The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-06


PRODUCTION OF either into the sphere of the
other Is injurious-fatal. indeed. II extensive
and continuous. Character 10 that which
eventually determines conduct. the intelli-
Rence Joined with 1t simply serving as q min
ister procuring satisfaction for those feelings
which mako up the character. At present
both men and women are led by their feelings
to vitiats tho ethics OF the Stats By intro
ducing the ethics OF the family. But It
is especially in the nature Of women
as concomitant OF their maternal
functions to yield benefits not In proportion
TO deserts but in proportion to tho absence of
deserts: to give most whore capacity is least
The love Of the helpless. which may servo as q
general description OF the parental instinct,
stronger In women than In men. and swayinR
their conduct outside the family O. we'll as In
side. more than 1t sways tho conduct OF men,
must III q still greater degree than In mon
prompt public actions that are uuduly regard.
ful OF tho inferior as compared with the supe.
rior. The present tendency OF both sexes is to
contemplate citizens as having claims In pro-
portion to their needs. their needs being habit
ually proportionate to their dement's: and this
tendency. stronger In women than in mon,
must. II 1t operates politically. cause q more
general fostering OF tho worse at the expense
OF tho better. Instead OF that maintenance OF
rights which. as Mr.. SPENCER demonstrates In
this volume. is but systematic enforcement
OF the principle that each shall receive the
good and evil results OF his own conduct there
would como greater and moro numerous
breaches OF that principle than arc ut present
observed. Still moro than now would tho good
which tho superior have earned be forcibly
taken away from them to help tho Inferior:
and still moro than now would evils which the
inferior have brought upon themselves be
shouldered on to tho superior.
Attention Is directed to another objection
based on a trait OF nature by which women
are distinguished. and which arises from adj.
Justment. not to the maternal. but TO the
marital relation. While their feelings haye
bocome moulded Into special fitness for deal
ing with offspring. they have also become ad-
]usted to an appropriate choice OF husbands
so far vt least conditions have allowed them
to choose. Power. bodily or mentally. or both.
is and over has been that masculine trait
which most attracts women: and by doing so
furthers the multiplication OF the stronger.
Varieties In which this distinctive preference
WAS least marked must. other things being
equal. have ever tended to disappear before
other varieties. Hence in women Il Worship
OF power under all its forms and hence rela-
tive conservatism. Authority no matter how
embodied politically. enthusiastically. or so
cially-sways women still more than 1t sways
men. Evidence OF this Is furnished by socie.
ties OF all grades. 6auctiHed BY the njunctIous
OF ancestry. customs are adhered to by women
more than by men. even where instructive
feelings might have been expected to
produce an opposite ef1oct Mr.. Spencer
Rdduce' tho instances OF the adhesion
BY tho women among tho Juangs to
something less than Ewes dress after the men
had taken to loin cloths. Religious fanaticism
which IL the oxpres sion of sxtrame an horAir.