Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-04
woRCE STER.
MONDAY. MARCH 4, 1879
About Women and Races.

TUX ulutust UNIVERSAL OppOSlDOu 10 WO1laH
equality among men of the Kettle and Latin
races has often been remarked by students OF
social and political science. 1t is an interesting
problem whether the ilique law is the cause or
the EFT ct at this contempt for the intellect OF
wonan.- WomdR'S Journal.
This is hardly correct as a statement OF facts.
In the first place, the ''Salique law" is neither
Kettle nor Latin. 1t is German. Clovis and
his Salan Franks, who were unadllterated Ger
mans from beyond the Rhine, brought 1t to
Gaul when they invaded and conquered that
country, towards the close of the fifth century.
In the second place, it is not true that kelts as
race have always cherished more contempt for
the intellect OF woman, than most other races.
On the contrary, they were remarkable, above
most other peoples of their time, for treating
women with respect. This is manifest when we
study what is known of them. Meners, in his
''History of the Female Sex" gives special at
tention to this fact. He finds that in most ma
tons women were never treated with such con.
sheraton and indulgence as by the nations OF
Kettle origin" He makes this statement, in the
fifth chapter:
"Fhe Gauls (see Tacitus) demanded of the
Carthaelnians, tnat, when they should have any
cause of complaint against them, the dispute
shoulu nc adjusted ny their wives, and that
Doth parties should abide by their decisions Ii
was not, therefore, the effect of chivalry but an
ancient Kettle custom that still continued to
p.edominate, which, during the whole of the
middle ages, so frequently led princes and lords
TO select females celebrated for their wisdom and
their love OF justice, as umpires."
Among the Romans, the condition of woman
was much superior to that which prevailed
among the Greeks at Athens or anywhere else
in the Hellenic peninsula. The nobler way
had been learned by the Romans Of their Etru.
rian predecessors, as Mr.. Dennis shows in hi,
work on "Ihe Cities and Cemeteries of Etru-
ria What we call the "Latiu race was
originally established by the mixture of Latin
speaking Tribes or communities of immi.
grants with the earlier people of Italy,
Chi fly the Etruscans, who were themselves
mixed race. Now Mr.. Dennis, speaking of the
Etruscaus, has much to say in this strain;
''In their social condition, the Etruscans were
in advance of the Greeks, particularly in one
point which is an important test of civilization.
In Athens woman was always degraded; she
trod not by the side of man as his helpmate
but followed as his slave. The treatment of the
sex, even in the days of Pericles, was what
would now be called oriental. But, in Etruria,
woman was honored and respected; she took her
place at the DO lrd by her hus bands side, which
shclwas never permit ed to do in Athens; She was
educated and accomplished, and sometimes
even instructed in the mysteries of divination;
her children assumed her name as well as thai
oil their father; and her grave was honored wifi
even more spendor than his. Ii is not easy 10
say to what Etruria owed this superiority; but
it tended greatly TO humanize her and through
her to ciyllize Italy; a fact Of which Rom.
especially reaped the benefit by initiating her
example"
Hasty generalizations and assumptions rela-
tive to races are never safe Circumstances and
special conditions do more than anything else
to determine from age to age, the mental condi-
tions and the customs of peoples and race. In
our time, the Latin and Kettle peoples may be
more subject than most Others to that mind
and heart smothering power known in Europe
as "utramontanism;" but this must not be re-
garded as popularity of race. 1t is a pecu-
harity Of condition, due to influences which are
easily understood. 1t win ultimately be removed
by great development and progress of mental
life. So far as relates to woman in the history
oil civilization, wherever the past movements OF
this history can be traced in our time, the KEEL
TIC and Latin races are superior to most others;
superior to those we usually style the Oriental
races, superior TO the Greeks, Scavonians, and
some other Aryan peoples, and, so far as we
know, not inferior to any other race. Let them
have due credit; and, meanwhile, it should moi
be forgotten, that, in the history of civilization
the Te1tonic race which seems destined to d
rect the course of progress in the future, is com.
paratively modern.