Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-11-07
For the Sentinel.
Woman's Rights.

general, has been SO respectful, considerable
and tender, toward the opposite sex, that they
appear TO dwell very little upon grievances
and disparities At the same time, no gener-
Gus, impartial well-informed Christian can
fail to deprecate the disadvantageous influen-
ces bearing upon the female sex, universally,
in q greater or less degree, in the past and pres
ent, who does not find much that should be
ameloraied under his or her immediate obser-
vation, and who may not discern golden posi-
| bilities attainable in the future, not to women
only, but to mankind generally, that would
give a lively interest TO the subject, if diyesied
of those obliquities it has so unfortunately as
sumed AT the North.
| We can but feel that noble object would
be attained if the minds of our people could
be aroused to active, sympathetic watchful-
ness, for the reason that outside the broad field
of general benefcence and elevation to which it
raises our regards-the bereaved, impoverish-
ed condition Of the South and the inevitable
struggle with adversely, that for one genera
ton at least, must fall to the lot of large
class of sef-dependent females, should render
it to us a matter of profound concern.
| 1t now requires no great prophetic genius to
fortell that the civilized world will soon be
awakened by the calls of woman. Like le-
tbargic gianless she does Enthusiastically open
her drowsy eyelids md move the passive hands
anon. With reference only to more recent in
dications in Europe, some of the strongest So
| cial influences and most prominent intelleets
are declaring for reform. Among Influences,
| it is only necessary to mention the Crown
| Princess of Prussia, the much-admired daugh-
ter of Victoria; among intelects. the accom-
pished and profound Dora d Istria, and among
significant facts the new fields of labor re-
Gently opened in Germany. The advanced
thought Of the age, the Christian spirit, the
power Of truth combined with oil the Bobler
Determinations Of justice are arraying them
| selves, evidently, on the side of the weaker sex
| That which is most needed in every effort
for the advance Of the female sex, and that
which, in contest with the spirit and usages
of the world must constitute its only efficient
armor, is true womanly discretion--a discre-
ton founded upon cordial acknowledgment
]
wage any war Of discord upon men that is
gentle and incapable of all hostility except
| that just indignation necessary TO expose and
cast out the serpent so long brusing the help
less heel. A discretion at once planted in clear
apprehension of Gods will, and nourisbed by
an undying trust in Christianity alone to lead
on to every desirable triumph.
1t must always be a source of regret that all
| great reforms are liableto dverge into so many
unhappy extremes. Fanaticism must rush to
the front The narrow, the ungentle, the'vul-
| gar, must run into violence, unsound, pre-
sumptuous and coarse behavior, and in all
things concerning woman the delicaces are
all the more easily offended
But we Of this age must judge all things
| from facts and principles. and may not fall
back and refuse, because some evil-inclined
are opposed. Everything is lost without faith
| and courage, fortitude and loyalty, and we
should fear to deny Christ in anything, even
though our speech betray us 10 prejudice and
persecution.
What we propose 10 accomplish, and what
the genius Of this age must create for woman
is higher culture, new but suitable stations
and emplovments, elevation of domestic labor
with an improvement of its arrangements and
appliances, a revision of the regulation of the
laws of property, &c. But to accomplish these
ends, woman must become her own special
and peculiar advocate, not in public places,
before legislative halls, at the ballot and the
hustings, but at home and in her circle She
| must make a persistent appeal TO man, not re-
| lying on personal force so much as power in
all the notler principles to sway his better ma
ture in her favor; leading him to see how the
highest interests are involved in the solution
Of her cause, and satisfying his reason that
cultivation Of intellect and extended privilege
cannot disquaIify her for her position of low
ing subsection.
| 1t is the duty Of the woman of this age to
plead for her sex, not looking to its more for
tunate condition where it happens TO require
no buwark or defence or relief, but where it
is unnotced, unsustained, neglected and for
saken. She must havethe courage to open
wide the portals, that truth and justice may
lead in the spirit of charity She must raise
the curtains that this Heavenly spirit may be
touched by the hopeless disappointments of
hearts TO where high resolve and constant pur-
pose the world offers no possible reward, and
from the mind contracted and depressed by
burthens that cannot be lightened from the
wheels of divnely adjusted machinery, INSULT
Gent and worthless in the mes, of conventional
inactivity, and from the WORKOUT and disor-
dered physical system, staggering under the
rayages of unwholesome occupations; from the
Borrowing bewiderment of embarrassing ma
lures that cannot understand why in their par
ticular cases all the ends of Gods Providen-
tial care are thwarted, and from the dismal
despair of the bafiled and subjugated spirit
whose manacled hands can only trail It's bright
ideals, once gay with rainbow hopes now all
torn aud bruised and soiled upon the dust.
Let US but ask that the women of this Sec
ton will not falter 10 The good work in which
many are engaged. Let them but go with
Mary to the sepulcher, livery early in the
morning, as it begins to dawn" Even should
they shrink back trembling, like her, before
the shining angels that watch over the siRes-
direction andthe Life" They, too, will hear
their voices prolonged all along down the
course of centuries, 'sWoman, why weepest
thou n And they, too, will listen to con-
tinued wall of helpless grief, "hecause they