New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-17
The Elevation OF Women.

From Woodruff Clafin's Weekly
1t is almost beyond the realm of patience
to quietly pass unnoticed the arrogance
with which men become the self-constituted
judges of what women shall be and do
just as though they do not themselves
know what that is. Mei assume that their
Judgment and decision must be consulted,
and that their decision can not be appealed
from, in the matter Of further grants look
ing to equality for women. Women in
fact. are under "a memorable despotlSm as
the subjects of an absolute monarch are,
since the sway Of men is absolute. The
>aturidy Heri'r has a long and lahored
article under the above head. which the
Sunday UorM copies appWvingly. which,
among other Jewels ~. contains the follow
iny. which we quote, not because it is ex-
c"ptional but to put both those periodicals
on the record, to which women. when en-
franchi>ed. will refer to find who oh
structed their progress. to their own.
Whatever Is done III the direction of
opening new careers for women should be
done with careful remembrance that. after
all. the disturbance of established relations
between the sexes may produce evils of the
most vital Importance which no wise man
can allow to be summa4ilv dismissed from
consideration by prio,i assumptions as TO
tie natural equality OF human beings. The
most popular nostruT. however, for I'M
proving the feminine mind appears to be the
plan of giving them votes. Whatever other
arguments may be urged upon this topic. we
must say that the supposed educational in
fuence OF voting appears to us to be one OF the
boldest assumptions to which we have ever
listened. Why should the fact that woman
Is called upon once in two or three years to
exercise an infinitcsimal share of electoral
power make her wiser or better Will
the prospect encourage her to study political
economy and history, to say nothing Of
mathematics and the natural sciences
Every man thinks that he is perfectly COM
petcnt to elect member of Parliament
without any education whatever. and
probably women will take the same view OF
the case. The political lectures given at
the hustings or at popular meetings have
not hitherto. to our knowledge, exerted a
very refining influence on the male con-
stituents minds. and we don't quite see
why women should be the better for attend
ing them SO far as we can Judge from the
action of their leaders, the great advantage
OF giving women votes would be to enable
them to Join more vigorously than ever i'll
discussions about contagious diseases. We
are perhaps blinded by prejudice, but the
specimen which we have had of the Y,o-
'ltical influence Of women III this respect
does not encourage us to think that
either they or the country would be much
improved by cOnceding to them extended
rights. The chief effect on Legislation
would probably be a stronger clerical in
fuence and a greater disposition to exceed !
the bounds within which legislation can be |
useful; the effect on women themselves !
would be to encourage the belief that senti- !
inent will supply the place of reasoning. !
hatevcr other advantages may result, |
he Very last quality that would be EN- !
couraged is that which we are assured is |
specially deficient in feminine education
"a thogongh ard systematic cultivation OF |
mind. That is not the quality which spe- |
claly succeeds in modern politics. In !
short. If education means an orderly dc
velopment of the faculties. an inducement /
offered to women to leave the station for |
which they are fitted, is so far an incitc- |
rnent to develop in a wrong direction"
Now We submit that the above is as com