Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1870-04-20
Woman Suffrage.

impress of change, II not re-
form. Fanaticism has well nigh
overwhelmed the morals and
liberties of the country, and
threatens to reyolutionize the
social fabric. The rights OF
the female sex have been much
agitated in some portions OF
the country, and a few of the
frail creatures have labored as
siduously themselves of what
they are pleased to call III the ar
bitrary rule ofman. They pro.
pose to quit their lawful field
Of ambition, and sharpen their
intellects amid the passions and
conflicts OF men. Even in our
own State a wall is heard in de-
Tense of "woman's rights Cast
ING aside the sacredness and
dignity Of the position assigned
woman by the Creator himself,
and discarding the peculiar
virtues Of the gentler sex, these
creatures propose to abandon
the drudgery Of domestic duties
as it is termed-and test the
stern realities of life upon their
own "hook." TO limit the cul-
tivation of their varied talents
to household economy and con-
fine themselves to a life Of sole
dependence upon man, is a sac
rifce too great to be longer
borne-a gross superstition, a
custom which originated in the
early days of barbarism, and
therefore should not be coun-
tenanced in this enlightened
age. This old dogma cannot
be longer tolerated, conse-
quently they must be allowed
to thunder from the forum, to
vote, hold Office, sit as Jurors,
mako laws wear breechps, and
become scientific men Of the
country. Man must be initIa-
ted into the mysteries of nee
die work, taught to administer
to the wants Of feeble infancy,
and sing the dirge of the
shirt" while strong.mlnded
woman pInnges into the polite,
al arena, pours forth her elo;
quence from the forum, and
"wades thro' fields of slaugh-
ter to throne"
Had the question of "vo-
mans rights been agitated in
the days of paganism, or even
later in those countries where
they were regarded as hardly
above a beast of burthen, it
would have been a subject OF
peculiar consideration. But, i'll
this country, where the gentlel
sex have been objects Of such
tender regard and so highly
favored, even at the personal
sacrifice of their protectors.
nothing is more absurd or pre-
posterous than the cry of "wo
mans rights" 1t is highly
probable that q distaste for the
practical duties Of household
economy and the cultivation OF
habits Of Incidence have had
much to do with leading many
into tie meshes Of this new.
tangled theory.
If the women of the country
desire to exert a healthy and
purifying influence, and correct
the social political evils, they
must remain within the sphere
allotted them by revelation
The sexes are intended for diff
ferent fields of labor and con-
st'ucted in conformity to Ger,
tain laws, and a violation Of
these laws destroys the harmo-
ny of the social system and de-
grades the violator. Woman,
in her secret retirement, can
control and renovate mankind.
uer posltlon, thouSh supJecI
to certain social restrictions,
does not imply inleriority.-
Her humble round Of duty,
faithfully and zealously per-
formed, is the great lever that
moves the world. But when
she ceases to perform the legit-
innate duties of her Office and
overleaps the barriers erected
for her protection and safety,
the foundation of the social
fabric is destroyed, the laws Of
l .1Il IN III o,,l 80,