The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-09
UouaIity for Woman.


rExtract from Mrs. Clahin's address be-
fore the Cosmopolitan Society OF New
York;:
How common is the remark that all
educated women write alikel' Pursue the
inouiry a little further and deeper, and
see if they do not closely resemble each
other in very many things. Little else can
be expected. Are they not all educated
to the same point--trained for the same
purpose Overlooking or ignoring all the
natural capacities and inclinatons of the
mind, they are and have been trained spe-
cially for the matrimonial market, aud it
can be called nothing else. Nor has their
training looked to any point beyond the
mere fact of marriage-just as though In
that point existence ceased. How many
know aught Of the duties, cares, response
bilities, trials, sufferings, that fall to her
after reaching what should really be con-
sidered the beginning of her actual, indi-
yidual life? A general answer rises from
woman: Few, very few Still less is the
number wise enough 10 themselves to find
In all those seeming sources OF sorrow the
never-exhaustible fountain of joy and hap
piness, which the Great Creator las or
daiued shall flow to all who enter its
sacred portals with wisdom, understand
inc. and love sufficient to make the life
currents of two flow in and through the
same channels of peace and harmony.
No relation on earth so sacred as that ct
husband and wife. Round it gathers
halo of light and divinity before whore
power the lowest of human beings falls
down and worships, and from whose holy
purity the basest shrinks in shame.
In the potent charm that attends the as
ISOLATION of man and woman is found the
strongest argument for her emancipation.
1t is power needed everywhere, and the
world cannot much longer afford to de-
priye itself of its benefits. 1t is argued by
the superficial thinker of either sex, that If
woman enters the busy outer world and
mineles with its scenes, she must neces-
sarily lose that peculiar charm and char
acteristic that now everywhere commands
the respect and admiration of man. This
is a conclusion arrived at without evidence,
reason or argument, and will not stand the
test of either.
Is woman less woman because she
stands before an audience and holds it
spell-bound by her eloquence and logic
Because she argues for her client in the
halls of Justice Because she maintains her
propositions in legislative and COMPRESSION
al assemblies? Because she assists in ex-
ecuting the country's laws? Because she
is president of bank, railroad Be-
cause she invents some labor-saving ma
chine? Because she alleviates the dis
tressed invalid? In short, is woman any
less woman because she aspires to and per-
forms any of the. duties which the Creator has
given her faculties to perform, and which
Justice honor and a noble ambition inspire
every well-born soul to accomplish for hui
manity?
Anything less than an utter reputation
of the prejudices, the ignorances of thu
past, is unworthy the enlightened sens
and reason of this century. May we not
before its close, expect to see such absurd
libels upon the name of woman and the
consistency of man blotted from the heart
and minds of mankind, and expect to se'
woman welcomed to any and all sphere
of life and action for which, by nature o
inclination, she is fitted I?
Henceforth let it 60 broadcast to tn
world-from every woman's lips, at leas
that the more she accompishes by he
own exertions in any direction or honora
BILE calling, the more woman she is (; and
instead OF detaching from her nativ
graces, this shall add to the beauty ant
lustre of all her PROJECTIONS, making he
more to be admired by all.
Nor need it be feared that contact wit
the busy world will result disastrously
woman's general standard of purity an
morals. On the contrary, very much Der
eft may reasonably be expected from tt
union of her influence with that OF ma
10 every department of life and activit.
Very few of mans imperfections aud vic
find expression within the bosom of h
home circle and its connections. Suppo
home influences are extended everywhere
Will they not produce the same saving
healthful effects upon action and though
without deteriorating the fountain when'
they flow.
How long would drinking-saloon
gambling-hells, houses prostitution exi'
did the wife and sister go hand in har
with the husband and brother in ii
various pursuits of life, aiding in all the
endeavors and cheering their very effo
and, by so doing, make their interests m
tual, their wishes one and their privlee
equal?
Nothing can be more fallacious and u
fortunate than the proposition that man
entitled to special immunities in trar
crossing the laws of purity, honor a
virtue. Man and woman alike should
amenable to the same judgment of socie
and law. Man should be held to the sal
moral law that is now imposed on wom
and the latter should enjoy the same cho
of action and occupation that is now
corded to the former. The claim
equality does not imply that she sh
wildly and recklessly rush from her pres
paths into the ways of dissipation aud
which man frequents. 1t is not an equ
ty of degradation and disgrace that
sought, but one of the noblest developme
of her powers and faculties.