Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-10
A Just PIes.-The Truth Fifty Spoken.


Whereas, in the past history of this State more
man one million of dollars has been voted by the
| Legislature for the endowment and maintenance OIL
colleges, semnaries, academies, and high schools
almost entirely devoted to the education OF the male
portion OF the population; and whereas, there has
been maintained a state Reform School for boys
nearly twenty years and without the aid OF ndivd
nal donations, therefore
Resolved, That 1t Is the sense OF the convention
and the prayer of the women OF Maine, that the
present Legislature should Immediately vote a sum
equal to the amount offered by Mrs. flagg, Mrs
Dummer and Hon Abner Cobuin, Tor the establish
ment of an Indus trial School at JIallowel for the
welfare ofthe iendless little girls of the State to
the end that they may be saved to society and the
state CORES pondngly bcnchued.- Maiae Womai!
Sngrdge CoHreHti0H.
Whatever may be the force ofthc argument
f25- or against the question of granting politi,
rights, and the exercise of the electoral fran
chse to women, i. will not be denied that there
is contained in the above resolution an incon.
trovertblc truth of great weight and impor-
lance. None win deny that in the past policy
OF tins State in respect TO institutions for the
education and elevation of society, there has
been remarkable preponderance towards
whatever cares for the male sex. If former
generations reasoned that woman was inferior
70 man, and should be treated accordingly, it
sill not be questioned that our eyes are now
fully open to this striking injustice to those
who are TO be the mothers of the next genera.
ton. 1t is time that the elected representa-
tives Of the whole people wiped out this sad
discrimination against part of the people.
But the proposed Industrial School for Girls
is strong enough to stand on its own inherent
merits. If ever there was reasonable and
Just measure, that now pending for the en-
dowment OF the Industrial School is one.
Three generous persons have agreed to give
the sum Of $l2 500, provided the State will
give an equal amount. The State has no right
to cali on individuals to this extent. 1t is
bound to guard and care for its defenceess,
powerless children on whose reformation and
safety. the welfare of the State depend. The
advantages to be obtained Ivy the institution
are in 10 sense local, but general. All at,
tempts to array country towns against it are
as tallacious as they are uDpatriotic. Such
appeals to narrow and local prejudice will ap-
ply equally to all our educational and reform
atory Institutions The towns and cities are
members OF the same body,-they prosper by
common blessings, they suffer together by
common evils and misiortunes. Humane rea.
sons as we'll as State economy demand that
these little girls should be tendefly cared for
in season. IL is easier and cheaper to educate
them to industry and usefulness than to pun
sh them or take care of them after they be-
proved that this class of girls is much more
easily moulded to virtue and industry than a
similar class of boys. if taken in season, and
at less expense.
The plea may be urged that the present f.
nances Of the State are not in a condition to
make the asked for grant. There never has
been time when this plea has not been made
against the earnest demands of humanity and
reform. There never will be time when av-
arice and prejudice will not seek thus to stit,e
the lleadings OF humanity and justice. Post
pone this question 10 lo1J, to 1876, orany fu-
ture year within the next twenty years, and
the plea would still be urgeG-the finances
are no; in d condition 10 throw saving barriers
around defenceiess little girls being trampled
under feet and doomed to a fate worse than
death. This real truth IS the State cannot az
ford that this wasteiul expenditure of the best
interests Of society should longer continue. II
interests are to be pinched and stinted they are
certainly not the life er ersies and opportuni-
ties Of fatherless, nc,horlcss, fTie2dless little
girls.
The State has made careful provisions for
the deaf, blind, dumb, and the insane, for the
education OF men for Agriculture, Law, Med
ieinc, Theology, and the Arts. Strong legal
protection has been thrown around various
dumb animals. and the fish OF the streams,
rivers, ponds, and lakes have been cared for.
For twenty years the boys have had the Re-
form School. Shall the helpless, defenceless
girls, having none to receive them into prop
CT homes or 10 care tor their welfare, stand
alone as the isolated monument of cold, pitt
less neEleet:
4 CITIZEN OF THE COUNTRY.