The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-03-02
Human Equality.


The thought of the world has borne
US on to the recognition and acceptance
of one truth after another, each one
serving as a stepping-stOne to a still
higher truth, until now we find our
selves face to face with the most i'm
pOrtant question that has yet confronted
us-the question of "humah equality"
There is no sex in mind. The woman
who thinks does it in precisely the way
a man does, with the brain, aud her
| thoughts are like a mans thoughts.
There is no organic difference between
the brains of men and women. Tue
same mental endOwments in woman,
| therefore, under the same circumstan-
ces, OutwOrk the same results as in man
AS witness the female warriors whose
names are historic. Our own late war
developed a nation of Spartan mothers
as brave and heroic aud patriotic as
ever gave sons to their country. Ave,
it developed an army of Florence Night
| ingales, too, who followed in the track
of desolation men had wrought, to min
lister to the sick and wounded and give
comfort and consolation to the dying.
And although no costly monument per-
petuates their memory, the laurels they
won are embalmed in the prayers and
blessings of those whose lives were
saved by wOman's devotion, or whose
| dying moments were cheered by her
sustaining faith and wOmanly sym
pathy. Woman is instinctively an adj
vOcate of peace. When we have reached
a higher civilization, when intellectual
power takes precedent of physical force,
when questions of difference shall be
settled by arbitration of reason instead
of the sword, then erect monument in
| recognition of wOman's services to her
country, or carve a statute that shall
| symbolic her attitude in the govern
ment of which she is a part. Aye, L
descry in the distance the beautiful
symbol. A majestic figure of imperish-
able marble, with feet planted triumph
antly upon the once savage, now harm
less implements of war, clasping in one
hand the impartial scales of justice, and
in the other the long prophecied flower
wreathed sword, with brow encircled
! by the peace-bringing olive.
The idea of wOman's equality is of
very recent origin. 1t is one of the dis
cOveries of modern times. 1t had birth
long since Kepler astOnished the world
by announcing that the planets were re-
volving spheres; long since GalileO and
Newton confirmed the vision of Kepler;
since Paine and Jefferson made their
contribution TO the gospel of lib
erty. 1t is born, however, and
born not to die. Not only has the idea
had birth, but the fact that "genius and
talent know no sex" is established be-
yond question. The rough block of
marble assumes the same fair proper
tiOns under the feminine touch of Miss
Hosmer as under the masculine hand of
Powers. The mathematical brain of
| g.,
and problems of astronomy as success
fully as though it rested upon the
masculine shoulders of Lord Ross.
Although hedged about with many
legal disability; many a narrow preju-
dice, many a social heresy, many an
unjust discrimination, in whatever de-
partment woman has made earnest en-
deavOr she has wrenched success from
the gripOf opposing fate, and established
her claim to joint heirship with man
in the inheritance of divine attributes
and possibilities.
Many good people are haunted with
the idea that a broader culture will
make woman less wOmanly. But it
does not follow that because a woman
is capable of thinking profoundly, she
is therefore the less womanly or wifely
or mOtherly. To say that the philo-
sophie thought of George Elliot, the
craftsmanship of Madame Roland, the
scientific culture of Miss Mitchell, the
medical and surgical skill of Mrs. DIR.
Lozier, does not cO-exist with true wom-
anliness, is an Impeachment of Gods
wisdom.
The ability to read the psalter and
catechism was once regarded as the full
extent of education necessary or even
safe for woman.
But new day has dawned for woman.
The angel of progress has rolled away
the stone from the sepulchre of her
buried faculties, and she has come forth
} consecrated to noble work. Her dor
mant powers are waking into life. The
brain grows thOught-illumined; the lips
are unsealed, and the eyes mirror a iii
vine Observation-Disclosures.