The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-12-03

and unquestionable fact can, think, be
best explained by the principles which l
have laid down.
Seine, indeed, will tell you that this
depends upon laws of tho hereditary
transmission of character from parent to
child. But If this be the case, how comes
it that while every one admits that re-
markablc men have usually remarkable
mothers, it is not generally admitted that
remarka able men have usually remarkable
fathers. If the intellect is bequeathed on
one side, why is it not bequeathed on
the other !? For my part, | greatly
doubt whether the human mind is hands
ed down in this way, like an heirloom,
from one generation to another. I "a
the believe, that in regard to the rela-
ton between men of genius and their
mothers, the really important events
occur after their birth, when the habits
of thought peculiar to one sex act upon
and improve the habits of thought pecu
liar to the other sex. Unconsciously,
and from very early period, there is
established an endearing and intimate
connection between the deductlve mind
of the mother and the inductive mind Of
her son. The understanding OF the boy,
softened and yet elevated by the imagi-
nation of his mother, is saved from that
degenoracy towards which the mere un>
Outstanding always inclines it is saved
from being too cold, too matter of-fact,
too prosaic, and the different properties
and functions Of the mind are more har>
moniously developed than would other
wise be practicable. Thus it is that by
the mere play Of the affections the finish
ed man is refined and completed. Thus
it is that the most touching, and the most
sac red form of human love, the purest,
the highest, and the hottest compact of
which our nature is capable, becomes an
engine for the advancement of knowl-
edge and the discovery of truth. And,
Notwithstanding few exceptions, we do
undoubtedly find that the most truly
eminent men haye had not only their at
fections, but also their intellect, greatly
influenced by women. l will 60 even
further and will venture to say that
those who have not undergone that in
fuence betray something incomplete
and mutiIated. We detect even in their
genius certain frigidty of tone, and we
look in vain for that burning fire, that
gushing and spontaneous nature with
which our ideas Of genius are indissolubly
associated. Therefore, it is that those
who are most anxious that the boupda>
ries of knowledge should be enlarged.
ought to be the most eager that the influ
ence of women should be increased, in
order that every resource of the human
mind may be at once and quickly brought
into play
But l have too long d elayed paying
proper recognition to our Oberlin sisters
On the 14th day of March, in the pres
ent year of Grace, one hundred ladies of
Lorain county Ohio, presented TO the
Legislature assembled at Columbus, a
Protest against Woman Suffrage, of
which the following, under eight specific
heads, is a literal copy
LIST. We acknowledge no inferiority
to men. We claim to have no less abil
ity to perform the duties which God has
imposed upon us, than they have to per-
form those i'm posed upon them.
End. We believe that God has wisely
and well adapted each sex to the proper
performance of the duties of each.
Sd. We believe our trusts to be as
important and as sacred as any that ex>
list on earth.
The remainder of their confession of
political faith l will reserve for another
we acknowle dge no inferiority
to men, Sound and sensio ole. but
then they spoil the pith of it in
what follows in the first spe cifica-
ton. If women are not inferior to !
mcn-as they most certainly are
not in my opinion--I would rea-
son, that if God had imposed any |
duties, any obligations on them, !
equal duties, equal obligations,
equal responsibilities, political, in
tellectual, moral and relig ious, were |
binding on her as on him that her
sphere of action in all regards, like |
his, were limited only by humanity, |
were co-extensive with her and his
ability and influence for good, and |
that woman should be on a perfect |
with man; not his, nor
he her servant-that she should be
his, and he her companion, not his |
servile dependent-and further,
that if they are joint and equal
heirs of immortality. and as they
are inspired with the same hopes
and fears, coupled with equal du-
ties-equal obligations-it would
be cruel and wicked, above all
names of cruelty and wickedness
to deny her equal agencies in all
fully to meet those equal
duties. l have no faith in station
airy progress not to advance, is to
recede--and I strongly incline to
the opinion Of the great Chinese
philosopher, that 'he who would
be constant, either in virtue or in
goodness, must often change