Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-11-24
LARGEST DAILY CITY CIRCULATION,
4 SINGLE STANDARD.

The American Purity Alliance re- gently closed an important session at Philadelphia during which many important essays were read and ad- dresses made relating to social 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.
 aThe relation of the sexes is either the crown of society or its ruin; they either build the State upon sound and true foundation, or they set up fantastic structures upon quicksand. We must cultivate in our young people 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 it's soundness. l hold that equality of moral obligation is the one idea which lies at the foun- daJion 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- cial life, 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 i've must cultivate in our young people 8 sense at once of the strietness 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 it's soUndness. Mrs. Howe cor rectly presents a very important and vital subject. There should be but one standard of moral qualifea- 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 con- mon ground of moral and social equality. Oae should be required to appear before the marriage altar with the same personal purity as the other. 4 strict social standard for one and a 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 a re. form in our social life and are advo- eating it with zeal and earnestness. Their efforts can not but eventuate in beneficial results. It 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