The New York herald., 1871-05-15

may Ansivcrsarles-The Woncn's Rights
Conventions.
The most remarkable, as well as the most
alarming in their bearing upon society at
large, OF all the May anniversaries that have
been held this year, are those of the women's
rights conventions. Remarkable by reason Of
the size and character of their audiences;
alarming because Of the pernicious doctrines
they endeavor to inculcate. In former years
they have been of comparatively no impor-
tance; those assembled to hear the rawlings
OF women who are endeavoring to sap the
foundations Of religion, of virtue and of
morality were Of a kind that did not represent
our better classes. This year, however, there
appears to have been radical change,
and strangers entering the halls wherein
these meetings were held, would have sup
posed themselves at Nilsson concert rather
than at a women's rights convention, judging
from the responsibility and high standing in
society of many of those women who were
present. Both at Steinway and Apollo halls,
whereat the two branches held their meetings,
the audiences were large and fashionable,
showing conclusively that if no other effect
has been produced woman's curiosity has been
aroused to such pitch as to cause some of
the best of the mothers and daughters of the
land to be present to hear for them
selves what women's rights mean, and
to learn how much the sex is to be benefited
thereby. The Steinway Hall branch is ap-
parently the more conservatives it does not
yet go to extremes. And while it demands
and insists upon women having rights and
powers not heretofore conceded to them, it
does not advocate at present any doctrine that
aims at woman's purity or that will tend to
lower her position and deprive her of that re-
spect which her sex now entities her to. But
will it remain SO? Will the infection not
spread? Will it not in time be poisoned by
the most radical in their opinions, until the
whole mass becomes corrupt?
The Apollo Hall branch is radical in its
teachings. There the entire freedom of
women is preached. There free-lovism reigns
supreme. There doctrines are sustained that
must bring the blush to the cheeks of all noble,
pure-minded women, who believe that virtue
and morality are still the greatest ornaments of
their sex. And, we regret to say, that, basing
our opinions upon the number and character
of those who were present at the last meeting,
the cause is apparently besoming popular.
What must be the result to society if the
Apollo branch doctrines are allowed to spread
If the disease is permitted to become epi-
demic? 1t must end in utter demoralization-
in destruction of all that we hold most dear
and which men love, honor and do homage to-
viz, the purity, the gentleness aud all those
redeeming qualities which are at once the
charms and securities of civilized society.
Startling as this assertion is it is nevertheless
true. Any one who will examine the case
closely can see what the end must be Of
doctrine that holds up immortality as proper
and that offers premium for vice. 1t is sure
to destroy the fabric upon which all Of mans
hopes are based; it will stay the progress of
civilization and enlightenment; it will utterly
overthrow all the good that Christianity has
done, and the end will be perdition. 1t is time
now to check it. The movement should not
be countenanced even in its most moderate
form, for moderation will soon cease, and
those who now profess to be conservative in
their ideas of women's rights will soon be con-
verted to the radical platform and adopt the
theories and favor the practices advocated by
the Apollo Hall branch Of women s-rightsism.
The disease is Of malignant character now,
and it requires strong remedies, and these
should be applied without delay, or else it will
not yield so readily. If not nipped in the bud
it may pass beyond control.
1t cannot be disguised that Of all the promi-
nent leaders Of the women's rights movement
there does not appear to be one who has not
in her arguments utterly ignored religion. The
teachings of the Old and New Testaments
have been thrown aside. The books that have
been placed in our hands from childhood, and
which we have been taught are to be our
guides through life, have been by these strong
minded women abandoned. But it cannot be
otherwise If they wish to make their argu-
ments good. What we have been given as re-
ligion they cannot acknowledge. They must
have one of their own, or else their reasoning
will fall to the ground, and, to sum up the
matter, they must be non-believers in Christi
anity, infidels in every respect, or they could
not and would not endeavor to destroy all
that renders life pleasant, all that secures
happiness now and that promises reward here
after. The womens rights programme is
species of insanity; it is one form of madness,
and the assemblages Of those who are it's ad-
vocates remind us Of the Paris Commune
The former must have their own way; so must
the latter. The women's rights platform must
of the Commune; all France must adopt
1t or there can be no peace. We believe in
the success Of the one as much as in the
other. Both, we think, are doomed to defeat.