New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-21
Dir. Beecher on WOman's Rights.

DEAD Oil or Win coal Tar, WHICH repeIS the
worm and preserves the material, is pro-
| lection.
Dir. Beecher on W0man's Rights.
Mr.. Beechers address was delivered in
his usual acceptable spirit, which is equiva.
lent to saying that it was mixed largely
with the humorous passages that are more
than mere incidents in his speeches. He
began with a reference to his first public
utterances in the lecture room in regard TO
the right and expediency OF woman's speak.
ing upon the public platform, which was in
1856 Then, said he, it was regarded as a
sentiment 80 out of the way that people
were accustomed to think it a kind of lest
and tolerated it as one Of those points in
lecture which tended to make it interesting
I was in earnest then, and those women to
whom God had given the gift of oratorv
were, fortunately, women of strong moral
convictions, whose hearts were in the wei
fare of the Commonwealth. 1t has long
since ceased to he a question of .propriety
or expediency. Not only has this matter
been settled, but it has settled down in
such q way that merely because a woman
is to speak no person will turn out; it is
not now curiosity to hear them. but only
the anticipation of getting instruction. as in
the case of men, and this is as 1t should be.
But Immediately following came the ques-
ton of woman's right to other forms of
activity in public life: and the whole cues.
ton of woman's right to participate in civil
affairs has been raised, and that is all CON-
pretended in the suffrage movement
Now, be it understood, l don't advo-
cate anything that shall change the
essential womanliness of woman, and pro-
ject her out of her proper sphere. II l
thought the granting OF these rights would
make her less excellent as a woman, as a
sister or daughter; less admirable as a wife
and companion and counsellor; less rev.
erend as a mother, my tongue should cleave
to the root OF my mouth before l would
utter one single word to produce such dis
astrous results but believe it would make
her larger-hearted and larger-minded, and
that when she is larger-hearted and minded
she is better daughter better sister.
better wife and mother; and, finally better
citizen. 1t is because l hold that the house
hold Is the foundation institution of society.
and that we can not make;its foundations
too deep nor too permanent and because
We can not do too much for it, that advo-
cate larger sphere for women
In the first place, disabuse your minds of
the idea that any one urges any woman to
speak who doesn't want to speak All We
say Is. when it pleases God to give to wo-
man the gift of painting, of carving, of
building, or speaking, she has right to the
i
ask for unobstructed liberty for women to
do that which God has fitted her to do we'll.
1 don't argue that it is the duty of every
woman to be politician, and still less a
stump speaker. l only ask for liberty. 1t
has been said that the exercise of those
rights will make her virile, taking from the
pliancy, and the delicacy, and the sweet
ness, and cilnglng habits of woman; that
I ne charm OF woman is in the half lights.
the tints, and that the moment Won
thrust her out into the hard sunlight
and the blare you take away that
shrinklngness and tenderness and exquisite
bloom we so love to see in her. If | thought
so l would withdraw my advocacy. We
have men enough, such as they are. and we
don't want to add doubtful men to the
numoer; NO; 1t Is for the sake of clothing
that robust strength of man with other
elements that do not belong to them that
we bring them in, so that the community
shall have the benefit of all the minds
which God has made, and not the beneGt of
only one side of those minds. We DOM
think man is losing his manhood when he
becomes kinder and more gentle, like wo-
man, nor DO we think woman is any less
woman because she employs the larger
qualities that she possesses. and that here
.ofore have seemed to rest in the province
)f man.
l must say l can not respect the nreiu.
Ices of Christian men and women who
,hink the whole question is settled bv the
ext OF Scripture. They say Paul WonlI
let allow woman to preach. | take the
arger view OF this matter, and aver that
Ill OF those great principles which stand
'elated to purity of character, and ali
hose truths which determine the divinitv
If human nature, working men nm from !,
over plane toward higher and spiritual.
ire OF authority; and that in the new dis
,ensatlon under Jesus Christ no policy ia
IT any authority. There is nothing in the
lew Testament that says the church. or the
chooi, or household, shall take pars,cn-
ar form. The directions that were local
lnd temporary. for the then juvenile
we're of authority to them, but the.
lon't bind us; and the token is this, that al.
most universal enlightened Christendom has
eased practically to uphold a view of tbe
view Testament which theoretically thew
TIL urge in the form of an objection. I mean
nis|that while 1t Is held by the Brooklyn
'resbytery that woman is not allowed to
reach or teach, 1t is not held that a woman
not permitted to be at the head of a mission
ry society, to go from church to church. to
AK In iecture-rOOms everywhere, to con-
uct sabbath schools, Bible classes, etc.
MI That they are not permitted to do is to
tand in particular place called pulpit,
no talk about it. They may 90 on and
york all they desire, but the Pharisees say
hey must not talk about it.
In regard to women's voting, some say,
7hy should she 60 out to vOtel What is the
ecessity of it! Can you tell me any reason
Thy men should vote9 1t has always been
q all ages the reason advanced by kings
Thy their subjects should not vote that you
dvance why woman should not vote There
never such question raised in regard to
duchess or queen, and this is just be-
ause che is advanced by political position
eyond the common herd. Now, what is
OF too good for a duchess or queen Is
OF too good for my wife. What they hold
Dr. arlstocracy there, hold for democracy
ere. Suppose you 60 with your wife to a
rimary, do you suppose there would be
ucb scenes in that primary as are seen in
'rooklyn9 Primaries are not the most favor.
BILE points from which to view Democratic
lstitutions. 1t won't do to point to excep.
onal instances here and there, and behold.
e the mistakes and exaggerations, say,
There that is always the way with wo-
len!" For the mistakes and exaggerations
light have been seen from the first. All
1at is necessary is to try her, and you will
70 that she will put new life and new