The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-05-24
WOMAN AND MAN.
A Learned Professor Proves Conclusively that
the Former Is Inferior to the Latter.

Prof. E. d. Cope. in the Forum
The foundation facts of the situation. az
they appear from a physiological stand
point. are somewhat opposed TO our ideals,
] freely admit; but it is the history of every
human mind that is not incurably magma
tive. rather than exact. to learn the lessen
which q bondage to material conditionsim i'm
poses on us all alike.
The question is asked: as woman's in
feriority the cause OF the effect of her
economic subjectionf~ The answer is that
it is the effect and not the cause of such
subsection, IS well as Of "body-dwarfng
dress and custom" This is the fundamental
error of q large class of women d~octrinaires.
and it needs but q superficial knowledge of
natural history to comprehend it.
The inferior physical strength of the fe-
male sex is general Though not entirely
UNIVERSAL in the animal kingdom; and, as
mentality Is one of the functions of human
mechanism. it extends to the mental or
gaDism In man as well. 1t 10 q simple cor
ollary Of the law Of the conservation of en-
ergy that where q large amount of energy
Is devoted to one function less remains for
expenditure in performing another. The
large part of the female organism devoted
TO the functions OF CESSATION. lactation, and
maternal care of children simply puts her
out of the race as o competitor with man.
on anything like equal terms. Even if
those functions are not active the machin-
cry for the performance of other functions
is not thereby increased in quantity or i'm
proved in quality. except in such small de-
gree as one woman may accomplish in q
lifetime. And this small accomplishment
she does not transmit, since the unmarried
woman has no children.
/ call attention to the fact that, although
Wnmap haa had fha aAuantana nf tho "a,
heritance of male accomplishments and
capacities since tho origin of the species,
the relation between her and man still re-
mains about as 1t ever has remained. The
one sex progresses about as rapidly as the
other. and they maintain about the same
relative position. This fact is so funda-
mental that 1t is unreasonable to expect
any change in the future. What can be
lone is to improve both sexes as much "a
possible in all their powers, and to ac-
quaint each with their limitations. In this
way the greatest amount of happiness may
be attained with . minimum of conflict and
waste.
1t is evident thai marriage is the DESTINY
Of both sexes. snd IN the first place mono
Gamic marri.go II no more q slavery to
women than tue slpport of q family is to q
man. Man Is s. use this common but in
exact express. n. IN q state of slavery" TO
the conditions II k.s environment, and no
socialistic scher can relieve him of the
difficulty. thougA some mltigations can be
doubtless introduced. Man is an essential
part Of this environment. and contributes
10 the slavery" TO which he Is subject.
Woman's environment differs from that of
man, in the difference in the relation in
which she stands to man. as compared
with that which subsists between man and
man. That she should escape the con-
sequences of this environment is no
more to be anticipated than is the
case with man himself. She has the
advantage of man, however. in hav-
ing for her master o being who is
naturally inclined to admire, aid and
support her; while to man, the environ
ment Is moetly controlled by grim necessi-
ty imposed by unfeeiing forces. When man
rebels against this environment, and makes
reprisals on society by appropriating the
property OF others he makes q serious mis-
take. and be finds 10 out generally soon.
Sc some women. disconnected with their
relations to ahusband, are dishonest to him.
They also ave trouble. Community of
wives as Is impossible as communityo of prop
erty unless wives surrender all claims to
more than temporary consideration. There
are both men and women who think this
the better system, aud act on it. But the
men generally abandon lt ultimately and
marry. It would be interesting 10 know
what becomes of the women More infor-
mation Is needed. but the impression il that
such men have not chosen wisely.
It is true that woman, like amy animal
can bear children; but IL 10 also true that
man, like ANY ANIMAL must make o liv-
ing. The TWO OCCUPATIONS are on q par.
But neither shcold neglect TO develop their