, 1874-07-19

creased from generation to generation, and hav
| been the origin Of the cIiyai7ous instincts, witt
MI the poetry asld sentiment OF which they for1
| part, IN chiEallous races and Individuals. Sid
| by side, however, with these instincts ennobl1n
Womau there would exist tendency to the dc
| ve1opment in her Of that
| GENERAL wEAKSES9 AND 1NdArAcrTY
| which always follow dsuse OF powers, just a.
far as that development was not modified by in
| heritance Of qualltios from the fathers, by The
| stimulating effects OF an Intensified enotionn
| life, and BY the discipline of those vicesitudes
| to which sha was still subject. In many instan
ces il which families, and races doubtless the 10
1ale incapacity and weakness inherited from
the mother, and increased by the lie of tlae iu
dividual. would bo accompanied by strong ani.
nal and british instincts inherited from the
father; and, in such races, woman would uevita
bly, become the object OF mans contempt and
Ills dcgradad slave; while such races would not
tend towards civilization. Tho first associations
Of man, following tho family, we're in tribes
(Which Wefo simply an extension OF the
family; and then conquests ct tribes
BY tribes, creating governments OF brute
OF such external environments, womsns posi-
tlon Of protection, md limitation Of her actlvi-
ties to maternity and ralatd occupations, was
probably
ESSENTIAL TO TIE ExsTERCE or TIE RACE
But by it. rather rs tho result of it. there have
b1ue WILL lQQtu ktA44+ - d1l41O-
bling and refining, many evd tendencies, and an
undue exag9erRtion Of soue desires 80 power
fully active III both sexcs tl1as they seetn to tho
ordinary observer necessary part Of human
nature- At the Entne time, these results Of
woman's past and prnsent poaiGon are no more
dua to mans choice or will concerning It than to
woman's.
Together they havo struggled (through all the
varying experiences OF countless generations OF
races and Individually from the low rsnges Of
their primitive existence to such heights OF
power and insight as they have yot attained.
Together they must mount still higher, or
descend. Man cannot leave woman permanently
behind.
AZ human life has arisen to higher and finer
conditions, many social ragua hons, and customB
usoful in one period, have become harmful aad
hindrance to further PROCESS in tho next.
And this Is precisely analogous TO the general
law Of organized lifo everywhere, which Is. TINT
special activity Of function, or set Of funo-
ions, tends inevitably. ii long continued, 10 a
DEGENERACI OF THE 0ESEnAL ORGANISM.
tion 60 specialized, until at last ooues utter
ruin, nnless the tendency is eounteracted BY
something stimulating the genera functional
activity OF checking the special one.
There are indications in the montal moral, and
physical condition of women in I'll civilized
races today Of the action OF this Law. Neither
ti1no nor inclination fayors an annlygia OF 1lon
here
But this much may be said: That aa no
would not hopo to got tho best re-
suits Of rts1t1l power IN any given
lumbar Of people BY an exaggerated e.
checking their other activities, that their
strength might be loft for sight alone; or by
teachtng them that the proper exercise Of their
eyes shonld be determined less BY thek own de-
sire 70 SEQ than By tho general estimate OF tho
need that things should be seen: 80 we hnve no
hight to hope for the best renuits Of human
motherhood by similar methods, but rather
through the most perfect and harmonious deve1-
opmant Of woman
AZ L HUMAN BEING.
For this, among many other reasons it seems
light that women should ask that, in the future,
their best performance OF their special work az
mothers, should gradually cease to be
either by social custom or legis-
alton, with needless limitations OF their activi-
les, or with any curtalmeuts Of their rights
lud privileges as individuals, because OF their
Icx. Looking to that end, the admission of
gomcn to the suffrage Seems to be the first |
md most practicable step in the right dirac- |
ion. It is not probable that it would long be |
nore T1puguant TO masculine instincts than |
LIE admission of women to temples Of wor- |
hip, or to sit aide by side with man at the
able of the Lords Snnpor, in the newly
Gontils nations Of old, for in-
tnnce.
But it is sometimes ronteudcd that, il the !
interests of men and women ara identical, tue
xtenslon Of the right of suffrage to women
3 simply supeThuous; as man must be- now
aking care OF Eonlat,'s interests in caring for
liz own. This erroz arrises from confonudng
Of interests with identity of ability to
them, which is
CLEARLY Bo1ETuIE8 vERT DIFFERENT.
'he question is not. Gao man leeislate for al
aore wisely than WOMEN could do?--but whether