The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-07-19
''THE WOMAN's MOVEMENT"

steadily though slowly in different parts
of the world. 1t has been somewhat re-
tarded by the ridiculous attitude of the
"Shriekers" in this country who, by
their greed and exactiOns, brought ridi-
Guile and discredit upon the reform meas
ures. In Europe, however, it is gaining
ground, as women begin to see what they
really do need, to remove certain disa-
b~ilities, and to draw the distinction be-
tween real and fancied wants. "
In this country we are always in ex-
tremes. About twelve months agomat-
ters reached such a crisis, in some of the
Northern States, that the very name Of
any Of the old household virtues, like a
red rag to a turkey, set the whole flock
to gObbling and strutting. Did any un-
fortunate lecturer, OF newspaper, dare
to recommend that the female mind, in
stead of turning to the Presidency,
should disport itself in the good old
channels of thrift and economy, strait
way the sisterhoOd shouted out-"Thrift
and economy, say shackles and slavery!
Our burdens will fall on broader should
ers 0 You men tried to work us
down, and you couldn't do it. You tried
to write us down and failed. Wescrub-
bed your floors, and cooked your din
ners, and washed your dirty brats, and
You screwed us into pantry key holes to
watch your meat and flour, and see it
wasn't wasted, and you stuck our hearts
with a thousand needles, if your buttons
We're not sewed on, or your pants smooth
~ ironed. You firted with every pretty
face You met; but woe to the wife who
watched with red eyes for her tyrant's
return. Thrift and economy indeed?
We to stint and you to spend? It is the
old story Of Tire mes bottles over again,
only we won't pull off your boots any
more, and we UaB pull your nose if we
feel disposed. Fools ARE we, vain friv-
olous idiots?' Well, then, tete foUe a
cGsse tete eide, and our movements will
put a little sense in your empty noddles."
This, in very plain language, is what
the Shriekers tell us on all occasions.
They find no change for the better be-
tween the ancient mode of dealing with
their sex, and modern civilization. They
tell us that, in France and Russia, they
plowed women instead of oxen in the
fields; but, at least, they loosened them
at noontide, and gave them food and
drink. They had no responsibility but
to draw a fHrrow strait; but, unlike the
modern women, their responsibilities did
not lead everywhere. They take isola-
ted instances of the cruelty of man to
woman, and make it a general evil. In
fact the Reformers IN this country have
been SO wild and outrageous in their
abuse, and demands, thatthe good which
more reasonable protest might have
secured, is not yet within their grasp.
The movement began in this country
but its strength and dignity lies else
where. England, France, Germany find
their reformers in the upper classes.
Women who. moved to pity by the SUI
ferings of their sex, are striving to open
new channels of industry. They wish
to make their sisters independent of
men, but that independence not bought
by reversing all the laws of nature.
More varied work, and higher wages, a
removal of certain legal disabilities, and
restrictions, a development of the fe-
maleminds, to the extent Of its powers,
bounds their demands. They are in a
fair way of being granted, for they are
the simple requirements Of modern civil
lization, which insists upon equality of
human rights, as far as equality is COM
patible with natural laws.
A woman, with mind and heart fully
developed, understands that her work,
whatever it may be, differs from that of
a Many tllingssh can do as swell,
If not better; but, in others in which he
excels, she will never be but an humble
aDprentiee-never, in any case, amaster.
Her nice moral balance will weigh the
fitness of things, and though it may de-
NJ her the g~eneralship of armies, or the
i~solationof q statesman, twill point her
to other duties wlliehact upon the we'll
being Of society with as much force as
q we'll fought battle or q wise law.
It is only the half educated, or the
badly educated women, who are in the
ranks of the rabid sisterhood. Wewant
the thoroughly educated, to sweeten the
mess they are trying to force down our
throats.
William B. Merchant and James w.
Jackson, editors respectively Of the
Brashear Newsstand the Opelousas Journ-
al, have just returned from the Press
Convention at Baton Rouge, and are
stopping atthe st. Charles Hotel. They
no doubt heard it hintedthat the papers
they represent are at the head Of the
c0untry press of this State. If not, it
was because people respected their mod
na%u Enw &hn&a 2#4x l. 80