Smyrna times., 1871-08-16
Greeley on the Woman Question.

Horace Greeley has written a letter to the
Golden Age-Theodore TiltOn's paper-defn-
ing his position on the woman question: from
which we make the following extract:
Let me state my own conception OF remar-
riages as cOmplicating marital relations in the
other world.
/ do not dispute the doctrine of Jesus that
6 In heaven there is neither marrying nor given |
In marriage" if you have quoted His words /
exactly. And yet fell that there are coup |
les SO completely and happily united in this |
world that they will be nearer and dearer TO
each other in the next than they would or could
have been had they failed to meet in this life
and think these are happier IN either world
than though one or both of them had remar
ried. | do not hold that either would have
been culpable in remarrying if widowed on this
planet | only insist that they will both rejoice
and with reason--in their higher life, that
neither in this life was married second time.
You are entirely, eminently right, Mr.. Edl-
tor, in asserting that my conviction OF the
proper indissOlublity of marriage is the main
spring of my hostility to Woman Suffrage, and
to the social philosophy from which many
, valnly seek to separate the Woman movement.
: Though | have written or dictated very little OF
what has, during the last ten years, been print
ed as editorial in the 7riJ,sne on this subject,
it is nevertheless true that my conception of the
D nature and scope of the marriage relation rem
+ derS my conversion to Woman Suffrage a
h moral impOssibiity.
have but two left of seven children, and
, these are both daughters. | would gladly fit
them for lives of usefulness and honor, as be-
1 loved and loving wives of vlrtuOus, upright
noble men, and mothers, if it shall please God
q of good, healthy, happy children. If it be de
: creed that they are to be, not such women a!
: those | have most admired and drcverenced, bu
e men with female physique in ware
q caucuseS and nominating conventions, vehe
a ment in senate and on the stump, and etfecuv
At before urIes in the trial of actions for
to i pray that my career on this globe sha
close before theirs is fairly begun. When an
10 where they shall thus shine, it will not
ii pleasant for me stay.
~ Mr. Editor, L believe our countrymen ar
n. indebted to you for having discovered (perhaI
q. | should say invented) me as possible (thoug
h most improbable) candidate for the Presidency
}v Allow me, then, to thank you for your earl
no and frank demonstration that | can in no col
t@ tingency be counted on or hoped for as a W.
10 man Suffrage candidate. As you forcibly an
M justly say, there is not even a remote posslbil
# ty Of my ultimately adapting myself to III
no end. My difference with your crowd is tc
,et vital, too radical, to permit the most sanguiT
M dreamer to hope for my conversion. a
growing old ; my opinions are toerably firm
and the Advanced Female of the Laura Ea
type, who kills the paramour of whom 81
claims to be the rghtful affinity, and gives tt
lie in open court to the wife she has doub
widowed, is my pet aversion.
or But why should any man be the candida
'us for President of the Woman Suffragists? Los
OF cally and consistently, feel that their cane
'th date should be woman. She ought NOR
he over, to be one thoroughly emancipated fro
Ter the absurdity and folly" the narrowness
as and the "baleful conservatism" which | a
-he now too old to outgrow. Could you not fl
as one who illustrates in her own person and h
lks tory what you so telicitousy term the libel
ct thought of an enlightened age? Let her
ms one who has two husbands after a sort, a
lcl- lives in the same house with them both, Shi
she ing the couch of one, but bearing the name
She the other Ito indicate her impartality perhap
Ter and cause and candidate will be SO itly mat
It that there will be no occasion, even under t
VIII most liberal, progressive, enlightened regin
lost to sue for their divorce Could not one OF t
class be persuaded to overbear her shrink
ned mOdesty and nominate herself?
opy In a spirit of heaty hatred for Free Love a
all its Internal delusions, | remain, yours,
cry HORACE GREELEY