The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-16
THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE.
The Influence of Woman can Better lie
Used in the Home than in the Political
Arena.

Used in the Home than in the Political
Arena.
In al open letter to Miss Frances T..
Willard, published in the Christian
Union, Mrs. Caroline +. Corbin OF
Chicago, gives some practical reasons
why woman should not give up the
influence which she now possesses i'll
the home for the uncertainty Of roliti-
cal power to be gained through tile
ballot box. Her clearly expressed
views agree with those of most women
who have given thoughtful considerl-
ton to the subject. After showing the
physical superiority of. man she says:
HAS nature, then, given woman no
redress for this state of subjcctivity to
the physical pre-emincnce of man?
Yea, verify. Her power is dominant
in the realm of morals but it is true,
the world over, that the higher the
evolution of moral power the more
perfectly is it enlancipated from the
methods Of force, the more entire is its
reliance upon the higher and purer
methods of love. Love, then, is the
secret spring of the woman's control
over the man. Those very tides of
strength and virility by which the
destiny of the world is accomplished
break in helpless subjection at the feet
of the woman whom he loves. BY az
inexorable law of his nature he must
seek the constant refreshing Of his
manhood 1T her hands, and he will
render her just the return for this in
spiration and uplifting which she de-
mands. She may, too often does throw
away her sceptre altogether, ignorant
of its wonderful power; or she may seek
her compensation in gold or luxury or
fine apparel, but that is her own fault
and the misfortune of both of them. If,
as the price Of her love, she eXacts
honor, integrity, high purpose, noble
living, then indeed is the world blessed
in the love Of these two. Aye, and so
is God honored, for it is the order in
which He has set the souls Of men and
women, as He has set the stars in
theirs. AS mother, sister, wife, friend,
woman holds or may hold the destiny
Of many in her keeping. 1t is her
office to supply that subtle inspiration
which, acting through his love nature,
purified and ennobled by her influence,
will, by Gods grace, redeem him from
his besetting sins and make him the
willing servitor Of the being who en-
bodies his highest ideal. This is ma
ture's method Of giving control over
man into the hands of woman, and the
history of human life is made up of
instances where it has been a power in
the hands of good women for good pur-
poses, or evil women for vile and de-
structive ends. You propose to enfran-
chise all women, the bad as we'll as the
good; but when the former class find
that the new method Of control is less
effectual than the old, it appears to me
to be a foregone conclusion that they
will fall back upon natural methods,
and then YOU will have an element in
troduced into politics which will tax
your reformatory powers to the utmost
and in a manner you have not antici-
pated, and beside which intemperance
will seem minor evil, because it will
attack the very foundation of the home
itself.
"Nor is there any need ofthis unnat-
ural and roundabout method of reform.
The experience of the last twenty five
years has proved that whatever legisla-
ton is demanded for the amelioration
of the legal status Of women, or for the
protection of the home, can be procured
far mare speedily and eftectually by
means of the votes of men than through
any advantage which might be gained
by woman suffrage.
at is your frequent plea that you
| wish to see mother love and mother
wisdom applied to affairs of State. So
must we all Of US, as woman who love
our race. But I realize two things first,
that much of the wisdom that now
rules in legislative halls is truly that
which has been inculcated by mothers
in quiet and obscure homes, and, sec
ond, that to transplant the root of
bone love and influence to public life
's'' 'tsal1arAsea1 t.c.r,- to force
| would be as fatal to 1t as ru Try ni'nal..
! the rose of Cashmere-rich, fragrant,
beautiful, instinct with life and sweet
ness in its own native valley, to grow
on cold Alpine heights or on the arid
wastes of the desert. God has not so
ordained its nature and destiny. Wo-
man must utilize her wisdom concern
ing public affairs by first applying it to
the hearts and consciences of the men
whom God has placed nearest to her,
and so vivified and energized by their
masculine strength, it shall be laid
upon the altar Of the State, the pure
and perfect offering of these two whom
Almighty God has ordained to be one
ROBERT GAKRETT'S ILLNESS.
His Mind is Affected on the Subjects of Jay