The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-09-02
MATE RNITY.
The Law Of Heredity and the subssrviency
~ Women,

inc Law OF feTeQity anu Ni0 ''o"SJ
Of Women.
Helen II, Gardner before the women's
congress, Chicago: Sell: abnegntion,
subservicncy to man-whether he be
father, lover or husbands the most
dangerous doctrine that can be taught
or forced upon her whose character
shall mould the next generation! She
has no right to transmit Il nature and u
character that is subservicnt, subject,
inefficient, undeveloped-in short u
slavlsh character, which is either
blindly obedient or blindly rebelllous
and is therefore set, US in u time look,
to prey or to be preycd upon by society
in the future!
If woman is not brave enough per-
sonally to demand and to obtain abso-
Lutte personal liberty of action, equality
of status and entire control OF hergreat
and rare endowing function of mater
nifty, she has no right to dare to stamp
upon n child and to curse n race with
the descendants of a servile, q dwarfcd,
q misunderstanding character.
We have been taught hat it is an
awful thing to commit murder-to take
n human life. There are students of
~anthropology and heredity who think
that it is q far more awful thing to
thrust, unaskcd, upon u human being
u life that is handicapped before he
gets it. 1t is Il far more solemn re-
s~ponsibility to give than to take Il hu-
man life! In the Il case you invade
personal liberty and put a stop to an
existence more or less valuable and
happy. but at least all pain is over for
that invaded individuality. In the
other case-in giving life-you invade
the liberty of infinite oblivion and
thrust into an inhospitable world an
other human entity to struggle, to
sink, to swim, to suffer or to enjoy.
Whether the one or the other no NOR
tai knows, but surely knows it must
contend not only with its environment,
but with its he1edity-with itself.
Not long ago a great man, who is
successful beyond most human units,
who is wealthy, socially to be envied,
who enjoys almost ideal family Erela-
tons, who is in uil regards n man oil
broad intellect, OF large heart, who is
beloved, successful and powerful-not
long ago this man said to me, when
talking of life and its chances, its joys
anu us DUIucuS iuu WIOuRS.
We'll, the more l think of it all the
more | know, the more | delve into
philosophy and science, the more / un'
for long years to come, If not forever,
cry of those who are less fortunate
than 1, Does it pay me to live? Woulc
l choose to be born again? Were ] to
day unborn, could | be asked for my
vote, knowing all ! do of life, woult
| vote to come into this world
Taking life at it's best estate, are W.
not assuming a tremendous risk tc
thrust it unasked upon those who arc
at least safe from its pitfalls. ask my
self these questions very often" he
said, and then he%sitatingly, 81 some
times think it pays after all. OF
course, since am here, | am bound tt
make the best of it, but for all that
an not sure how l would vote on my
birth if ! had the chance to try it-no'
quite sure"
eff you are S o impressed with life fo'
yourselt-you, a fortunate, healthy
wealthy, happily married, successful
man." said |, don't you think it is
pretty serious thing to assume tn
right to cast that vote for another hu
man pawn, who could hardly concciv
ably stand your chances in the world?'
"Serious." he exclaimed. Serious!
With the worlds conditions what the,
are today, with the physical, mora
and mental chances to ruin, will
woman, the character forming produce
of the race, and half educated subor
dinate to masculine dominion. it is lit
tie short of madness; it is not far from
Il crime. 1t is u crime unless tn,
mother is a physically healthy a men
tally developed and comprehending
morally clear, strong, vigorous entity
who knows her personal responsibility
in maternity, and, knowing, dare!
maintain it."