The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-11
TWO STANDARDS oP MORALITY.

TWO STANDARDS VI MUhAbII4' l.
The acceptance Of two standards of
morality, higher one for women and
lower one for men, has wrought end
less wrong to society.
Attention has of late been called to
these different standards by an article
in the Nation, which justified their ex-
istence, and again by the article of
Francis Parkman against Woman Suf-
frage in the North Amcrican Rerielc,
taking the same ground. This last
says:
remedy Is looked for in a change rpubllc
opinion which shall visit the breach OF chas-
uty with equal condemnation in men and
women. THIS remedy has long been urged,
and probably at this moment there is in the
world az large as little disposition to accept it
as ever. Women, and not men, are Of
necessity the guardians Of the integrity OF the
family and the truth OF succession, with all the
interests Of affection, of maintenance, and OF
inheritance involved in them.
This defense of unchastity in men,
this implied liberty on their part to
spoil the ''iLtegrity OF the family" with
out criticism, contains both invitation
to vice and promise of shield from the
disgrace which attaches to the same act
committed by a woman. 1t helps to
perpetuate and make respectable the
worst foe that can invade the sanctity
Of the family and the home. 1t helps
to make and maintain the public senti-
ment which holds the highest crime a
/ triile when committed by men. If the
change in public opinion is not made
which Furnishes the same sin with the
same penalty, whether committed by q
man or by a woman, an adequate reason
is found in the fact that the political
Acknowledgement of women deprives
them of half their influence. A dis
franchised class is always a pOwerless
class. Slaves were punished with great
severity, and even with death, for Of
fenses that were punished lightly, or not
at all, If committed by white men. So
now the law defines a might walker
to be "a woman" She may be arrested
punished and imprisoned but it takes
no note of the half dozen or more meu
who walk after her. The woman, con.
demned by law, sinks away despised
while the men whom no law arrests
come boldly into society.
The helplessness, humiliation and lOsi
to women which is the result Of thei
disfranchisement, is nowhere more ap
palling or painful than in the very cas-,
under consideration. "The trunk trag
edy," and tragedies whose slow miser.
never come to light, are the natural re
suit Of different standards of moralit.
for men and women. But It is moral.
, certain that when women have tn
power and the influence which the pos
session of the ballot gives, with tim
enough for their natural effect, ther
will be one standard for both sexes.
will not be lowered for women; but
- will be elevated for men.
Even now individual women in the
r own fsmilies establish and maintai
e one law Of right for sons and daughter
a noble woman who was a good, tru
q mother, teaching the laws Of reetitud
( to her children, counseled her sol
D "Never permit for yourself an al
- which you would not be willing you
q sister should commit" Years after,
e the tender leave-taking, when that so
e went out from the roof Of his mother
\ establish his own home, he said to he
j. "Nlother, you always told me never
Y do a thing which / should not be viii
4 ing my sister should do, and l nevC
have.D It was proud and happ
L moment for that mother. The youn
. man went to his new home with
heart and life as pure as the heart an
: life Of the woman he had chosen fo
= his wife.
When to the teaching Of such mother
- is added a share in making the law
! and the power and influence implie
n in that position, there will be taugb
and needed lessons OF purity in though
e and act, which, like the Moral Law, wi
. make no distinctions on account {
p sex WOman's Journal.