Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1871-01-14
lsUsTICE VERSUS LOVE
fFrorn the Revolution ]

Women have been taught, through
all the past, that the great and priceless
treasure. of mans love would make up
TO them for the disabilities of distinc-
tive womanhood. In this way, CON-
pensation was to be made, and the bal
Iance struck between the exceptionally
unfortunate condition of woman.
The doctrine for women was, to give
ali--body and soul, will and energy,
time aud thought--abjeetly, unrestricss
edly; and for men, in retnrn for this
splendid, lavish, magnificent present,
give love, only love.
In this way. through long ages, the
longing and signing for love have
stifed in woman's bosom the demand
for justice. She has been taught that
the more unconditional her surrender
to this principle, the more favor she
would receive from Heaven. This
teaching has dwarfed and warped, be-
Titled aud cramped her whole nature ;
and the revolt which women are now
making against traditional customs and
methods of education had its inception
in glimmering idea of what justice is
that without ii there is no basis for
character, no perception Of truth.
Women at last have dug down to
justice, and they find that it buttresses
the whole universe Take it away. and
there is nothing but show of things
remaining. They are beginning to ask
themselves whether this principle can
safely be eliminated from any Of the
relations of lite; whether mans capri,
cious, uncertain gift Of love can com
pensate for the terrible wrongs they
suffer when justice il denied them |;
aud the answer sent back from thou
sands of thinking women, in emphati
caly and indignantly, no:
A new love creed 10 now ripe for
adoption. II declares that love is
worthless wheu not based on justice.
The province which has so long been
abandoned 10 the caprices of sentiment,
il itself to be subjected to that crucial
analysis, that modern spirit which
weighs and measures every region of
thought, and every relation Of life..
The new creed says the demands
shall not be NIL ON one sido, and the
concessions all on the other. Such o
hideous doctrine only fosters the prac-
tical belief in mans ownership of
woman. II says that demands and con-
cessious shall be equal that an en-
ligotened womau's right to control her
self shall be sacredly observed. This
new principle calls for discipline of
manhood, such as never before was
dreamed of; il calls for an education
of the consciences of women which
shall cause them TO turn from honeyed
love, be il ever so sweet, ever so intoxi-
eating. breathing its soul out i'm sighs,
while weaving silken chain to bind
the will aud fetter the FREQ motions of
the wife.
The cymbolic garlands which Cupid
twined about the hymenial altar of old
were only prettiIy disguised chains to
be hing upon the limbs of the bride.
Man has always snapped the bonds at
his own free will and pleasure, and
walked forth free master of his own
lordly self, wdile ms soon m the flowers
withered, the chain began to weigh
upon che woman's body and soul. We
will have NO more garlands &C onr wed~
ding. feasts which cover chains. They
shall henceforth be made of innocent,
harmless roses, with no sinister badge
Of slavery lurking underneath.