Semi=weekly graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1895-1902, 1895-11-27
4 SINGLE STANDARD.

Tie American 4 AAAb1 4AetAA'
Gently closed an important session
at Philadelphia during which many
important essays were read and adj
dresses made relating to "soeiai
purity One of the most import
ant papers read before the Alliance
was from the pen of Mrs. Julia
Ward Howe, on the subject of
"Moral Equality Between the
Sexes" The following is a synop-
sis of the views she expressed.
1.-The relation Of the sexes is either
the crown Of society or its ruin;
they either build the State upon a
sound and true foundation, or they
set up fantastic structures upon
ouicksand. We must cultivate in
our young people d sense at once OF
the strictness of moral obligation
and of the largeness of personal lib
erty. Families are the wealth Of
States, and the ideal family life is
one which we Americans especially
need TO cultivate Let the romance
of our youths look forward to mar
ried life on a plan of mutual dignity
and equality. In my view the sense
of equality is most important con
dition in marriage, and the surest
guarantee of its soundness. | hold
that equality of moral obligation is
the one idea which lies at the foun-
dation of any true Democracy.
This, indeed, is the only equality
upon which we can insist, Intellec
tual and social inequalities cannot
be done away with by any effort of
human will. "
Mrs. Howe deals with one of the
most important subjects of our so
ciallife, and she presents some very
solid and logical facts in connection
with the question she discusses.
Mrs. Howe expresses a grand truth
when she declares that we must
cultivate in our young people
sense at once of the strictness of
moral obligation and the largeness
of personal liberty" She also states
another grand truth when she as
serts that "the sense of equality is
a most important condition in mar
riage and the surest guarantee of
its soundness. Mrs. Howe cor
rectly presents a very important
and vital subject. There should be
but one standard of moral qualifca-
tion for married life. When con-
tracing parties meet at the sacred
altar to exchange vows of love and
faith, they should meet on the COM
anon ground Of moral and social
equality One should be required
30 appear before the marriage altar
with the same personal purity as
she other. A strict social standard
for one and lax social standard for
the other is an injustice to society.
As the man requires of the woman
so the woman should require of the
man. One standard, one faith, one
purity and one equality, as binding
on the one as the other, should be
the rule, and not the exception.
Growing boys should be educated
to this standard the same as the
girls of the land. They should be
educated TO bring to the marriage
altar that same personal purity
that is required of the other party
to the contract. The obligation
should be entirely mutual. That it
is not so is due to custom and pub
lie sentiment. Public sentiment
should require the same purity for
the man as the woman, and it is
gratifying to observe that such
noble women as Mrs. Julia Ward
Howe have inaugurated such re
form in our social life and are advo.
eating it with zeal and earnestness.
Their efforts can not but eventuate
IN beneficial results. 1t seems that
IN the cultivating and raising up of
the children of the land too little
attention is paid to the boys. The
girls are given the especial care of
solicitous parents, the BOYS are
turned loose to grow up as best
they can. Were the boys given the
same care and attention in their
tender and youthful lives, and sur
rounded with the same protecting
care as their sisters, they would be
better prepared for that ideal fam
lily life, which, as Mrs. Howe truly
says, 1--WE Americans especially
need to cultivate
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