, 1874-08-30
THE SUBJECTION OF WOMEN.

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bear an equal ahure with NAL in the burdens 0
the State, there is growing disposition to re-
lease her from all responsibility for the only siu
against society which cannot be committed with
out her partnerahip+ The custom OF branding
the woman with an tndelible odium, and leavint
the man the freedom OF society, seems to be Civ
ing place to an opposite one scarcely less unfai1
or u,ischievous. Tho change may be ephemeral
but illustrations Of it are at hnnd.
The admiration which Mrs Tiltons "purity 81
suffered most from her breaking several OF tn,
commandments is fresh in the memory Of tht
observing moralist. And II Elizabeth is the
full corn in the ear, ''Dessie" should be con.
sidered the blade at least
a gentleman at Indianapolis in Ii obituary ot
Lis daughter, who committed suicide upon find.
ing herself overtaken by the consequences Of
her sin. describes her ''profound vcneratioI
| for the Deity" and hor - sublime con
| fdence in," not only her Makers ''justice,
but in her own idcaa Of tho samo.
" She told her story to her father, and pleaded
for forgiveness, not 50 much for her sin as fol-
the want OF confidence ia hun" Then all was
| forgiveness" and then al WAS suicide and
gave nearly tho full measure Of his desertH to the
monster who had wrought ruin upon his home.
But supposine the guilt OF the aggrcssor (who is
| the male animal nearly always in such cascs) to
EA "A il nF1>bnbtv in af np1
that e1ouerate his victim from all blame Or.
| in other words even If he is brute for whom
no scorn can bo too hot, ia she to be pronounced
being OF exceptional innocence and sanctity 7
But if this is the pardonable outbu1st OF d
stricken father, the case at Jersey City presents
the samo theory deliberately indorsed by public
opinion. a young woman dies in childbirth
fathering her child upon clergyman Of the
place, who, sho further declared, hsd Beduced
'her under promise Of marriage. The accused,
it is said, holds certificate Of his innocence,
signed BY the girl, forced from her. it ia claimed,
by her iniurer. An immense and intense pub
lilo meeting. while requesting the in
dictment Of the accused by the Grand
Jury. bears testimony 10 the "puru,
honorable character and lady-ike deportmens Of
tho deceased until led astray," etc. Again we
join in the public reprobation OF the man in the
case, and again have no hesitation in believing
him by far more to blame OF the two; never
theless We must express our apprehension as to
the disposition Of the woman in the case, We
sympathizo with the popular anger at Jersey
City no loss than with the parental wrath at
Indianapolis but We must be allowed to fesr
lest there should come as much Of evil from this
apotheosis OF the woman as Of good from
this hatred OF the man. We presume no
one will deny that the social constitu-
ton, IS We understand it III this country,
does not admit of the woman consenting to be
"led assray" any more than it admits Of the
mans leading her astray. Perhaps no one will
venture to affirm that the woman. however
'lAdy-like ' in her department, or however active
in her church relations, or however sanity :" in
the estimation OF her relatives, may yield, even
under promise Of marriage, without damage to
her character and peril to society. Granted that
she ia the weaker vessel. perhaps it would be
just as well for the public morals il she should
become stronger. Suppose she is "the victim
OF misplaced confidence" would it not be adyiss-
BILE for her to be little mora ohary Of her
T. contidence?"
At all events, now that the elevation of woman
is the chief end OF man, it might be OF use to
tako into consideration this peculiar element Of
her subjection. It is soca1 question. Woman
ia one half Of society, and it is conceded by |
that society is her "sphore," what
ever else is, or is not her sphere. Therein abe |
is supposed to rule by human, as well as divine, !
right. The social relations Of the sexes are |
therefore largely intrusted to her guardianship.
at that outpost she cannot be too ~strong- |
minded" since, ii she "a falls there. tho enemy
will come in On US like flood. Whoever may
share in her guilt, and however anall Ter share
in it may be, all arc involved in its copso-
luences. Let her champions awaken tho public
mind, especially the fonale mind, to realiza-
lion of this, and wo shall have fewer oppor-
tunitiea for repudiatng tho man and more occa-
sion for applauding the woman in the case.