The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-06-21
From the n. Y. independently
The God Of Nature"

We quote from Governor Robinson.
but not from aim aloae, but from every
speechifier who for fifty years has rolled
up eyes OF pious horror at the proposal
OF pestilent men TO emancipate the sons
of Ham, or who for thirty years has ar
gued that women must not soil their an
gel robes by doing any useful thing
whose doing takes them out Of the kitch-
en- or the parlor.
The Legislature Of this State passed a
bill allowing women TO hold Office on
school boards. Nearly nine-tenths OF the
teachers OF these schools are women.
Women have quite as much interest as
men in the proper education Of children.
Women are the natural educators Of chill
dren during the school years Of most OF
them, made such by "the God Of Nature"
Ii really seems not an absurd or ridicu.
lous proposition that they might be al
lowed TO act as a committee TO select
teachers and control the schools. But
Governor Robinson thinks differently.
and in his veto message appeals 10 "the
God OF Nature" as having settled the
matter. The God OF Nature he says,
has appointed different fields Of labor.
duty, and usefulness. for the sexes. His
DEGREES can not be changed by legisla-
ton"
Most true, sapient Governor The
God Of Nature has appointed different
fields OF labor. duty, and usefulness 10
the sexes; but how broad are the limits
OF those separate fields, aud have they
no fields in common2 There are some
things men can not do. as there are some
things women can not do. We all know
that. But are there not great many
things which they can both do2
Take sewing for example. IL is an in
dustry as peculiarly adapted to women
as any that can be mentioned. lt Is a
domestic, indoor pursuit From all an
tiquity women have had almost a monop
oily Of it. Does il, therefore. follow that
Nature forbids men to be tailors2 The
experience proves that he does not. Tai
lors can be reputable, honest, useful men
A man-sewer does not bring down the
curse Of God upon him. He does not
appear TO violate any natural law, II we
can judge from the fact that his ayoca-
ton brings him no natural penalty. We
can not, then, appeal TO the God OF Ma
ture to forbid men to take the needle
and the shears.
Ii is Just so with business. or labor. or
responsibility taken up 1y women which
has generally beed performed by men.
Before we can bar the way with plati-
tude about "the God Of Nature we must
inquire whether any law Of Nature is vi
olated by the proposed innovation. We
must ask il the business is one for VIII
the woman has the phys
ical aptitude. Has she the muscle for it7
Is there any physical penalty which Ma
ture surely inaicts on a woman engaging
in it. and which il would not inhict on a
man7 Is there any moral law which for
bids the avocation2 IL the latter be the
case, it forbids men as we'll as women, for
there is no sex in Gods law or in Christs
grace.
What the God Of Nature wants we can
find out only by consulting Natures
physical and moral laws. But moral laws
we have said. are asexual. Physical laws
may be sexual, aud TO-. these considera-
ton SHOULD be had. Now Is there any
such law which .orbids women TO lit for
a few hours in a 10 Ith in consultation
with neighbors and friends on the sub
iect of education2 The question is its
own answer. II women can not do this,
| they can do nothing To imagine that
the God Of Nature iorbids IL is TO con
/ found our own private preiudiees with
I the laws Of the God OF Nature.
Our only objection to the bill a. passed
/ is that it did not go far enough. IL al.
\ lowed women to be voted for. but did
not allow women . vote for the offices
which they were to fll But reforms
move slowly, and the wisest way Is BY
gradual approaches TO capture the fort
Men have ggineG the elective franchise
by slow degrees, and il is not improbable
that first as officers In school boards an,
then as voters in school matters womer
will gain their earliest victory in the bat
tie for the ballot.