Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-08-13
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Can Man SHbstantiate His Claim to Supe-
riority Over Woman7

That there are men who have no wish TO
prove women as a class, inferior unto them
selves, l think | know. And, to such
extend my congratulations for needing the
admontion, "know myself" What consti.
tutes man, as u whole, superior to woman
Is it the tradition that is handed down to us
that he was created first? 1t is said that
"God saw that it was not good for man to be
alone, aud 10 made him a help.meet :" but
it does not say anything about her being an
inferior. Is it not a reasonable solution Of
the problem, that God saw that he was not
competent to take care of himself, and so
provided some one more capable to do it for
him2 Again, it is said, that Eve tempted
Adam to sin what consiste ncy an inferior
leading a superior astray his sentence
already pronounced the day that thou
eatest of the fruit of the tree of knowledge,
thou shalt surely die" But from the account
we have, think he must have ma de rapid
progress in few hours, for he acted very
much like some men Of our day, hides from
justice; but when at length dislodged from
his hidiDg-place, turns states evidence to
clear himself, and implicates-what? an in
ferior. Would any one feel safe in the hands
OF such man? If superior by nature, why
not refuse TO do what he was commanded not
to do; and so help her to overcome evil, by
initiating his superior mental and moral
strength But rs in the days Of Eve, so it is
now; man is not guilty Of committing sin it
is woman that docs all the mischief If we
had not woman for our mother, what
noble race we might yet become, with such
| all k,l Ill II
in rrmshops, beer saloons, billiard halls, and
all the bells Of iniquity which this age is
blessed with. Woman is excluded from the
ballot aud denied any voice or influence in
framing the laws TO which she Is under sub
lection. She has not mental capacity enough
to grasp and understand right from wrong.
The constitution Of the United States de-
clares, that free-boIn citizens at the age of
twenty-one are entitled to the elective fran
chise, by subscribing to tho oath of allegi ance,
Bat, woman is numbered among the goods and
chattols Of her master, and the lords of So
ciety, laughingy tell their sisters in the
grange, we allow you to vote here, make the
most Of it., for you can never vote anywhere
else. hatmarvelous condescension They
have no right under the constitution to deny
any citizen of the United States the privilege
Of voting, il they wish to avail themselves Of
the benefit Of 40 doing, male or female. 1t
is usurpaton of power which must fall il
the constitution is maintained and its pro.
visions adhered TO. Does any one think
Washington, who revered aud honored the
mother who watched his infancy and child
hood, intoxicating good, and Graduating evil
aud training him for honor aud usefulness
was as competent to judge what was for the
interest of the country at large, as the
drunken inebriate, who is supported on either
side by natures noblemen, that he may cast
his vote in favor of one Of whom he literally
knows nothing2 He has not his country
welfare at heart. He knows nothing OF the
issues at stake, aud cares less. 1t is run
which he votes for, and he has been as faith
full to his oath as his supporters aud abettor'
in crime have been to theirs. No man Of
common sense would allow a man intoxicated
TO do business for him individually his wore
would not be taken as evidence ia any cour
of justice. He is not himself, but under the
control and influence Of demon stronger
than himself
} l am not advocating womans rights, OF
> mans rights; but justice and equality that sea
: has nothing to do with intellectual ability
that woman is endowed with intellect by hel
/, Creator, as freely as man. and is responsible
for It's use unto Him, and not unto man, who ha
circumscribed her influence and set bound