New-York tribune., 1871-04-15
ON EPFCCNE PRITTLEGE.

was ut his DatH, Sic lc'pohuCu W '4i' 0'."
charnberlains, lie gfpie no pas dc Se1e'" EA-
actly the opposite opinion appears to be Ac!d
by the pariisans Of a certain grade OF lcniaIe
genius They insist that it has two sexes, each
equally useful in its way. 1t may intrigue
and plot, and lobby like man. 1t may claim
to do mems work. 1t may elbow men out of
the way. 1t may insist on the highest wages
Maid to men of the greatest fame. ard most
exalted talents. 1t may cOrruptly influence
legislation. and leave its Objectionable foot
prints where future ages may sec them ana
blush at them. 1t may fill its pouch with geld
and NAV clothe It's brow with brass III most
energetic and masculine way. But when Its
work is done, and the time comes for the
public to judge whether 1t has been
swinded or not, then 1t changes Us
tone. 1t is al weakness, and sweetness,
and tenderness. Criticism must sheathe
its claws; put buttons on its foi!s; lay down
its truth-telling spectacles; look only through
rose-coloyed glasses, and speak no language
but that furnished to order by the friends ana
adherents of the epicene genus. ii must smut
its eyes to faults that are jumping at them
from canvas or marble. Even silence Is Il
crime. 1t muS wreck its own conscience by
praising abomnGtions. If it can say nothing
of the work il must praise the artist. All
women have something amiable about them
praise that say the fierce defenders OF fem
inine effort If the lady in question be deh-
cient in personal charm, praise her nat, or her
waterproof, or her bronze boots. If a man
cannot find something worth praislnS III
woman, be is a brute and a savage
TEE TRIBUNE notlongago was passing through
a cloud of maudlin vociferatiOns excited by
an article in which we gave utterance to the
rerret wherewith all cultivated people regard
the recklessncsS and haste with which Con-
grcss votes contracts for works of art TO I'M
tried or incapable persons. We reused
several feeble and obscure newspapers into
something really resembling energy in abuse
and calumny. These violent utterances sprang
from the most amiable of human weaknesses,
and in consideration of their gallantry and ig-
norance we could pardon their malignty. a
paper, whose chief notOrety was OBJ
tanned by recent exposure Of its habit of
selling its editorial columns to the highest
bidder for cash, was especially ingenious
and amusing in its vituperatiOn. With its
ruling passion guiding the editorial quill, 1t
asserted that THE TRIBUNE tried to blaCkmail
young Washington sculptor, and failing in
the attempt would not praise her statue.
There was an exquisite naturllness about such
charge from such a source that fully redeemed
It's deliberate falsch0Od, and made the prompt
action of the young lady herself in branding
the calumny seem almost needless. Another
paper, with confused ideas of decency
and Justice attacked THE TRIBUNE for want
of consideration to wCmen, and with an alb
surd inconsistency dragged into the contro-
vcrsy the name Of most estimable lady who
had never been in the least concerned with 1t.
1t is not from sheets like these that THE
TRIBUNE will receive lessons in criticism or con-
duct. No journal in the United States more
religiously respects the sacredness of private
lie and the absolute immunity OF sex. 1t is
only where women come forward before the
world, claiming to do as good or better work
than men, influencing the legislation OF the
country, pursuing an indefatigable course OF
puflery III inferior newspapers, and III every
conceivable way seeking public notonety, that
we begin to treat them, rs they pretend to
wish to be treated with something like impair
tial Justice. We do not and cannot treat them
of theirs abnegate their right to be regarded
with more consideration and reserve than men
would receive in similar circumstances. But
there is a point ut which this chivalrous retl-
cence and indulgence should cease, ard that Is
when by unscrupulous use of the means which
women know so well how to WELD, the law
givers of the land are tricked and cajolcd into
contracts whose results will remain for ever
a reproach to the taste and culture OF the
nation. Ii would be criminal for the
press to be silent if "A contract to bridge the
Hudson were given to a lovely schoolgirl IN
consideration of her youth and winning ways.
If our gallant Secretary of the Navy should
appoint Washington belle to command an
iron clad, We fancy he wonld hear some ilVely
comment upon the act Yet when Congress
men voted that $4,000 for statue OF Lincoln
should be given to n young lady who had
never made a statuc, they did precisely such
an act They had no evidence whatever, that
she could possibly do the work. We thought
at that time a most inexcusable folly had been
committed, and now that the result Is before
us, we are sure of it. Il seems scarcely need
full but we yield, this morning, to the wishes
of writer whose opinions on tins subject,
albeit curtly expressed, have an acknowledged
authority in the world of art, and give them
tardy hearing. The harm that is done can
not be repaired. But there ia still time to save
ourselves from endless repetition OF such fatu-
Gus folly
This is the point of the whole matter. Am
bilious women have fair field before thrm
the barriers of the past are broken down. We !