New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-06-23
WOMAN,S PROGRESS.

souru II ,pLEY Mass. June 22.-The Commence
ment Exercises of the Mount Holyoke Seminary
were held to-day. ex-Gov. Alexander II. Bullock de-
Hverne an address on The Centennial Situation
of Woman" His first point of view was that OF So
eial science In Great Britain and the United States
very large proportion of women under the liberal
methods of modern industry, are to-day earning
their living This he regarded the most important
advance which woman has made during the CEN
fury. The need and supply of female industry has
proved to be of the most active agencies OF so
cial Improvement and has advanced the sex to in
dependence and equality The commercial spirit of
the age he said, had been woman's educator and
benefactor Her increased efficiency in the modern
industries had wrought a revolution in her civil
rights After referring to the rights now enjoyed by
Massachusetts women as illustrating the general
tendency of American legislation, he glanced at
marriage and womans rights:
Nor her relation TO marriage been less generously
touched By the hand OF lime Aceoi'llng 10 1ne ou
usages of England Of which the sanction and Oogatlon
u yet by the ecclesiastical laws ana the e9ces
ascs courts were infected by the spirit of the Papal
Church. and that spirit always fell upon women III inaui
mony with the force OF vermli0n edlct. Know M ~
may he SAID that in dealing with the two persons IN TINS
relation OF life, the same rule reached TO Doth parties
woman in their different spheres OF liberty aud aeti1n,
that o h Sr weaker side Where it found
the stronger side The questions wneh aiSe
To her property and chldrenthough that is grave
enough for most broad and solemn iustice-6ut they
involve ner right herself TO her selespect Ia GOOD
pace n the social scale to her maiden mediation TO
the freedom heart and the holiness OF her love
II may be granted that u the spirit OF inc espousa say
by "a sacramenta tie; but IL is not an eterna
contract under wrong IL our Own gTen' tng b ec"
plton of marriage as evil contract, ana the German
mind IS winning the day from Rome to justice. In 10
AInerican State know, has marriage ever been
treated the European seast as sacrament nor Is
in some older States of this Union, at the time e
ferred to- the right release from an unnatural OF per
Ill. "A
with q flaming sword would ain i've the lll-stalred
pair baca IL an impossible paradise. Here aSan u. 81
lent forces political economy have been the pioneers
of the legal reform many and grave were the cVn
mc1ngTIes of enforced un on, spirit mad been
eXnnT1sned by neglect or abdse so frequent aud ser
ct in the relative position oil Ooth persons III
OF separation not recognized ~ law 50
under the ancient laws e9utaSiy to ADJUST rrop-
reconcisoe questions as 10 eD enpuren anI satnts
were called in TO cut the knot and to l FUR,
under a more just and suitable construction OF marital
relations any century has before enjoyed Ihe ie
diverse treatment of the subject under the jurisdiction OF
50 many doubt It is difficult to close the dooI
against all Immoral eff cts but tkug the State IN whlcn
We reside field of observation, am convinced
that the welfare OF women III inarase mas p.en piV
NOTED the last 40 years more nearly TO perfect con-
duon ,han could have been conceived uue he ane vut
S. se.as of the world. Their Immunity OF person ana
prop rty their right to release IRON oppression pac
tccd under the certificate of wedding teif cpRofth
ties of return to their own industry their affections
ami their own religion advanced to degree whch
suits al and social necessities; whcn aocCrds
astcal dogatsm and superstition, too long received
under the name OF Conservatism.
Ex.Gov Bullock next referred to modern educa-
ton as the chief motive cause III the elevation Oh
the sex. While a few women of France in the 18th
and 18th centuries have left a celebrity which
still abdes in literature and society, the need OF an
open field for the education of the greater number
was not recognized. The present system OF female
education he described a conquest over prejudice
and unenlig htened public sentiment.
Such of the chief exponents OF tne oenents
NOR. general but moi less Impressive feature Of her ad
vance the respect Of tns age In TINS moral ana soc
her Individually for her being simply as woman lhdn
any period Never was tntr, lile pciUi S
when she was eucOmpassed spontaneous nOaor ana
yeD,rauOn. More conspe1ously now tnah ever oeISe
she s rev ereneed Tor nee, peSs0 Sg oTtb into the
ways commerce and arts and many industries WOMB
placed ner experience that divinity now
cIed by broader homage than those ages s c h
always eXisei lodging Itself III the heart Oh every pc
ROO, with dyersties OF nations or customs OF
manners, adapting Itself TO al the revolutions OF tnodnt
which nave shaken religions and codes, ever standing
for woman 1t is equally thai this manests Itself
in our by ackuowle dging female aseendency ~
days OF northern Invasion or gallant OF 70 or
that the gothic periods women made great au-
vance recipients OF an exaggerated put genuine
Alteration but the modern Ii the gner and Larger style.
Ii time they were shredded 10y gaiantry as De,
sSnaty Of rIgnts by the sword law, by tine hand
OF man, by the opinion OF society II they "GIe tntn
they are now revered OF their qualities unOlded
by education If Le ancient chiyalIy threw It's arms
around them beings no deseeled ~ inc Utilities, ne
chyalry day hedges :hem vita the legOns OF us
law and the angels of is commerce Ihet rouodous
neu respoc OF them 70. the women they arc IL III the
ent oust Knghts shyered their lances for beauties
whose wits en- IN, ented several centuries aftorward
by Walter ScOu, modern gentlemen would de IN earnest
for the immoral beauty OF wonanhood II ~ tn9
those SIZES code OF modern sOcey RAISES ana
guards The whole.
RESPECT INSPIRED BY LITERATURE.
Historically she Is at the of her power. The
Is in full accord with her. and whatever ground she
steps she comm ads the sympathy of mankind Nor to
ebvalry or law her place in all hearts
30 be exclusively ascribed The inspiration OF the mas
tiers of thought has spread through modern literature
and from stage stage has sounded the notes OF her
progress The mysteries Of her being have met their
Interpretation the profound insight and pure conccP
lions of Milton Incomparsbly beyond all others, Shakes
peare has uncovered her capacities both for good and
evil the and the limitations OF her nature tine
side Of her vanity, and tne SIDE OF her glory Ia com
stocking with commentaries from bOth sexes on the
female characters 81 the great iaaHs'' p,i 'u,1 d
Beatrice. Lady Macbeth and Katherine OF A[lagOu are
faiuIlar as tue living lis interpretation oi aer od
from every sphere OF active Thought, from the pulpit
aud the bar, from novels when aie sOres ana lroni
FROM tine shops and his nyriadmiEd pleads eVeryWher
her How deeply be has touched tne iounCns Oh
bron. Int man intelligent sympathy with woman, Tie
sioce hears daily witness Whenever applause from
seal 10 seat over his grand in her behalf for love
aud mercy, for justice and rclrDdtlOn Addison mas
II en- her am able satIris aud kindly instructor Buns
A. feeling the chords OF the wh ncr pathos aud
palntiye love. fOrbear 10 extend the catalogue hhhe
tIft and Pupe and Johnson who incapable Of be-
ing aiabi o. just woman retire from Aer support
Milton aud Shakespeare Addison and Burus, are read Oy
cnnstantv Increasing nnl rs the nobility and natural
the dignity and tenderness scntmen laid
at tie shrine OF her affections ana her wrongs nave
nassrd into the common mind OF this age and have he
"A art Of If