The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-04-20
WOMAN AND SOCIAL PROGRESS.
The Views of "a South American Statesman
on an Important Subject.

The Views of "a South American Statesman
an Important Subject.
At the recent reception rendered by the
Woman's National Press Association to the
delegates to the Pan-American Congress, Sehor
Caamafo, the Minister from Peru and dele
gate to the Congress, read thoughtful and in
teresting paper on "Woman's Influence Upon
Social Progress The paper attracted much
attention, and there has been such a demand
for 1t that by request THE HERALD to-day
gives it space. The paper was as follows
Fortunately for humanity, in these, our times,
egOism the child OF prejudice, exercises little
power in the practice of certain principles,
not had just application, and to-day are found
holding their ground. in the enjoyment of their
rights, their prerogatives, and their pleasures.
Until lately woman was a thing of luxury, eN-
posed to the public gaze. She was kept beautiful
and well arrayed, but protected from social con-
tact; every consideration and the affection in
sptred by her deCacy and grace awaited her;
& Ias @ LOT u @ IA atd 3uS sto "SS nr AZ
least given only in small doses that education
the bread of the soul-which she anxiously de-
horizon she has before her. There are no longer
barriers to her perfection. We, who have jeal-
ously guarded the treasury of her endowments,
have comprehended that we are the greater and
nobler the more we ennoble and exalt the being
who embodies all our aspirations and forms our
complement; and utilizing the abundance of
virtue and intelligence which surround her, we
place her at the height which belongs to her;
and, educating her first we have introduced her
to society, permitting her to wander freely and
alone amid the vicisstudes of life in order that.
by her own exertions and without other restraint
than her decorum, she may present herself as
she does to-day, free from prejudices. acquainted
with the world. knowing how to distinguish the
true and the false. mistress of herself, the archi-
tect of her own fortunes, unmindful of calami-
ties, independent, joyous, proud
But this is not all; the woman of to-day, with the
longer restricted to the tasks and limits naturalto
her sex; her lively imagination her moral energy
give her in her career Of progress. but accelerate
the car which conducts her from acquisition to
Ss and r9m to aes ob an6
we politely relinquish, and she gives us an ex-
ample, and at times, indeed many times, she cor
rects and teaches us. In the bold scope of her
accomplishments she embraces everything in
ventions, fine arts. poetry, literature, manufac-
the press are included in the vast field of her am
bition.
Under the direction of woman the public press
| is moderate, like her sex. and like her sex dis
Greet; she espouses with enthusiasm every
worthy cause and recoils from bitter discussions
she ever shuns anything which may wound the
susceptibilities; recognizing by intuition indelt-
them as bed of thorns, and believing that in
this field only deceptions abound, she does not
IT h
ing files, waving the banner of conciliation; and
when the leaders Of both parties becoming irri-
woman and her pen clamor for peace that sweet
and Christian sentiment which always occupies
the most prominent place in her heart and mind.
Honor and the family find in that press for
midable bulwark woman. by her very being. is a
defender of both; her exquisite sensibilty and the
fear that that crystal, which she religiously pre-
serves as sacred, may be broken or even sullied
the fights Oh Of others IN oder to
her, own; she confronts. calumny, battles
with it ad % %rtc it, OVER a 9ae tha
that are dear to us and to defend and hallow the
home, the secret refuge of tranquility and of
N won wi ls
arms whose edges are irresistible; she rises erect,
steadfast and naughty; and it is then and only
then that she develops a Will power which is
beyond our reckoning; for this SEX. which is
everywhere called weak, is only so with regard
which is always noble. she displays bewilder.
ing activity, and is strong and steadfast, meyer
wavering not even to sacrifice herself, which
she does, when necessary calm, erect, irwin
chile.
The press offers school which has its own
characteristics; academical dissertations and
purely doctrnal writings are far from its scope
rily confined within narrow limits, such writings
monopoize the time and space destined to ques-
t0ns Of M interest r from its its aim be-
deprives them of the desire of reviewing the
daily occurrences WHICH, in general. constitute
l its principal charm. In this respect the press
: conducted by woman, shines with brliancy; di
rected by those who hold in their hands the
4 chords of the human heart with which they play
D at will it embraces all that is necessary to flat
e ter their lnclinations; it is varied and elegant
! like the humming- bird, it extracts the honey
Il which the flowers hold in their cup to lavish il
without reserve; and transmitting to the reader
its many impressions, it keeps the curiosity al
: ways alert, diverts the mind, often fatigued by
3. trouble or by disgust, and instructs by delight
o ing. without tirinG or leaving disagreeable i'm
. presSions.
: The press is the thermometer of civilization
/ Who escapes its disqusitions? Who is not sub
e ject to its scalpel? Who does not respectit? VIII
a does not relish its favorable opinions? Who doe
not fear its reprehension?
The crucible of men and of public affairs, tn
10 bearer of good and of bad news, the promoter o
- - reforms, now applauding. now censuring, 1T re
II solves the most difficult problems and auto
Is cratically leads nations, when badly directed
e their destruction and when well advised, to the
,s aggrandiZement On this account, if it fire
- quently abuses the privilege, perverJing idea
'l and poisoning the best doctrines, have in tn
te press directed by woman a corrective of th
le same kind because, thank God, it is still pre-
!. served free from corruption, and is wholesom
w restraint in the constant struggle which virtu
ie carries on against evil passions.
These bases established ask, does woman il
tiuence social progress?
lt Hammerless Guns.
r. Col. A. e. Courtney, the genial agent for IL