The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-05
WOman's Rights.

Woman's time has come at last. AL
ready the tide of public opinion is bear
ing her on to the place where she
ought aver to have been. She is at
last taking a position in the political
history of this country. Several of the
western States have recognized the
need of female suffrage, and others are
beginning to do so. Why should not
this be 50? Is woman a lower order of
animals that she is unable to exercise a
proper judgment and discretion III po-
litical affairs? Is she so far beneath
man in point of intellect that she is un-
able to conceive Of the grand political
schemes 81 that he daily performs? Ii
any n thinks SO he is mistaken. The
records OF colleges. in which women
have been admitted upon the same
footing as men, show that they are
equal, and IN many respects superior.
to man In point of intellect. 1t is the
BRAIN that governs it is the brain that
forms these great political schemes.
Then why cannot woman, whose intel
lect IS equal to mans, do the same?
The day eff knight errantrv has pass
ed the day when woman was looked
upon as an angel, to be kept from NOR
tai sight, and only brought down to
earth to reward the great deeds of he
roes. But would this be doing woman
right, to deprive her of the exercise of
the greatest OF all gifts, a powerful IN
tellect ! Their condition would be full
~ as bad as that of the Eastern women
OF to-day, the only difference is that one
Is looked upon as above man, the other
beneath n as an angel, the other as
mere merchandise both equally de-
prlved OF their treedom-not personal
ly contined-but deprived of a liberty 70 |
make laws to which they are amenable
oDliged to support a government in
which they have no share.
mat the more influence a woman has
IN a country the higher that countr
rises In the scale of civilization IS unde-
nlable. Take for instance the eastern
countries. where women are bouoht and
sold; where their husbands will is the
hiS4est law they know where a mans
wealth Is reckoncd by the number OF
wives and horses; see in what con-
dltlon they are, then compare them
with the women of this country. where
lnelf rights are more nearly recognized
Cnah any place IN Ii WOrld-sea the
difference. And in any example that
may be taken, it will be found the same
VIZ that as woman's rights are ~recoo-
nlzed just In the same proportion does
civilization advance. And why. when
IL IS permitted III all other cases to
Judge the future by the past, cannot we
10 SO here? If a partial recognition Of
lhese rights has elevated civilization IN
he past, why will not a still further re-
;ogni5ion bear us still higher in the
Ever since Mrs. Noah wbinnad
title Shem, Ham and Japeth has wo-
nan been the patient, or inpatient
Nurse OF squalling babies, the Instructor
II noisy boys and peevish girls. She
reserves some reward, and he is les
han man who would ever have her >
o5lllng, a willing slave. Only give her
ne opportunity and she will make as
ligh "a reputation in politics as She has
lltherto done in letters. Give her a
,olce IN n laws, and incompetence and
Inmorallty will become less treatment ;
'ive woman the same right to choose a
lusOand that man has to choose -
lie. As it is, she can only choose J
rom among those who chance to fancv