, 1874-03-06
THE WOMEN'S CRUSADE.


Views OF MIS-. Aum1rtlI DllltAErcns
10 tho Editor n Washington Repu1:ean:
SIR: OF course AO one but tho tOperB them-
Bolyes, vino arotat o1!co tho lupcs, victims, aud
parabltos OF tho 1ifuoF-dealorA,- QUO hut
those miserable unfortunates can fcol any direct
regret Or personal pity for tho troubles Which
III it to DO wondered ut that fa,ntical xoal should
uHe as its ready Instruments tho sorrowing wo-
mon WHO Lave suffered 10 long IN silence from
tho hoart1oBs go!d-sreel which Dominates the
Wtiakey-rendor.
We're his ali, we might, it not active holnors
OF such q movement, at least look on, holding
that eence which gives consent. But This is not
au; for VIC bol!old, i'll this intenporate cpl
denlic now raging among 30 many communities
Of wonsoti, formidable rebellion against Inv
and order.
4 false theory, once seized by tho nlasRcs, IL
nll tho moro to be dreaded where, aH in this
case, some real grievance il to be redressod, :,
but "two wrongs mover yet madc right, and
no excesscs can bc moro dangerous than those
Which bcar q scnlblance OF truth; for whore q
musk Of virtue is worn tho righteous, If possi-
bo, nlay be deceived.
Let us i'll this caae tcnr away nil sophistical
subterfugo aud ask tho p]aiu question: How
aro VIC to DO at ono and tho Hanlo tmo Goa-foar-
ing and law-broaking?
Our lnws are subYorsiyo Of natural right; lot
uB leglAate anew. But can legislation reach tho
moral atninB which arise from the uuregenerate
heart 4 true temperance movement must be,
on as n Se 6ssed sr as6sa to aad to m oauso S
tho corrupt heart; but thlB passionate outbreak
this furious, fanaticnl action comes not from
above, nor cau it tiu H"nsen'H worh, 1arupt, !n-
deed, pelchauco, NJ a sinful instrument used by
God III his wrath to puniah sin. Yet the causo
Of thcae suffering wives and mothera il too
pure, too holy, to bo thus perverted.
We plead for TINT which most nonrly concerns
the general welfare. and which, il tlle wllirl Of
tLis seothing cyclone, has been lost Bight of; VIC
plead for the rights Of thcse nlon as cltlzos. So
long Us their trnic iB protected by Inv let thoro
10 40 Invasion Of their sacred riglls. Stgiko
highcr, strike doeper! Elizabeth Cady Stanton
is right whcn ahe dcsignatca this crusade az
"n.0b law aud Bhe may now 500 aoMo Of Tue
results Of that disregard for law perslBtently
preached by herself aud by Susan .. Anthony III
their presont attitude aGainst established law as
feGalda tic suffrage question. Of auch ls tho
Commune. and what Ii tic Commune7 Why,
simply organizod aubvorsion Of Inv to moot out
side interpretation Of right. If n mob OF wonlon
may bo allowed to attack mud invade the privats
rights Of ono class OF mon. and whole communi-
ties are guilty Of tho uoral cowardice of failing
to yndiGato their common rights, then what
next2 Who Gull foroYeo tllc direction which the
advancing tide Of fanaticlsm may tnke3 The lis
tory OF religious excitemcntB furnishes tho most
extraordinary yasarics OF tho human mind, which
have led to tho most fatal aetion III tile namo OF
truth.
If bands of wrongod women are to t1e allowed
to destroy tile rights Of citixols without lot or
liudsauco, aud III their bnu zeal sweop away
our common protection, NO again aak, Whit
next2 There aro lkcwise starving bnula Of
men aud women, with unpaid labor due thenl
in our midst. Why Should they wait for tho SLOW
action Of tho law2 Why not wrost from those
in opulent power The needed relief, and claim
ny their lpgin instcc-right? Why not rob tho
bloatod contractor III Lis patatial homo for he,
too, has robbed tho people. Why let ono stonn
rest upon auothor Of tho lordly mansion Of that
greedy uBuror, wlsero bloud-luoney il stamped
upon tho worry portals? Why should tho poriBl-
ing BunnlHtroBH behold other women ride about III
easy carriages, dressed n silks and revets, for
tho making OF which she remains HnpAil Yet
MI these things aro wrong, foully WRONG; they
cry to high heaven for redress, and yet allall mob
law arise to do Vengeance for theBo aul every
othor right violated TLon, indeed, shall we
wade knoc-kcep in btreann Of blood helpless VIC
tins Of our own moral weakneBs, while the red
flag Of the Commune trisl!nphs. Aud iB tlliB tho
wAy to clrcut any real reform 7 No! no! thou~
arrested. The worry Clasa Of Men who beforo wcro
friendloss laye now real wrong and with this
mighty weapon they will soou turn back from tho
r0ut AZ victofa
Tho present outcry resembles a fierce prairle-
fire TINT doyastatos limitoHs plain, iirllug no
rosistauco Caught in the hot whirlwinl, the tall
woods Bhriyol aud perish, but the uoxious Bnake
slowly dyags to his kissing hiding place, from
whence he will egain arise, charged with added
yeioua, aud moro surely strike tho sunrod With
Ills deuth-dealing fang.
This nlomeutarY fury must soon o1pcnd itaolt,
having brought about no permanent reform, but
having only given LII tho dangerous example OF
violated LAW. NJ, VINToN DAuLu1lEN.