood aud prime minister of the family state duties
! which demand as much science skill and training, as
the most i0uored professions OF men. And because
science and training are not snparted, these duties
| arc di,honOrcd, poorly rcmuucrated aud conSe-
mently pass into the hands of the ignorant ana yn-
gar aud are summed dsgracetul By the cultivated
| aud refined.
! Again: one party maintains chat women are now
| held in dsgraceful slavery BY men, who will not
loosen their bOnd-layes until forced to do so by Law"
The other party deny the existence Of any such bond
age aud claim that appeals to reason, conscience
and Affection will secure more than laws can do; and
that such an OpprobnOus charge against men Is not
| ouly unjust but very mpotic especially when seek
| ING advantages from those thus stigmatZed.
Again: "A large portion of tue advocates for woman
suffrage (another portion dissening maintain thar
marriage rs now sustained by custom, laws ana the
| Church involves the worst kind of slavery to
| woman, and that these should be so changed that
persons unsutably mated not only may separate. but
for this alone may marry again without social
civil or ecclesiastical censure and that. when woman
| gains the law-makng power. this change Will be
made Tile other party hold that.marriage involves
power TO the strong that may oppress the weak, as
much for woman, who controls children and servants
most of the dav rs for man. whose business keeps
| him from home. Also. that q wOmans superior moral
power to control and oppose husband equals any
advantage the husband gains by superior physical
strength and civil laws III his favor. Also. that the
harmony of tho universe depends on the duties OF
subordnalon that Jesus Christ came to set the ex-
ample of their fulfillment when he took the form
of a servant" and for thirty years was "subject to
| his parents"-that the wIfe's subordinaion in the
| family is no more "a degradation than that Of the
husbands when subordinate to employers and civil
magistratcs-that woman is trained daily at home
| for the duties Of ruler. while most men have no
other opportunity for such training except in their
own families; that where true love untes there is
commanding or obeyng on either side, but where it
does not man is the higher power" whom all are to
| obey or children and servants become conflicting
paltsans and physical power will be the final resort
The grand remedy for all the evils incident to the
marriage state is to educate Alright so that she
| will discharge her high duties with entire success
For when mothers train and daughters to obey
all the laws of health Ito temperance to healthfu
industry. to selfdenying love, and especially to
gard this life, not as season of ease and pleasure
but as the period of trial. discipline and labor to
prepare our whole race Gods dear children for his
| eternal nome. the evils now exasperatng in the
marriage state will be ended. Then the strong W i'll
bear the intrmitics of the weak, and not please
themselves" and husbands will love their wives not
only "as themselves but AS Christ loved the
Church," that they WILL by toll and self-sacrifce
strive to elevate and ennoble woman and lend her
every needful aid for her supernal duties.
There are certain questions which have been often
discussed with this subject that are not necessarily
connected with it; such as whether woman may not
speak to public meeting with the same proprlety
TO sing to t-Or whether Scripture warrants her
acting as public religious teacher-Or whether to
escape poverty she may not enter any lawful bust
ness-Or whether she may have a voice when her
property is taxed-or whether she shall be appointed
to certain offices connected with her profession such
as public schools and charitable and penal nstitu.
tons. All these questions may be settled either
alternative without conflicting with great principles
that sustain the family state and the authority of the
sacred Scriptures.
The American Woman's Educational Association
was organized before the agitation for woman
suffrage prevailed. Its aim is to remedy woman's
wrongs by increased educational advantages, es-
pecally by establishing Institutions TO train women
for domestic and industrial pursuits suited to her sox
and also to secure to those thus trained az liberal
compensation men gain in their professions.
Ii is now proposed To make one experiment that
will test tho merits of the two plans 1t is assumed
by the managers Of the A. w. l.. Association.
that just and patriotic men are not only willing,
but anxious to provide for the best good Of
ton of thom shall decide what il is. and unite In
seeking it, that all which il asked will be gladly be-
slowed. The question is how TO gain united ex-
preston Of their opinion and wishes ln order to do
this several ladies' invited from all denominations
have unanimously approved the plans of the Associa
ton, and recommended that the pulpit and the press
be- requested 10 lend their aid in making them known
and also 10 secure meeting of tho intelligent wo-
men of this city in order 10 consider these plans and
II they approved TO express their united desire
that all necdfn aid may DO provided for their accom-
plishment
Should these plans succeed. it is believed that tho