New Orleans Republican., 1871-10-08

For the Republican,
WOMAN'S RIGHTS.

/ IFOT t0O 00YOUuC00sI
WOMAN's RIGHTS.
The newspapers Of the day are teemin
with the discussions of the rights, or fancie'
rights of women, while their real an,
noblest rights are being lost to view an
gradually slipping from hands opened wild
to grasp the ballot box. Why shoul'
women wish to assist in governing tn
country by voting, when she can control
government made by men by q simpl
exercise Of her powers? As soon as sh'
sinks to the level of man by being his as
sociste at the polls, in the club rooms, OF
the race course, just 60 soon does she los'
the powerful influence to refine ant
ennoble his naturally rougher nature, ant
must relinquish all her 0lden claims tt
superior respect and greater tenderness
And the power she gains by voting does
not by any means counterbalance that she
loses by losing influence. All other rights
are now merged into this one of voting
hardened, unlovable female specimens Of
the advocates of woman's rights are put
forth to grasp the golden prize. In the
fierce struggle for suffrage they have for
gotten everything, and, rushing on to the
ballot. leave unseen by the wayside the
powerful fact that q good influence, we'll
exercised, confers more real power than
that held by the owner Of one vote. 1t is
woman's undisputed right to rule in so
ciety, to give tone to it, and to elevate or
lower it to her own standpoint.
That inestimabie right she is using less
and less every day. She allows men whom
the world knows to he unfit associates for
good women to attend upon her and follow
in her train. and the smiles upon them just
rs sweetly, marries them just as readily as
if they were upright and worthy. thus cast
ing oway the right to repress vice and en-
courage virtue.
The frequent use of slang phrases, un-
pleasant when used by men, disgusting
when proceeding from ladies' lips, tends to
lower the refined and elegant tone of con.
versation. which alone should be heard in
ladies' company, and serves to lessen the
respect and chivalric feeling with which
men should ever be taught to regard the
gentler sex. Yet, by using them. woman
voluntarily gives up . portion of this re-
spect which is go justly her due. Even the
coarse laugh attending the utterance of
some of these slang phrases with double
meaning, which is in reality an insult to
tho nF Go1Soo<o
oined in by them without knowing where
ore they laugh, except that they wish to
eem pleased with their cavaliers, instead of
striving to repress such ungentlemanly be-
lavior by show Of their just displeasure.
Thus, If men show less respect for the
pinion Of woman. care less for her ap-
'roval, it is her fault, because in her efforts
o gain q place beside him she is losing a
lace above him. And SO far from winning
'ower che is daily losing it.
Also, is she an encourager of ignorance.
As general thing, the women of to-day.
articularly of the South, have had far su. |
erlor advantages in the way Of terms at |
chool, ETC., to those the men have had,
lany of them were in the army when they
hould have been at college. But is that
ny reason why they should he more
earned! Assuredly not What man is 80
ngroesed by business that he has not an
our, or even two, to devote to study. Can
hey not, BY judicious reading. remedy the
Is attendant upon the defective education
hey have received! The mature mind ofa
lu-grown, man grasps understandinglv
Vets and ideas which the feeble brain of a
hid only receives as so many facts and
leas to be retained until maturity develops
understanding Of them; and they NAV
arm with ease in a week what a child
ould be months in memorizing. But, why
'ek for more knowledge when nothing calls
forth from the storehouse of his brain
society, the ladies seem seeking to forget
10 little they have learned at school, and
far from calling into use the higher pow
8 OF their male companions, they endeavor
seem as illiterate as they, thus giving a
cit encouragement to them to remain in
noble ignorance Of all that is beautiful
I'd grand in the world of letters!
1t is no less woman's duty than her right
put stop to this state of things. Let
r but exhibit her superior culture and
erary attainments and, my word for it.
ans ambition, assisted by his desire of
easing. will soon bring about a better
ate of things.
Let her exercise her divine rights to en-
BILE and elevate the men who come under ,
r influence. and the power of her sway &
IL be felt in the superiority of the men
10 govern, and the government be better
IN If her power was limited to the casting s
a single vote for the candidate of her an G
oval. i
+ she would retain her rights, she must t
k to it speedily; they are fast passing t
vond her control, while as vet there a
ms no prospect of her gaining even the
ali recompense offered by the right of
frage. r a
When Jack Canter, the bank robber. was a
EN- to Sing Sing prison, he was asked b
at his profession was. "A bank clerk n
A.