National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-07-26
20 CTAV a."
STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE GOVERN
MENT DEPARTMENTS.
Words in BehaIf of Those Looking
Where to Find Their Daily Bread
Owes tho Country Nothing to Them
for Devotion and Patriotism?
PANT L.

missed from their government offices, and
are looking about in despair, not knowing
where TO find their daily bread. Something |
muet be said in behalf OF these women.
Woman must defend woman, else she is
defenseless. The discussion in which Gen. |
Rosecrans and Maj. Burke have taken |
an active part has but just dried in |
type, and has much TO do with the |
Just claims Of the soldiers widow. The |
fact was then developed that quite num-
Der OF this class were dismissed from gov |
eminent Offices. An instance was cited In |
one division where four 5000 clerks were
dismissed, and they were all widows of sol
diers,
Begging pardon, l will withdraw my
gloves to deal with this subject.
The political aspirants, with heavy fist
and threatening oath, stand bard by.
They look upon women in Office as they
sit faithfully penning their life out by rapid
strokes, at some cell In the marble halls OF
our governmental mansions. The pen
drops, at precisely O'Clock a. M, upon tho
paper which Uncle Sam furnishes, and with
gllstening Ink runs its race through mid
day and declining evening" and at o'clock
is laid aside.
Around the corner of some lobby, ct the
entrance OF some lounging elevator exit,
at the secreted end OF some spacious cor
ider Of these mansions, political feelers aud
leecbes are congregating.
They look wise, and yet'wild; they peer
through the open door, or ponderous
hinges, half ajar, or cast glauces askant
through the grated doors OF deposit rooms,
and In that act look upon the graceful and
faithful figures OF femininity and exclaim,
with Redeemed faces, "They have no votel
What can they promise or perform as com
mensurate with the Office they holdYp
They diate the eyes that are already
blood-shot with late carousal, they clinch
the bands that are not worthy OF Shylock's
impassioned demand for pound OF flesh;
they utter oaths used TO gurgling within
the deep seated political larnyX OF an Office
lounger, and exclalm, beyond hush, "She
shall be uprooted from that place, aud
shall be her substltutepn
Ere long, In the stead Of a neat figure,
ladylike visage, modest parsonage, and the
faithfulness proverbal, as the kind OF labor
woman performs, we find the red-faced
politician with fancy cane and high silk
hat near by, and with cuspidor ever too
faithfully by his side. Nearer still rests the
record OF the night just passed upon con-
science whose mutterings are not altogether
drowned, but left open to further attack,
so that the history OF true Office grabber
may have no glazing exception.
The gambling Of the night before-the
kind Of glorifcntion or bonfire celebration
which this species OF man calls personal
congratulations for good luck-has left
ulUl WIN CUT LlChtlbS blllh uLu llObullB lllOIt.
From his cigar case the contents Will fall,
one by one, like nine-pin alley game, the
faster for the dull and sickening head with
which this oiliceseeker bows to his new desk
on his advent morn.
1t !s, however, the lamentable fact that
this political dude, having single vote, Ia
respected constituent Of somebody. We
must tip our heels and bow our heads al
ways to his visage because Of his vote.
What Of the woman whom he supplanted'
What of the scores OF women for whom
bis class become substitutes, according to
the statutes OF his satanic majesty, the po-
litical demagogue?
We cannot compete with our worthy
Mast, and hence waive the description oil
the so-called man In question, for none Other
has the daring to do him justice.
II is conceded, by history, by the in
buttons and better instincts OF man ant
woman, that the feminine nature has
delicacy and flrmness which the masculine
has not. That women are fitted TO
keener sense Of delicate perceptions ant
keener sense OF pain. That their organism
sway and bend under the cruel winds o
cruelty and woe, as the strong oak-natur
of man does not. Taking this conceded
fact as my premises, 1T must then follow--as
logical sequence-that when woman brave
the sterner elements Of the worlds storms
that when she confronts the agony an'
bleodshed OF the battle field; when sh
ranges herself In line with the warriors nnt
the surgeons OF the pestlential hospitals
when she becomes one OF the rank and dle Of
laborers IN the strife when her feet trod TN
highways to earn her daily crumb In tn
jostling crowd Of the breadwinners; whel
she defes storm and strife, cruelty and loss
pain and sorrow, and fails not In the hou
Of duty, nor falls In the hour o
danger, that then and there must man
kind conclude that women reach that heigh
at an infinitely greater cost than men. Sh
fFanda that EnapnPIg In tho strife
wins honor and success through create
trials because her nature Is more suscepti
BILE; through greater difficulties because o.
her innate delicacy; through peculiar prob
lens because she must strive through pail
and natural disability, which she solve
with infinite disadvantage, but final victory
OF herself she makes q heroine when tn
goal is reached, which men attain with
naturally endowed fitness, with ease an
success which deserves no credit, for
knows no resistance.
There is no force when matter Is inert.
There is no momentum and no friction
where the wheel Is braced and prepare
- set agoing on level or In
turns within its circum
Sannot do otherwise tina
Mechanism has prepare
n revolving mission.
'Shen women take tn
they deserve NOR
zee OF perfectlo
furnish doubl
e evidence Of 81
eiaptlveness.
Iival Of the fitte
a Is an excess Q
IL Is know
10 endure.
becomes sui
y and one NJ
obber befol
eout the vot
N declares
tlts. The woT
u be done wei
,,aoa-a.- chine, unlike Il
gods, grints--,.a, - ,siowly nor well, grinC
out a non-voter and forthwith grinds in
voter and substituting a so-called man an
dropping in the round Of the great wheel
conscientious capable woman, 1t is too II
tie TO say that the appointee and appoint
are robbers before the American publ
which in the main places u premium upc
intelligence integrity, and fidelity. Won't
ask that they may work. They perfor
their daily bread at government desk, al
In scores OF cases are, IN the above name
denied their humble and just request. l.
women-as class-defend woman, the 1
diyidual. Let women never forbear, I
this is neither Justice nor liberty.
AS a woman said In the long years ag
"Liberty, liberty, what crimes are perp
trated In thy name ~ II woman Is not q
symbol Of liberty, then take down h
towering figure, and the type OF the nation
most glorious element, from the heights
the national capitol.
Then endeavor 10 sever her name al
figure from the dearest heart center OF d
nation, and from the heart tablets OF d
sons OF our country.
Owes this country nothing TO woman
Does she not find welcome with h
trained fingers aud faithful service VIII
no In az InnpIya Of ha