The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-05-07
THE WOMEN IN THE CASE"

facts, SO absurd in its conclusions, so despi-
cable in its assertions. all of which is SO
entirely contrary to its course always
heretofore, that we are al loss
to account for the snimus Of the article in
question. II certainly cannot be that Colonel
Alexander X. Mcclure, the genial and able
editor of tho Times, was Mt homo when II
was published. In his letter to hiss.paper on
his recent tour through some Of the southern
states, made on purpose to mingle with the
people and study the southern situation, he
was 80 uniformly just, SO liberal in his views
and so comprehensive and nearly correct in
his conclusions, that it does not seem possible
that he could endorse ouch an editorial,
Especially in hisown paper, IS the one or tine
Women In the Case" But to come directly
TO the point. asserted in this article
that woman is one of tho potcncies thu.
rule southern lie and policies, and thus
goes on to say: "Any ono who sets upon
this trail will be apt TO recall much that
Significantly corrobor,tes the fact When
southern ideas dominated the government
it will be remembered that they wore for the
most part the crystalized piques, caprices and
Insult tons Of feminine coterie. This
however, is result thai attends the close
soldering of .coteries. Whenever one class
of men hold power any length of timo he
vrile methods that fret enable them TO grasp
i! are always strained and attonuated until
eileminscy rules. What could moro strik-
ingly illustrate this than the last four years
OF Grant, when the wives of the cabinet,
virtually made and unmade ministers, carried
out or killed policies? 1t was Mrs. Grants
consuming thirst for wealth and show,to put
herself upon plano with tho wives
of tho millionaires, that gave the Black
Friday and San Domingo schemes their
vitality. II is singular fact thst the in
Auence of women in affairs of state is mover
good or pure. What Byron said of the sex
in love ia ut Ill events true ia politics.
honor or moral responsibility. This may be
considered to DO proven by tho study OF
womaus part in affairs from the Quo>n Of
Sheba down to-the Empress Eugene. No
wonder, then, that the crule in methods and
tho doubtful in morals remain part of the
southron's education. By this is mean. the
prevalence of the ducllo as the end OF an
argument and the paternsl idea in govern
ment as pAnacea for all ordinary civic ills,
for it is ono of the broad farcos of tho con-
dilions of parties that the eouthron who be-
licyes himself Jeiiersonien democrat makes
no compunctious scruple sg.inst making the
general government Il paymaster for tho local
needs of the states, principle as opposed 10
real democracy as nihilism to trinitsrianism 1"
Every assertion, every suggestion in the
above extract from tho Times, in 80 far t.,
tho sputh is concerned or is referred to, is
positively untrue. There has never
bsen any act, or any
sembsnce Of m act to justify 50 unreascn-
able, SO senseless charge. When "South-
ern ideas dominated the government wise
craftsmanship prevailed, and we have but to
look at the history of tho country to sttes,
tho fact. The country WAS prospsrou. from
its one limit to another; it paid its debts as
they were created il acquired territory and
grew richer day By day; its flag was respected
and honored abroad its navy WAS an honor
and credit to it; its merchant marine GOV
cred tho waters of the globe; credit
mobiiers, DeGolJer contracts. Star
route frauds, Black Friday.
bargains in post trader ships, speculstiors in
landaulets, whisky rings and the thousand
and ono other frauds of tho last twenty
years were unknown, un.hought of an
could not h,vo been. There was honest,
and honor in high places the constitution
WAS tho law of the land, End such a thing a
the fraudulent appropriation of the presi-
dency by perjury and bribery, and tue a!tcl
rewsrding of tho perjurers and bribe-taker
with exalted official stations, would hav
filed tho minds and hearts of southern
dominants with horror, and loathin,
and scorn for tho man who could even hav,
whispered such thing, that would have
driven him to direr madness, no matter how
conscienceless he might have been, than
lash ofscorpions could have done. 1t 10 tru
that southern women have always hc,
Influence with southern men, but II WAS an,
is an influence directed in the right channel
an influence elevated and elevating, an in1u
enco noble and enobling. 1t is an easy thirg
however unmanly it may be, to speak slight
ingly Of woman, TO underra,e he
powers, TO disparage her purity, but he VIII
does it Is ignoble Of heart, dcgrsGe
In his instincts, unworthy of the respec, an,
: the confidence of his follow men. 1t may b
tina. the southron is crude in m ethods, u
tho Times says, tho methods of tho ago ths
is upon us. We know that in tho progtee
siveness Of tho hour rs taught and practice,
ia tho latitude whers his Times nourshc
and of which the great political and bust
ness leaders in those regions are tho expo
nen.s, that it is crude to be honest, crude t
DO honorable, crude to be sincere, cru 10 /,