The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-27
MANS COLUMN.
CONDUCTED BY COG AND MAaoa.

The insu bordination of labor is an
old theme, for way back in Samuel we
read, There be many servants nova
days that break away every man from
HE master" And, likewise, the insub-
ordination OF wives is not new thing
under the Gun. Now as bo6a servants
and wives are very familiar with texts
of scripture which bear on such insub
ordination we propose to quote, for q
change, from latter-day philosopher
and prophet who talks in an altogether
different strain. We have reference to
Herbert Spencer
line arbitrary rule of one human be-
Ing over another, no matter in what
form it may appear. is fact getting rec
ognized as essentially rude and brutal.
In our day the man OF refined feeling
does not like to play the despot over his
fellow. He is disguised If one in hum
BILE circumstances crlnges to him. So
far from wishing to elevate himself by
depressing his poor and ignorant neigh
bors, he strives to put them
at their ease III his presence
encourages them to behave in
a lees submissive ard more self-respect-
ing manner. lie feels that fellowman
may be ensaved by imperious words
and manners as well as by tyrannical
deeds; and hence he avoids dctatoral
style OF speech to those below him
Even paid domestics, to whose service
he has obtained right by contract. he
does not like to address in tone OF an
thority. He seeks rather to disguise his
character OF master; to this end wrap
up his commands in the shape OF re-
quests; and continually employs the
phrases, " II you please" and ''Thank
you"
I'm the conduct of modern gentle
man to his friend. we have additional
signs OF this growing respect for an
others dignity. Every one must have
observed the carefulness with which
those on terms of affectionate intimacy,
shun anything in the form of supremacy
on either side, or endesvor to Danish
from remembrance, by their behavior
to each other, whatever of supremacy
there may exist. Who is there shat has
! not witnessed the dilemma in which the
weslthier of two such is sometimes
| placed, between the wish to confer a
| benefit on the other, and the fear that
| in so doing he may offend by assuming
| the atti ude of patron? And who is
there that does not feel how destructive
| it would be of the sentiment subsIsting
between himself and his friend, were he
| to play the master over his friend, or
! his friend to play the master over him
| sA"A further increase of this same re-
fnement will show men that there ia a
fatal incongrulty between the matri-
monial servitude which our law recog.
nizes and the relationship that ought to
exist between husband and wife. Surely
| il he who possesses any generosity of
nature dislikes speaking to hired do
mestic in tone OF authority-if he can
| not bear assuming toward his friend the
behavior OF superior-how utterly re-.
pugnant to him should it be to make
himself ruler over one on whose behalf
all his kindly sentiments are specially
enlisted-one to whom he is bound by
the strongest attachment that his nature
is capable of. and for whose rights and
dignity he ought to have the most active
sympathy!
Command is blight to the affec-
tions. Whatsoever OF refinement,
whatsoever OF beauty, whatsoever of
poetry there is in the passion that
unites the sexes, withers up and dies in
the cold atmosphere OF authority. Native
as they are to such widely separated
cannot possibly flourish together. The
one grows out OF our best feelings; the
other mas it's root in our worst. Love is
sympathetic; coercion ia calous. Love
ia gentle; coercion harsh. Love is self-
sacrificing; coercion is selfish. How
then can they coexlst? 1t is the prop
erty OF the first to attract, while it ia
that OF the last to repel; and, conflicting
as they thus do, it is the constant tom
dency OF each TO destroy the other. Let
whoever thinks the two compatible
imagine himself acting the master over
his betrothed. Does he believe that he
could do this without injury to the sub
sisting relationship? Does he not know,
rather, that bad effect would be pro-
duced upon the feelings of both parties
by the assumption of such an attitude
And, confessing this. as be must, is he
superstitious enough to suppose that the
going through form of words will
render harmless that use OF command
which was previously hurtful?
'Of all the causes which conspire to
produce the disappointment of those
| glowing hopes with which married life is
usually entered upon. none is go potent
as this supremacy of eex-ths degrads-
ton of what should be free and equal
relationship into one OF ruler and sub
ject this supplanting of the sway of af-
lection by the sway of authority. Only
as that condition OF SLAYER, to which
women are condemned amongst barbar.
GUS nations is ameliorated does the ideal
love become possible; and only when
that condition of slavery shall have been
wholly abolished will ideal love attain
fulness and permanence. The facts
around us plainly indicate this. Wher-
ever anything worth calling connubial
happiness at present exists we shall find
that the subjugation of wife to husband
is not enforced; though perhaps still
held in theory, it ia practically repudi-
ated."
Where are we at? Life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness seems to be
the non de plume of republicanism.
High protected property-so high that
an income tax cannot reach it, the more
property the less tsx-the more protec
ton the less revenue. Our infant in
| dustries have been protected for hum
! bred years. while our infant children
have been starving for quarter of
century in garrets and cellars. We have
a corner on the pursuit OF happiness
even to the extent OF blade OF grass.
| which is 30 highly protected at the
capital by the police club, at the jeop.
I'D. <sf . 10 al -.