The record-union., 1893-07-21
TIE DEBATE RENEWED.

The debate which the REcoRD-UNIoN
Anaugurated several years ago relative to
"The Sphere of Woman" and in which
we took up a Neglected Phase of the
Woman Question" has now become the
subject of discussion in all the reviews,
magazines and leading journals.
At the outset the RECoRD-UNIoN had
not half-dozen supporters of its view
to wit: that the drift of woman into bust
ness is bad for woman, and for civiliza-
ton; that it is destructive of domesticity,
puts matrimony under ban, and tends
to brush the bloom Of innocence and gem
tleness from girlhood, and to make
womanhood hard, cold and ENJOYABLE.
Atthisldate it is gratifying to know that
most of the critics and the best of the
leading journals have adopted the REC
ORD-UNIoN's views. We say this not
accuracy. 1t is true that the question of
the employment of women had been de-
bated widely, bat not until this journal
and one in New York took up the ques-
ton did it assume the practical and vigor-
Gus phase it now has taken. It was
formerly discussed sentimentally, and
with timidity, manly chivalry greatly
Gripping the man in the debate. Now,
however, the people have risen above
mere gallantry in this matter, and are
considering the subject with practical
seriousness before unknown. 1t is too
grave a question to be waived for
woman's smiles or ''given away" be-
cause OF the ethics of gallantry.
The latest development in the debate is
that in which Rev. Father Montgomery,
a distinguished clergyman, in a public
address in San Francisco, took sides with
the RECORD UNION. This has brought
down upon him a shower of anathema
from the strong-minded. Meetings have
been held, speeches made and pages of
newspapers filled with expressions of all
manner of people upon the question, the
most of them in opposition to rational
views.
We have not read one-half of the mat
ter thus printed. 1t is not worthy of it :;
1t nearly all begs the question. So much
as we have read is type of the most of
the whole. In not one of the articles adj
verse to our view does writer testify to
capacity to lit the eyes above the pres
ent, to enlarge the horizon of view, or
rise superior to the time being.
Every one of them cries out-'What
shall we do with those who are now com
PEELED to labor in business? how cruel it
would be to turn them adrift to starve:
30 many are dependent upon them, the
aged and infirm, the sick and helpless.
What shall we do with the tens of thou
sands of women who must 60 to work, or
do worse or starve2"
All this is silly. OF course, no revolu-
ton is without its pains; every great re-
form was born of anguish and human
suffering. But no one advocates cruelty
to those now displacing men and unsex-
ing themselves. But we DO demand that
the fire of the evil be not fed by fresh
fuel. No one demands that woman shall
cease to work. Far from il; in all that is
tit she should labor, but not at anything
which involves the sacrifice of domes-
ITCHY. The art of housewifery needs to
be reinsiated and the girls put to domes-
tic service, rather than tape measuring
and counter jumping"
We want women to keep out of COM
mercial life, to cease displaoing the nat
ural eare-taker and bread-winner; to Gull
tivate pride in domestic service as SUI
perior 10 clerkships and bill-checking.
We want young men seeking wives to
find them in the domestic circle and not
behind the counter or in the alleys OF
commerce with a pencil in the back hair.
There are many avenues Of work for
women. however, away from the home.
that are not destructive of domestieity
and IN which she may engage and meet