Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-07-31

RtGnts-8 Sharp OEAthc1Sfn upOf
the Doctors Address TO the Gradu
atIng Class of the Columbia Athe
nseUm.
To the Editors of the Union and American:
have just finished the perusal of al
address delivered by DIR. ID. C. Kelly, OF
Lebanon, Tenn, to the graduating elias:
of the Columbia Athen9um on the oath
Of June.
The address deals SO largely in glitter
ing generalities and impracticable sugges,
tons, that one is left in doubt as to the
endsought to bereached by its delivery. AL
the generally received opinions upon the
subject of wOmsn's appropriate sphere
and destiny are secuted by the author
with lofty disdain, which great minds
alone experience, when "wrapt in the
solitude of their own originality, y
they sweep some some field of thought
above the level of common men. The
Doctor in his address evidently exults in
the thought that he has gone to the bot
tom of very difficult question, over the
surface of which, minds less profound
has been in the habit of Swimming; and
we confess to much surprise on reading
at the conclusion, words of advice to the
young ladies not to attempt to put any of
his suggestions into practice. In justice
TO the graduating class, must think the
Doctors advice in this respect was unne-
cessary; for the Athen9um enjoys a
reputation to which it is not entitled, if
any of its graduates can be found capable
of embarking upon so Quixotic an enter
prise. But another announcement is made
which is perhaps not so unnecessary. He
says, 81 seek not to make you men" etc.
The young ladies doubtless felt much re-
heved at this declaration, for, from the
foregoing part of the address, it was ut
terly impossible to tell what he did pro-
pose to do, and l must confess, that but
for his disclaimer, that is precisely what
l would have thought he intended to do.
But as the Doctor disclaimed solemnly any
intention to make them men, the ques-
ton recurs, what he did intend to make
them. The answer must be sought else
where than in the address itself.
But, is the Doctor quite certain of his
own intentions If he did not intend to
make them men, why does he varnish the
wOman's rights movement, and speak of
it in such terms as to leave the impression
upon the minds of all who heard him
that the movement had his sympathy
We all know that the very thingproposed
to be accomplished by this ridiculous
movement is to change 1UOn1en into
men, and insist that no other inference
can be drawn from DR.. Kelly's address
than that the movement has his sympathy.
His Endorsement is written upon it-in
very pale ink, it is true-but it is there.
Hear him: 81 know there are many wise
acres who viii smile at what they will
say is giving unnecessary importance and
dignity to this question; that the world
mas moved on well enough with its solu-
ton, and that the outcry of a few old
maids and growing hens does not deserve
a dignifed notice. Owls may sit with
large eyes in their favorite ivy bushes,
and boot at this, as they have thousand
other questions-but l Chat is, DR.. d.
c. Kelly, of Lebanon, Tenn. say to you
that question about which two genera
tons have been occasionally engaged in
discussion; and of the unpopular side of
which John Stuart Mill in England has
bCOO4lAC JuBAlN anu " W AAlCD
so shrewd a man as Henry Ward BeecheT
has given his allegiance; and Vanderbilt
has lent the resources of his mOnied
power, can neither be hooted out of eX,
istence by owls, nor laughed out of coun-
tenance by dull and cumbrOus witticisms. y
Now, what is it to which Henry Ward
Beecher has given his allegiance2 Ian
sWer, the right of women to occupy the
pulpit, mount the rOstrum and rant, push
their way with masculine boldness through
the vulgarity, profanity and Obscenity that
hang like malaria around our ballot boxes,
and, in short, TO do all other things which
women have never done before, and
which no woman with the true instincts
of her sex has ever desired to do. All
these things has Beecher endorsed, and
more. Under the influence of the free
love views which VIGOROUSLY obtain
among the leaders of this woman's rights
movement. Henry Ward Beecher carried
his allegiance so far as to preside oveI
the adulterous nuptials of Mrs. Mcfarland
and her paramOur, Richardson. And to
this movement on the subject of woman's
rights Rev. d. C. Kelly has carried his
allegiance SO far as to discuss it in {
public address, aoithOm the SLighteS
protest against the enormities which
he well knows constitutes its lift
and soul. Those who laugh al
and ridicule the movement have the salts
faction of learning from DR.. Kelly tina
they are "owls," and that in his opinion
their witticisms are "dull and cum
brous, - very. But Beecher has the hap
piness TO know, that on account of his in
dorsement of these things, he is in TIT
estimation of Rev. D. G. Kelly, a very
''shrewdn man. What particular weigh
he supposed the name of Henry War
Beccher would give to the mOnstroslty
known as the woman's rights movement
in the estimation of graduating class o
Southern young ladies, he may be able +
explain. But Vanderbilt has brought 4
the movement his vast monied resources
Really, / feel inclined to laugh, but tn
fear of being taken by DIR. Kelly for a
''owl in an ivy bush, restraints me. I'm
agine old Vanderbilt among his none
bags, and lady Stanton and other mem
bcrs of SOrosis around him. The old fel
lows movements and actions uuder th
circumstances may be graphically des
cribed in the following inimitable lines Q
modern poet:
"a cautious look around he stole;
His bags Of chink he chunk;
And many wicked smile be smolC,
And many a wink he wunk."
All, Vanderbilt is a sly old dog, an
spends his money in various ways. 81
l don't believe the ''old gals and graz
widows, who are at the head of this gre;
movement have ever succeeded in gettir
a large amount of money out of hin
DR.. Kelly says Vanderbilt has 'lent IL
resources of his monied power" to the'
women. This might mean all the none
the old fellow had, but l don't believe
word of that. Some of the Sorosis hay
been quizzing DR.. Kelly about tn
thing; doubtless with the hope of indu,
ing him to join them, and fear the
persuasions have rot been witho1