The Osceola times., 1888-01-28
NOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
SOCIAL TYRANNY.

SOCIAL TYRANNY.
The Few Who Lead the Maya Specie.
of Tyranny Which Enters Into All the
Relations of Life.
~ White the question of the equality of
nan and woman continues to occupy
et least one-half of the public mind,
3here is roint in connection with it
Df which it might be well to say a word.
Noman's right to be considered mans
equal in every respect l think second
D another. which she shares with him.
and which he himself does not appear
70 value.
# This, the heritage Of every human
being, is freedom. 1t is really aston
shing that men and women, who will
sacrifice so much and fight SO tena-
ciously for certain indefinite rights,
should remain blind to the fact of their
own slavery.te a-social tyranny of the
pettiest kind. There is no yoke so irk-
Some ms that of fashion in little things,
nothing which adds SO greatly to the
daily burden Of life rs obedience to the
dictates of that impersonal tyrant who
has usurpcd the place of Mrs. Grundy.
hnd who more or less enslaves the en-
tire population of every village, town
end city. s..
S& Everywhere, the mass of men and
Women are subjugated by the few.
One or two leaders regulate the FASH
IONS for q set and the remainder, like
sheep. follow the leaders. This in
dciinable yoke enters into all the rela-
fons of life, regulates every detail,
rom the arrangements of a wedding
- the patterns of@china or the num-
Der OF courses served at meal. 1t
Establishes the time of our meals. In
eome towns every one dimes late. In
others every one tnkes dinner at
twelve. 1t is the sway" and so in
every thing. No Q matter whether
zashions suit us or not. we bow to
them, men just as much rs women,
doing rs our set does with the full
81 complaccncy and the satisfaction
of a good conscience.
Not to amp,ify, | would only sug-
Hest, that when men and women are
Suiiicicntly honest to assert their right
ID absolute freedom in every thing, to
freedom of opinion or of idea in rela-
Non To minor matters, to think for
themselves -(wltat not ohe in twenty
does) upon religious, Literary, social
and political matters. to read books,
not because they AYE "talked about"
md everybody reads them. but for
their intrinsic value. to. have their own
opinion about them and not adopt that
of the critic, 10 60 eyeu without gloves
when every one eise wears them, to
% as they like when NO principle is in
volyed, andas they Individually think
6ght, when it is q matter OF principle,
then they will be free; and, being free
With the absolute freedom of mind
which is every ones right. men and
Women will stand upon the only pos
ible platform ofequalityl equality
81 thought. 1t is very well 10 claim
freedom of opinienl and equality of
Fights; but neither is possible until
Women as individuals think for them
selves and act in small as well rs in
greai matters in accordance with their
own opinion, based upon their own
actual thought, instead of accepting
The thoughts aud opinions of others
ready-made .-...r a..s7. t
This applies TO the gravest ques-
Hons, as Of political suffrage, and to
the smallest details or everyday life.
Let Us all strive TO free orr minds from
the tyranny of social leaders, aud TO
think for ourselves. Then we shall be
IN equal enjoyment with men of the
only possession that can make life
what it ought to be-absolute freedom
OF thought and opinion.-4Jaael b.
BHntz-ReeS, nm Woman's Journal