, 1876-04-02
MEN AND WOMEN COMPARATIVE NC
RALITY.

comparison Gulliver Was giant in one
country and pigmy in another. Physically
and mentally, mems powers tell in proportion
to the strength With which they cope. The
oretically, it would be p1easaater to think of
morals as al exception to tho rule, and to
be gauged by uniform, inyariable, and rigid
standard, universally recognized by all men
and applied in Ill countries. Practically,
however, it is useless to deny that morality is
comparative as well as health, talent, ednca-
ton, wealth, happiness. Ills and blessings
are estimated in this life, the former miti-
gated and the latter heightened, by the con-
diion of those around Us. Alien are inf1u-
eoced by the times In which they live. Hu-
man sentiments take precedence according to
the importance given them by common con-
sent What is positively obnoxious in one
country or at one time becomes comparative
" unobjechonabls in other countries and at
other times, So virtues taks rank according
to the pursuits and customs Ct the day and
people that which is most extollod in con-
dition Of immature society becomes intolera-
bic At high stage Of civilization.
It is not strange, therefore, that the BEL
KNAp scandal, involving both Ba1xNAp and his
wife, should have led to discussion of the
relative mornlity OF men and women. 4
modem school Ct political moralists, who
may perhaps bo called "exactionists, will
insist that the grade ahorld be precisely the
same, and that both man and woman, mud all
men aad all women, should rise to the same
glorious heights Of rectitude and look upon
every kind of infraction of the moral code
with equal ahhorrence. But the "czaction-
lists" mako no allowance for the fact that
there is still largo amount OF human nature
in the world which yields to temptation in
and to an extent affected by age, sex,
and other conditions. There Will be no
practical reform in public and private morals
without taldug cognizance Of that fact, and
applying remedies to suit the form and stage
of the disease as it manifests itself.
The comparairo morality Of men and
women has acquired special prominence by
which Mr. T. ". H10oNsoS, Of
Boston, had with five Indies Of good standing
md certainly average moral tone, and which
le has made public. One Of these Indies,
whom Mr. H1oo1NsoS speaks of even as sex
acting1 in her moral standard, saw nothing
wrong in BE1KNAp's performances, and only
one Of tho others looked at the bribery as an
man regards it. The only denun-
:iation of the net was suggested by the phil |
objection that the price Of goods |
lad been raised thereby to the soldiers. |
5oing outside of Mr.. H1aoNsoS's experience,
t is safe to say that individual discussion will
licit' surprising obtuseness among women,
chose purity and goodness cannot be ques-
Toned, as to the improperly mot to put it
tronger) Of Mrs BE14ENAP's part in the !
We venture the assertion that |
many woman viii be found to innocentiy in
Luirs: "Why shouldn't Mrs. Br16xAp re-
eiys present of several thousand dol
Hts from 31r. MAnsu, if Mr. MARSH
7as \ friend of har husband, and |
er husband had dons him q val
able service 2" There is scarcely a
oubt that the women will agree there was
20 crime in it, though they may differ IS to
be propriety OF it, And it is equally cer-
aia that scarcely ono can be discovered who
Ill r.. to tbs came length Of indignation and
eAunciation that honorable msn naturally |
cel aad express in contemplating the b.
:ayel of public trusts for private considers
On After noting this apparent indife--
o:s among good and pure women, mca will
estate before condemnin5 ss INN ora1
omen who attest thoir innocence in thu
.Atter by tho f1a1aknexs af THAR at1erances,
I'd viii ooroluda that In thAir comparative
Eoeslfty vuu1a havs aakk Z &i3s,aa4 u