Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-07-02
IN WOMAN'S DEFENSE.
Bill Arp Speaks for the Mothers
and Wives.

Another woman killed-kiIled by her
husband. And another and another.
-Four horri lie murders within few days
past. When will this thing stop? We
don't read of any husbands murdered by
their wives. Is the world getting worse!
Is the devil turned loose in this Southern
countrv9, Before the war woman was
more honored, more respected than she
is now. She stood side by side with her
husband as his equal partner In every
thing that became a wife or mother.
Marriage vows were serious and solemn
promises then and they we're generally
observed, but now the vow, when recited
by the minister, seems mere formaiity
and is soon forgotten. The ceremony,
the maids of honor, the trousseau, the
attendants and the fulsome description
in the mornings paper are of more con-
sequence Fast women and faster men
ale married nowadays, but not mated.
"Wbo gIveth this wonan awayi said
the preacher. and a fast young man N
the gallery whispered to his companions:
81 q uld. but | won't" Before the war
maidenly modesty was at premium, but
now in society it is at 4 discount. A glrI
must be fast to attract attention and
catch lover. The purity of both is sns-
pcctcd-purity of thought and person and
hence divorces follow right along IN the
wake of marriages. They have increased
largely in late years. A suit for divorce
was a rare thing IN the days of our
fathers. SO was separation-so were
suicides-sO was case of lunacy. some
say that these things were as common as
now. but we did not hear of them, for
there were few newspapers and no tele-
graph This is a great mistake. Since
the war divorces have doubled and luna
tics trebled according to our white popu-
lation and suicides follow right along
with them.
The race between crime and morality 10
neck and peck, especially in our cities.
How many weeping women who nave
been deserted by their husbands! How
many are supporting yagabonds whom
they call husband! How many are en-
during oppression and cruelty that they
dare not disclose! Only few days ago
| man was tried in our court Tor
beating his wife, He pleaded guilty,
thinking to get off lightly, and, when in
terrogated by the judge, said he only
slapped her twice. The pitiful wife was
there and the judge asked her if he slap
ped her often. She reluctantly answered:
Yes, sir; whenever he gets mad. Does
he ever beat you or kick .0u! said the
Judge. YES sir she said. Her an
swers satisfied His Honor that he was
brute and he sentenced him to the chain
gang for full term. trif1ing young
man married the daughter of one OF my
tenants. After a few months he toid
neighbor that he couldn't do nothin' at al
with her and was gwine to take her oack
to the old man. He said: L have
whooped her and whooped her, ana
1t didn't do her bit of GOOD.
That is the idea that thousands OF men
have of the marriage state. DOMINATION
on his part and slavery on hers. Aias!
for the women-the credulous, unsuspect-
iny girls who tied themselves IN matri-
monial chains to such men. No WONDER
we call them chains, for the vile CANNOT
break them when she chooses, though
tn. husband can. Will the time never
come when the breaking of the marriage
vow. by the man shall entail upon MN the
same disgrace that follows the unfalthiui
wife? When will woman stand size py
side with man? There was time III
the blessed past when 1t was almost
universal for her to receive homage ana
protection from husband and father ana
| brother and children. The idea of woman
suffrage was then not entertained. one
had love and support and protection ana
that was all she wanted. But now SAD
| and serious change has come over the
| condition of woman. There are thou-
sands who cannot marry and have neitn-
| er support nor protection. and hence they
| have to become bread-winners ana pro-
| tect themselves. They are IN the steress
the shops, the counting-rooms ana scnooi-
houses all over the lard. They are DONG
the business of the men and should nave
the rights and privileges of the men IN
secular affairs. As John Temple UraVes
said in his beautiful address at Athens
the arguments in favor OF woman SUI
frage cannot be answered.
The trials of womans marrieu hio
are awful to contemplate. Inc pains anu
| perils of maternity-the constant eare "
children in infancy and youth-tne wateh-
| full days and sleepless nights Inc not
unfrequent loss of husbands love when
she has lost her charms The grleI ovsr
4 wandering son or an unfortunate daugn.
| ter Her helplessness in poverty or oiu
| are or sickness. Her liability to femihino
diseases to which the men are not SUD
| iect. Her constant confinement at nome
or her house, or it may be her prison.
| When all these perils are considered Is IL
not a wonder that any thoughtful woman
| will venture upon that sea that mas
| wrecked so many of her sex?
If trouble and grief could be measured
or weighed there is no bin large enough
| to hold that of many heart-broken wife
and mother. If she falls it is nine cases
out of ten the sin or the fault of man.
Woman loves attention. admiration,
praise, homage, caresses, and If she does
not get a moiety of these at home some
times she looks for them abroad. This
| is her feminine nature.
But, of course, there is another side TO
| the picture Marriages are not always
| failures. There is no godliers right in all
nature than considerate, loving hus-
band and wife going down the vale to-
gether loved by their children and grand
children. To them life was not curse
nor marriage disappointment. Neither
money nor fine clothes nor carriage at
| the door will secure conjugal happiness.
Nothing but duty-conscientious, thougnt-
full duty-and the performance of every
scintilla of the marriage VOWS viii insure
1t. BILL. ARP.
rANrNow AnrGC