The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-08-24
WOMAN'S SPHERE.

What Constitutes the Limits OF wOman's
Natural Rights-Her just Claims Upon
Man.
This subject has been going the
rounds in the newspapers, and most
writers have been giving great latitude
to the side of limitation. You can hear
as much as you please on one side OF
this much-vexed question, but woe be
to the man who ventures an opinion in
opposition to the old fixed standards
which have circumscribed wOman's
sphere! We are warned against any
step being taken out Of the present es-
tablished customs. lest her purity and
virtue be compromised. On this,
as well as on all other subjects which
we claim to know any thing about, we
have our opinion, and as it Is one OF
the living subjects of the present, We
will introduce it into our editorial col
umnS.
Woman in her best estate is what she
is made by the light of Christianity,
and just as Christian civilization be-
comes the ruling principle of human
life, will she break down all barriers,
and extend the operations of her being.
As American citizens we boast of our
regard for woman, and ut certain occa-
siOns, and when the sentiment is rum
ming high, we get poetical, and in elo-
quent strains dwell upon her beauty,
there is a great deal of bosh in our pro-
fessed regard for woman.
It is very true. Christianity makes
her what she is in mans estimation,
and it corrects and purifies her charac-
ter in her own eyes; but we are very
wrong when we conclude that our re-
gard for her is perfected. With all the
fancy syllabubism (Which amounts to
nothing but an ejaculatory sentiment)
we are forced to submit that the real,
solid, substantial tokens of our appreci-
alton for her, have been and are very
far from what they should be. l MAIN
tain that there is nothing in the Word of
God, or in nature, that forbids woman
from being and doing any thing that
she can be and do, as well as man.
Starting at this point, the subject is one
not to be answered and set aside by the
sentimental appeals to the sacredness
of wOman's purity and honor, and the
claim that you sacrifice both, unless the
customs of society circumscribe her
sphere of operations. / claim that wo-
man. especially in our Southern coun-
try, is more of a slave than we are will
ing to admit. The idea of this restrict
ed sphere tends to this deplorable re-
suit.
Years ago, heard one of the most
distinguished men of South Carolina
say, I'm these days woman is too much
fattered and too little respected" and
from then until now that sentiment
has grown on me. / believe that it is
the slavish restriction placed upon
woman, that is retarding the progress
of Christianity, and in the same ratio
our common humanity.
Woman is mans equal in every sphere
of life, and in every quality of nature
except where nature has distinction;
but she is only an equal. II there is
any department in life where she can
not be and do what man can, then it is
designedly forbidden; but l claim that
in any sphere of life, where she can do
as honest and as faithful work as man,
either in the physical or Intellectual
realm. she has a perfect right; and
while man as lord, has no right to for.
bid her, it becomes his bounden duty to
help her in maintaining this right
rs. CO. advocate.