Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-22
THE MAN AND THE WOMAN.

In 1865, there lived in Washington city a
widow lady by the name of Mrs. Surratt
While young, she was bereft OF her husband
and her affections were garnered up in two
fatherless children. To support, educate and
direct them in the path of virtue was the
only ambition which nerved the heart of the
widow and mother with strength. But sus-
tanned by mothers love and faith in the re-
ligion she professed, she buffeted the world
with brave heart. Her name had never
been darkened by the shadow of Islander. In
battling with the problem OF life, which was
a grave question to her, she kept her face
upon her children and never looked toward
the stars except to breathe prayer invoking
the blessings of heaven upon her household.
Like thousands OF other widows seeking an
honest support for herself and children Mrs.
Surratt kept a clearinghouse. She had
no means of knowing the purposes of
her boarders. But because Booth, the assas-
sin of Lincoln, met his gang
of conspirators at her boarding
house she was dragged from her home,
thrown into a dungeon, tried by court.
martial, condemned to death, and hanged
like dog. There was no proof against her.
Indeed, everything was in perfect harmony
with her innocence The whole country
abandoned her to her fate. Her walls from
the dungeon, and protestations of innocence.
and prayers for mercy, did not move the
hearts of the brutes who had won her life
with loaded dice. Her daughter pleaded
with that anguish of heart which only
daughter can feel for a mother, for a single
day in order that she might bring the most
conclusive proof as to the innocence of her
mother. But broken-hearted and fainting,
she was dragged from the White House and
her mother strangled upon the scaffold. The
stars burn each night over the grave of this
innocent woman, and great sin blackens the
soul of the nation. And now contrast the
speedy mockery of trial, conviction amt exc
cutIon OF this in nocent woman with that of
he guilty assassin Guiteau. The contrast
adds still darker shade TO the crime which |
murdered an innocent woman and protects a |
guilty man. In his trial Guiteau has been |
allowed to set all Law and decency at def
Ince; to make our courts by-word through |
tut the civilized worlds He is allowed to |
INSULT witnesses, the counsel, the Court, the |
ury, common deeency, the holy cause of re-
igion and TO blaspheme the Almighty. He
las been allowed to subject the country to
nsre than 100000 expense. 1t has been
light months since he assassinated President
fairfield, and he is still playing the role of
Martyr. In view of the latitude he has been
flowed and the swift conviction and execu-
ion of Mrs. Surratt, after few hours spent
n the mockery of trial, no wonder the wo-
len OF America talk about injustice, wrong
nd outrage. Men are paid more than wo-
len receive for performing precisely the
anne labor. In the factories of the North
he WON'T n contract or are required to weave
8 many yards OF cloth per day the men.
tut the average wages of the employees in
lie Massachusetts mills, according TO official
,turns, are, men: IS 30; women, S. g. In
ngland men are paid by the factories So,
nd for doing the same work women are paid |
40. Here in the United States, here in
emphis, the female school teachers and the :,
omen employed in stores are paid less than
received by men for the same service.
nd now our courts of Justice show the same
for when an innocent woman is
spected Of crime she is hurried to the gal
We, but when a man becomes an assassin
ID confesses his guilt, he is given three
onths' trial to make ii appear that he is a
soct.ted .innocsut