The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1871-08-24
Communicated

Mr., EDITOR - L nave been amused
and somewhat entertained in reading an
article furnished recently by a certain
''rattling" CORE spondent of yours. Now,
| do not wish anything I may say in this
article to be regarded as an attempt on
my part to "~rattle" your fair correspond
ent, nor, indsed, as u reply to her article,
or any part thereof, but only rs my own
ideas and notions on the subject Of Wo-
mans Rights.
From my infancy up Ihavc been taught
to regard woman as mans superior in all
social aud moral aspects. l believe that
they are more powerful for good or evil
than man. i believe that as woman first
sinned and fell, aud in falling dragged
man down with her, SO to-day, as she is
pure and good, man becomes elevated and
purified, or as she is depraved and fallen,
the man with whom she associates becomes
debased aud degraded. | believe that
woman's true position is one of fond de-
pendence, and that she is never so hpppy
and contented as when she has some strong
arm and brave hfeast to lean upon
Whenever | see OF hear a woman talking
of the degraded position of her seq, I
think she is in one of three positions -
either turned on the shady side of life UNI
married, has a morbid, unnatural and I'M
womanly desire for notoriety, or she is
Aopelessly insane. The latter view is one
Of simple charity. Woman at this time
occupies a much moro exalted and honor
able position than ever before accorded
her in the history of the world, and this
istfue more particularly among the Anglo
Saxon races than elsewhere. Hithefto
woman held a very humble and subordi-
nate position; waslthe humble, weak and
helpless servant of man; but since the
time of the crusades of the Lion-hearted
Richard a new era has dawned upon her
she has been raised up and made the
friend and counsellor of man-a help-meet
Us her Creator ordained her. o 1t would
be we'll for her if she would rest right
here. But there are those who are not
satisfied with what has been done for them;
they would assume to act and speak as
men, forgetful of the fact that they are
! leaving d position Of unlimited power and
usefulness for o new, and to them, unex.
plored field, as we'll as one Of great uncer.
taints and doubtful propriety.
But then | have no objection to woman
assuming the "msnly toga" if she feel.
able to wear it. When she begins to pirate
Of social equality, I think it would dc
her good, to lay aside her crinOlihe for G
short season, and take ~uptbeax and plow
or join the army, or build railroads, OIL
navigate the ocean, or undertake some o.
the many hard, laborious pursuits'o of men
from which she is now SO eFectuafly pro-
tected BY the fond admiration Of hel
sterner counterpart. Let her undertake
these, or tome Of Them, and the illusior
will be dissipated. But l still insist tina
/ have no objection to her doing so.
Vlovei the sex, and am willing to accord
them any Of the privileges. now ENJOYED
and claimed exclusively for man, unless
it be the privilege Of being the father o
n family, which | do claim exclusivcl!
u for mun. le irr i's % 'i'l' l.ai si3biu
do not deny that women have brains
and are able to thiok. On the contrary
Ithank God that He has given me a wo
man Of splendid mind apd quick perceP
tions as a companion and friend through
life. She guides me many times, ant
aids me always with her quick decisive
ifjudgmeht9l aESa,y woman ought to b
able 10 do so likewise, and then they woul,
receive the reward they seek-the honor
1--we and praise of0men md nm saeylpp'
skapprovipg sepseience.r Wpmsp's Right
would cease to be talked Of, and woman
duty and mans duty would DO ~thsthsne
of universal thought. WV