The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-05

From Westminster Review.
We have seen how the education and
training OF women, as well as many pow.
erfully inherited tendencies, serve to ios'
ter in their character the spirit Of subser,
vience, Of which prostitution is one Of the
terms. These facts point out unmistaka.
bly, the direction necessary to any success,
ful movement toward the eradication oil
prostitution. Such movement was In
augurated with the first step toward the
recognition of women as an Independent
individual being, and it has developed
slowly with theslow growth Of this princi.
pie. They will, doubtless, continue to ad.
vance together, with steps accelerated,
however, by the new conditions which
are slowly but surely coming about in SO.
ciety, under which women are gradually
securing more industrial, as well as
intellectual Independence. Among the
foundations on which the system OF prosti-
tuition has grown up, in the dependence
and chattelism first of the captured and
then OF the purchased woman, We
also find the origin OF much OF
the popular sentiment on the subject OF
the sphere OF duty Of women; and Of that
other sentiment so generally regarded as
Q most beautiful and womanly one-vi5.,
that woman's natural and only womanly
support is another, and not herself. The
principles underlying this view are also
at the foundation OF prostitution; they
have originated and developed together,
and tine prevalence Of one is the main
support OF the other. AS this sentiment
shall wither in the increasingly iuvigorat-
ing atmosphere OF modern opinions, and
as woman shall be trained for the attain
ment OF her own ideal rather than for the
molding OF her faculties in conformity
with the ideas Of another, (even though
that other be her best and truest friend, J
so, ,pari passu, will this degrading phase
OF the social system approach extinction,
becoming dwaried and fossilized, like tho
flora OF the carboniferous era, in the more
highly oxygenated atmosphere Of later
age.
II to meet the views and demands of
men be the true basis OF the training aud
education OF women, then women are
logically justifable in allowing themselves
to be put to such uses as men may deter.
nine; and thus far in the history OF the
race prostitution has been one Of those
uses.
II woman is made for man, then it is for
man to choose how she shall serve him (;
and society must be dumb in the pres.
ence OF the prostitute, the work OF its
own hands; fathers and mothers who
train their sons and daughters to this
view must silently accept the logical re-
suits Of their own teachings, even though
they lead both son and daughter to a
house OF iniamy; and every man and
woman, whether married or single, who
upholds the doctrine that the pursuits OF
women should be made 10 conform to the
views OF men, must recognize the prosti-
tute, as fulfilling q righteous calling, fo-
she is satisfying an imperious demand OF
men.
Independence land this does not ueces.
sar1ly involve antagonism) strengthens
character and develops individuality; it
must be sought for its own sake, not mere.
" as means to other ends, for its atmo.
sphere is invigorating and its tendency
elevatiug. .l.,
Asthe principles here expressed shall
progressively obtain foothold in the
minds Of the mass Of women, the schools
and colleges for their higher education
will become crowded with earnest students
Earnest, because preparing for future
work; the professions will make more
ample place for these determined neophy-
ties; co.education in the college and the
university will naturally grow out OF fellow
ship in skilled labor and professional life
and amid the sterner interests, OF such as.
sociations the mere atfinitics OF sex will be
less powerfully asserted than in purely
social companionship, where the entertain
ment Of each other is the business Of the
hour. The influences flowing from these
relations will be most healthful for both
and will undoubtedly do much toward
eQualizing the physical natures ofmen and
women, by lowering the sexual erethism
so prevalent among men, and by strength
ening the nervous tone OF women, often
weakened and made over.sensitive by
lives OF vacuity and repression.
A purified marriage will grow out o.
these social changes; and an increasing
number OF women will marry, not be
cause they are incapable Of self-support
nor because they are expected by society
TO marry, but for reasons In harmony witt
the nature Of the marriage relation, Thu
increased working capacity OF women, b!
means OF which the tlon-producing por
tons Of society will be gradually lessened
will tighten family burdens and there vii
| be few men who cannot afford to marry
Thus tue temptations to prostitution OF
the part OF men, will both be reduced TO
minimum. Not by legislation, not by ex
hortation, not by denunciation pnl
anathema; but by long.continued meas
ures In harmony with these broad princi
pies, Il atall, this great social problem wi
find its true solution.