The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1873-06-11

ments. About 827O, 900 are spent an
nually upon what is called the seconda-
ry education of boys, and only a paltry
sum Of between $4,000 and "a, 200 on
that of girls. Christ's hospital, a great
London endowment left by our ances-
tors for the benefit of persons of both
sexes, bestows a frst-rate education on
1000 boys, and supports 26 girls, only
fitting them for domestic service and
though many Of the abuses of the
schools have been examined into by
Parliament, this neglect 'of girls has
passed unheeded. If members had the
fear Of those most concerned before
their eyes these things would not be.
But the greatest lion in the path of
this reform is the assertion that it is in
consistent with religion. The Bible is
called in "to do duty" as it has in
times past in favor of slavery, polyga-
my, and monarchial ~despotism. Byield
to none in my respect for that book, but
it seems to me that those who really
reverence its teaching and seek inspira-
ton from above, remembering that the
letter "killeth but the spirit giveth
life" must see that Gods government
Of the world is n of gradual continu-
GUS progression. st. Paul, in his most
inspired moments, had a glimpse of the
future destiny Of women, when he ex-
claimed "There is neither Jew nor
Greek, neither bond OF free, neither
male nor female, for ye are all one in
Christ Jesus" IF one book more than
another teaches us that the promise to
the two X of the life that now is and
that which is to come are equal, their
hopes identical, that each has to play
it's own part in tho advancement of the
truth which is so vital to both, each to
be a helpmeet for the other, that "nei-
ther is the man without the woman nor
the woman without the man, THAT book
is the Bible.
"All arguments in favor of female
suffrage" say some of our opponents,
fare based upon this pernicious doc
trine of equality" Nothing of the
kind. Inequality only affords to a gen.
erous mind an argument of overwhelm-
ing force against increasing, by artificial
means, the natural difficulties under
which m labor. The fact that
they are weaker is another reason for
protecting their interest the belief that
they are mentally deficient should be
followed by more earnest efforts to Sc
cure,for them q better education and
training. If women are so es-
.sentially different from men, all the
more need to hear their opinions re-
speeding their own concern and the |
more we acknowledge this, the less
right We have to hand over, to those
who see things from a different point of
view, their education, subsistence and
employment, and to deny them the vote
which ensures q fair hearing from mem
oers of Parliament, who cannot disre-
gard with impunity any section of their
constituents. The old argument that
operatives were represented by their
employers never convinced British
.orkmen, and has now ceased to affect
5he Legislature. Why, then, should
representation, which is repudiated by
class Of my countrymen, be con-
'idered sufficient for women?
And lastly, those opposed to this
movement tell us that if this reform be
PRESSED to it's ultimate issue women will
ose their modesty, love of home and
hildren, and become unsexed. In spite
i the deep gulf they place between
len and women in former assertions, it
impossible, at this point, to
lake them believe that wofnen will re-
lain women to the end of time in spite
+ the franchise. It is my deep belief
4 the characteristic differences of men
nd m which leads me to plead for
honest cooperation of both in all p,
nat pertains to the interests of human
y. 1t was not found good for man to
We alone in Paradise, and it is not
God for him to work alone in anything !.
hich relates to the social progress of :
world and while politics may be ,
'oked at on II side from a hard and :
point Of sight, it must never be !
that they also include all :.
lose subjects of deep intellectual =
easure which alone make life worth =
and from which women cannot :
excluded with impunity. :