The record-union., 1893-08-04
THE UNPOPULAR SIDE.
The Woodland Democrat says:

The Woodland Democrat SAYS:
In an address recently delivered by Father
montgomery there were some remarks de-
pioring the necessity that sometimes drives
women INTO the occupations usua ly nlled by
men. The address has provoked a discuss ION
in which Father Montgomery and the RE-
oRD-UN!oN are the leaders on one side, and
lney are anLagoniZed by almost everybody
else who have expressed opinions on the sub
Je3s. IL does not follow. however that Father
Montgomery and the RECoRD-UNIo> stand
alone. There are great many people who
hold the same views but VINO are discreet
enough TO remain silent, for it cannot g dis
puted that the other side OF the question is
the most popular at this time.
Our contemporary is in error in saying
almost everybody" is on the other side.
But suppose we admit for arguments
sake that it is true, and that our position
that it is to women's injury to encourage
her entry into business, and that the
drift of women into business is destruc-
tive of domesticity and womanliness, is
unpopular. Then we are very glad of it,
For somehow every unpopular thing
we have advocated has won. 1t was un-
popular when we proposed and alone
battled for the Australian ballot law for
California, years and years ago. Now
you have it and all pronounce it good.
1t was unpopular when we advocated
years and years ago the parole system.
Now you have it. It was unpopular
when years ago we urged striking the
shackles from reform schools then cum
bering them in the shape of reform
atory'' titles. Now the people all agree
to it, and it is the law. 1t was very, very
unpopular when we advocated the aban-
donment of the river as a source of sup
ply of water for Sacramento, but now
the matter has gone so far that bargain
has been struck, and the people, it is
conceded will ratify it, for a new water
system.
IL was very unpopular to oppose some
Of the vagaries and inconsistencies of the
Constitution of 1879, as the RECORD
UNION did. But since then the errors
have been conceded and the people have
been kept very busy year after year
patching up defects in that instrument.
1t was very unpopular when we pro-
posed the tearing down of the thousands
OF awning posts disfguring the city
streets and the substitution of hanging
sunshades-indeed, so unpopular was the
advocacy of the suggestion that we took
punishment for it. To-day the rattle of
the old posts as they come down beats
time to the march of municipal i'm
provement.
So it has been in State or local matters;
the RECoRD-U UNION has oftener than not
been the advocate of the unpopular, but
never OF the unreasonable. 1t has never
yet failed to see the reasonable win and
the merely popular go to the wall. 1t is,
we concede, unpopular to declare as we
do upon the woman question, so much so
that some of the sex conscious have de-
clared that we ought "to be done up.''
But the RECoRD-UNIoN is right, simply
because it is backed by reason, fortified
by the dictates of observation and iusti-
fed by the teachings of experience. And
it will never be done up" because it is
right. Let US say to the Dem0c1 at we are
glad our side is the unpopular one; it
forecasts the time when it will be con-
fessed to be reasonable and right.