The record-union., 1893-09-13
Women in Business.

EDS. RECORD UNION: I have enjoyed
and heartily approve of your frequent
editorials on the woman question: that
have appeared in your valuable journal
from time to time. and particularly the
article on this subject in your issue of the
9th instant.
To my mind there is no more impor-
tent question before the American people
than this one, for when you degrade
womanhood you will likewise degrade
| the nation.
When you encourage and permit our
females to 90 into the world and compete
with men in all branches of business and
trades, you to a great extent destroy their
modesty.
Women, in my opinion, should only
mlngle with the world and earn their
own living in cases of extreme necessity.
| Every true man has a high regard and
respect for woman; but should she asso-
ciate with us in all OF our political insti
! tutlons and aVOcations, the immoral at
mosphere of these surroundings will in
time permeate her character and the
males VIII cease TO respect her.
When you mix decayed and sound
fruit together, the sound viii eventually
become decayed also. Many pure and
good mother has been led from her happy
home by the influence of StrOng-minded
"woman's rights advocates" +" and finally
caused to neglect both husband and fam
lily for other matters that they consider of
more importance.
The buIwark of all happiness is at
home, around the tireside, and when
anything occurs to mar the harmony of
the sacred marriage tie, then good society
and morals are in jeopardy.
California is great State and no one is
more loyal to its interests than the
writer, but if you will pardon me, l will
#lnT Nl.gN
the women OF this country, in many i'll
stances, being associated with rough men
in factories and business, they lose much
OF their mOdesty, and you frequently
hear men use vulgar language and take
Gods namo in vain in their presence, and
there is 10 protest on the part of the
female. Why? Because the corrupting
influence OF trade or factory have caused
her TO look with Indifference on such i'll
breeding.
Is this the case in all parts of this
Union2 No for there are sections of
this country where the idea of women
engaging in business and politics is
trowned upon, and the natural result is
that females of these sections are delicate
and modest in their conduct to the eX-
treme.
Some Of these ilI-advised, but doubt
less sincere ladies, go to the extent of
advocating female suffrage.
Not referring to the cOrrupting and i'm
pure influences resulting from the use of
the ballot, but admitting for the sake of
argument that they Will in time be given
this privilege, l fail 10 comprehend what
good will result from its exercise.
Suppose an issue was before the cOun-
try and the women in the majority, and
they We're almost wholly arrayed on one
side of the question and the men on the
other, and the result of the election indi-
= - LII l.,
good would that victory do them, mas
much as they would not be physically
able TO maintain their success with the
bayonet?
If the reply is that the minority will
acquIesce in the verdict as given at the
polls, l ask how it was that the minority
South re5elled against the balance of the
Union? And | ask again how it is that
the, as alleged, minority whites of the
South do not permit the majority of col
Ored people to rule?
History and experience teaches US that
this much-sOught-atter privilege on the
part OF certain females would be of little
avail to them in the event OF success; for
the right of suffrage is of little force un-
less backed up by physical strength.
am not Catholic, and have little in
common with them, but l admire the
opinions Of Father Montgomery as given
on this question some weeks ago in San
Francisco, and verify believe that if the
women keep their place, and occupy thai
high sphere that the "Allwise Creator''
intended them to fill, the men of
these United States will respect, love and
support them, and that we will have a
great and a contented people.
Nearly all laws are not interpreted as
being favorable to women by our iudici-
ary; yet The sympathetic and gallant
jurymen often refuse to convict the
females, when under similar circum-
stances, if a man had been on trial lhe
would have paid the penalty in prison.
50, if their legal rights are at present so
well protected, why should they make SO
much nOise2
l do not believe that the majority of the
mothers Of tins land are complaining, but
that few discontents are making ali this
disturbance, mainly for the reason that
they love 10 be conspicuous and have
their vanity gratihed.
Asking your forgiveness for occupying
so much space l wiu now close by re-
questing all interested to read Ephesians.
chapter ., from list to sd verses. inclu-
sive. Wilson.
Sacramento, September II, 1898.