The Van Buren press., 1874-04-07
A Woman.s Say.
EpiToR or Tue Press

on the subject Of utemperance, ] send
you the following, believing every wo-
man In the land should see il, that all
classes may more fully understand the
great magnitude Of their wrongs. and
know how to strike at the foundation Of
the pyramid of misery and woe, that for
years has been heaping upon their aching
heads and breaking hearts.
While heartily iadorse all plans for
totally removing the great social evil, ]
cannot think the abolishing Of public o..
looms and dran-shops would wholly
eradicate the banefu cause Like oil
other evils we must strike at the root to
effect a permanent reform. 1t 10 mans
fault that thi. heathenish, degrading hab-
it has been more cxcusable In them than
woman, like all their other usurped
rghts) J, much as they squirm and wriggle
and try to fall back on their ancient an
cesters noble plan of laying it on the
woman But il the woman will IL, this
savage monstrosity cannot exist much
longer. Man has excused himself for
breaking two or more Of the command
ments on the same plea. One Of which
is fully as criminal but more delicate and
therefore more difficult to handle. Par.
don this digression.) The two vices 60
together and are excused precisely in the
same manner, 80 / wish to kill two birds
with one stone, ard the woman to do the
same. Very few women ever take to
either Of these vices Of their own free
will, while, on the other hand, thousands
of men do diily Now, want to make
little illustration, so that all can see the
awful partialty that is practieed in judg-
ing these two criminals. To men
would say, you call yourselves the
stronger sex and woman weaker. But
oh man sue is the stronger Of the two.
For has she not through all ages. prinei-
palities and power, expressions aud
temptations, remained pure with some
exceptions 9--and they the very weakest.
And you, you helped her, did your With
your great strength you lifted her from
the slippery path, then gave her your
strong arm for support until she was able
to stand, then bade her kindly friends
farewell, with many injunctions to avoid
the pitfalls ever after ?--and extended
your benevulence still further by coun.
selling her concerning the way she should
] 20, even SO far as to lend her your eye
glass that she might see her way more
clearly? With some exceptions ! say
no. Alas, more's the pity: How many
poor creatures. with scarce one ray of
light, or one pltying glance or one kind
hand outstretched 10 save them, have
stumbled on to their destruction. Or
mayhap they have trusted to your SO.
called stronger intellect to guide and lead
them, and have learned, q God, when il
was too late, that they we're lost, be-
trayed, deserted and left In utter dark.
ness and despair If this Is your boasted
strength and bravery, why then must
say you have triumphed to the highest
point Of excellence.
From the first it was not so, but from
the hardness Of your hearts yc suffered
it to be. He that is without sin among
you let him first cast the stone. I" Now,
ladies, remember man is no more ex
cusable than q woman remember too,
that in drinking or what not They have
established the law TO judge and con-
dcmn woman by Now let us meet il
out to them measure for measure.
One more little illustration to show
how foully and deeply injustice has been
dealt, and close my remarks. Suppese
l am woman and have o young sister
who is very loving and eon6ding by M
ture, and through mans pernicious
treachery and vile deceptive art, she 10
induced to fall. Men have said to east
her out, she has dishonored her fathers
name, and no more deserves place at
the fireside or to wear the parental name,
as she has committed this unpardOnable
crime, 1t would be stain upon my name
and blemish on my character to give
her so much rs one kind look. II 10 the
custom, loose the mo0rings and set the
frail barque adrift among the treacherous
breakers, without either helm or compass,
to bo beat about by the pitiless storms,
and at last driven into the clutches OF tho
mercless whirlpool and enguIfed In the
ravenous clasm Of destruction. Are not
the savages whs slay the female children
outright more msreiful2 Certainly death
is preferable thousand times. Andyet
in most all communities this is the pre-
vailing custom.
Again. on the other hand, ifmy strong
minded, self reliant brother. by his own
waywardness, sensuaity aud head-strong
willrulness. should right in the very face
of mothers and sisters counsels, appeals
and warnings, topic over the verge ofthe
precipce and fall, why there are hundreds
TO help lit him up, and smooth out the
crcases. wipe OFT the soiled places and
excuse or cover up the tattered portion
of his backened character And II you
do not do everything in your powcr to
help him back to the top, even II he per-
sists in tumbling back to the bottom sew
eral times, why you will have an ava.
lanche Of censurc hurled down upon your
o WIN head. (Remember the result il II
had been your sister.
The remedy is: Dole Quito him meas
ure for measure, even to the most dtm!n-
utive fraction. au
Men as general thing are not in real
ity more fond of the fallen class OF wo.
a =