The national leader., 1889-03-30

except in the Territories of Utah.
Washington and Wyoming, it has re-
ceived more favorable consideration
than in England. and fourteen States
have now granted her the right to vote
on certain questions connected with tho
public schools. 1t is worthy of notice,
also, that women were admitted as dele
gates to the National Prohibition con-.
ventiOn i'll 1884. anu that they claimed
admission as delegates to the last Cen
eral conference of the Methodist church.
Absolutely no prejudice interferes with
their employment in commercial occu-
pationS wherever their services can be-
made profitable, and women already
crowd the positions of clerks, secre-
taries, telegraph operators and kindred
pursuits. While discrimination in the
way of payment is made against them~
it is probable that this. all things being
considered, is not oppre -sive, aud that u
tendency exists toward increased re-
muneration. That strong tendency
exists to make the conditions OF
woman's life equally favorable with
those of man is shown in the provision
that is everywhere made in this coun-
try for the education of girls. It is
quite as ample and adequate as that
made for boys. They are received into.
the public schools upon equal terms.
into many of the academies and col
leges, even leading institutions like
Michigan University setting the eH-
ample, while the rapid endowment and
large patronage of such institutions us
| Vassar, Smith and Wellesley COLLEGES
show how strongly the higher eduea--
tIon of women has appealed to the
American sense of justice. In no other
country in the world has ampler OK
better provision fer this purpose been
made.
A still more significant Indication Of
woman'S high position in this country
is Seen in the Difference that IS univer-~
sally accorded her. She possesses a de-.
gree of social freedom that is unknown
III older countries. Americans do not
feel the need of guarding the character
of their women by the barriers which
are thrown around them in the ohh
world. They are treated with cont
| dence, allowed to be law to them
selves, and as q result inspire more pro-
found respect by conduct which is. un-
| dOubtedly to larger degree than else
where, irreproachable. This respect
accorded to woman is as pronounced,
though obviously with ruder manifesto
tiOnS, on the frontier as in the older
parts of the country, and seems to be
the direct outgrowth of our ideas OF
equality. We are so much accustomed
| to this that it never occurs to us to-
suppose that it can be otherwise any.
where. But let us see the contrast,
which Prof. Bryce notes: "a Euro
pean can not spend an evening in an.
American draWlng-rOOm without per-
ceiving that the attitude of men to,
women is not that with which he -,
familiar at home. The average Faro,
pean man has usually light sense Cf'
cOndescenSion when he talks to ia.
woman on serious subjects. Even IT
she is his superior in intellect, i'll char
acter, III social rank, he thinks that AS
d man he is her superior, and conSel-
ously or unconSciOusly talks down to.
her. She is too much accustomed to-
this to resent it unless it becomes tilsta--
lessly paipaOle."
We may we'll congratulate ourselves
upon having struck, i'll this respect at
| lSdfC, OLC VI SIlO III uOoO HOICo vi Clf Ah'
zaoion. The position accorded women
has always been regarded as Il test of Il
nation'S progress. Woman is the nat
ural perfecter of manners. morals, cul--
ture and religion. That we are in ad--
vance OF other nations in the treat
ment of women may be taken as the
best pO ;Sibie promise that the develop
lnents of the future will be IN the line,
OF the worlds best achievements. How
far it has already had beneficial effect.
upon our National institutions and
character We must aga II appeal tC-
Prot. Bryce to determines: The re
spect for women which every Americans,
man either feels or IS obliged 10y puMiGs,
sentiment to profess, has Il wholesome
effect on his conduct and character
and serves to check the cyniciSm which,
some other peculiarties of the country
foster. The nation as q whole owes sGs
tie active benevOlence of its wonseDs,
and their Zsal in promoting social re-
forms, benefits which the customs OF
continental Europe would scarcely have
permitted women to confer. Euro
peans have of late years begun to rer-
der the well-deserved admiration tCv
the brightness and vlvacity of AmerI--
can ladies. Those who know the work
they have done and are doing in many
noble cause will admire still more
their energy, their courage, their self
devotion. No country seems to Owee
more to its women than Ameri q Goes.
nor to owe to them so much of what W
best in social institutions and in tie.
beliefs that govern conduct"