Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-09-17

POAoOnoi uAiiAS duu ulSllklng Will Df
laid aside, and motives aud methods
judged abstractly; that clap-trar
will lose power and quiet ability
come to the front; that business
shall be understood, and progress
sgnified, and work not to be mis-
taken for idling, nor an itching for
notOriety be mistaken for spirited
patriotism?
1t must be admitted that women
will find it no easy task to outstrip
the best class of male correspond
ents. 1t will not be denied that
there are among the latter men of
eminent ability and integrity, who
can see and report with equal clear
ness who understand that the
part OF a correspondent is not to
nurse prejudice, nor indulge pre-
objection, nor confirm opinion, nor
even to enforce doctrine, but, as far
as possible, to put his reader in
possession of the situation who
are able to comprehend it because
they are the peers of those who
make it ; men whose views are
wont to be correct, whose judg-
ment is based on their views, and,
therefore, likely to be sound, and
whose opinions and cooperation
are, therefore, apt to be sought in
shaping action men who do not
boast of their power or prowess,
who apparently do not think of it,
who are simple, direct, and un-
conscious in their business, and
whose influence, springing from
qualities, rather than position, is as
wholesome as tits widespread.
Am L wrong in believing that
this class is not perceptibly in
creased by re-enforcements from
the ranks of women? l do not deny
that' among female correspondents
there are women Of spotless charac-
ter and brilliant parts; but, as things
are. is it possible they should equal
men in the possession of political
influence and of political intelli-
gence? The man is in constant
contact with men and face to face
with events. If he is at the Capital,
he goes everywhere-tO committee
rooms, to the departments, to the
newspaper Offices-at all hours;
wherever measures are under dis
cussion, there is he, to Judge for
himself. He becomes as familiar
with the working of the machinery
as the machinist, and he follows the
course of legislation with entire un-
derstanding. A woman takes OBJ
servations from the galleries, where,
with close attention, she can per-
haps make out the words of one
speaker in ten in the one house,
and in the other vainly wishes she
could hear ten speakers in one.
That is a fragment of such part of
Legislation as appears on the surface
she sees; but of that large part
which goes on ont of sight she
necessarily learns only by hearsay
or from the male reporter. Nor is
it easy to see how it can well be
otherwise.
Even if she have thorough un-
derstanding of parliamentary law,
and if she be so constant and en-
thusiastic in her attendance upon
legislative assemblies as to under
stand all the windings and turnings
of bills and all the meanings of mo-
tons, she still labors under serious
disadvantages. Unless she can for
get she is q woman, and make every
one else forget it, too, and mingle |
as a man among men, it seems i'm
possible that she should compete
successfully with men. Women
write eloquently and well upon
patriotism, craftsmanship, and the
higher life, in the abstract; but |
when they come to definite meas
ures, and make application of their
they are just as likely to
blame and praise in the wrong place
as are men, and just as likely to
blame and praise in the wrong place
as in the right one!
There are women who write bet
ter letters than men could do under
the same circumstances; but the
circumstances are an insuperable
fact. No law hinders. Custom has