The morning times., 1896-05-23
MONUMENT To SLAVES

An eX-Confederate officer, now we'll
TODD manufacturer in a South Carolina
town, has recently done a most gracious
act. He gave the funds for the erection
Of two monuments-one to the memory Of
the women of the Confederacy; the other
to the memory of the slaves, and both
were unveiled a day or two ago For the
first time, monument has been reared TO
the Southern negro slaves. None but a
Southerner could be expected to do it, for
none but Southron can appreciate what
the slaves were TO the South in ali those
years when the men were at the front,
fighting, and none but the women and
children remained on the plantatio or in
the city home.
There never has been in all history a
finer example of devotion OF servant to
master than there was in the relation of
the Southern slave to his owner, even after
the news had penetrated the Southland
that the negro had been freed, and was at
liberty TO go where he pleased. Even while
their masters fought to keep them in bonds,
they themselves worked for his wife and
children, aud later on, after the end had
come and many family knew not where
to get the necessaries of life, it was the
faithful slave who, denying himself the
crust that would appease his hunger,
gave it to his former mistress or her little
ones. The South caroliuian's monument is
a gaceful ackno wledgment of this devotion,
and will no doubt be appreciated as such by
every coIured man in the country
WIVES, WIDOWS AND CHILDREN.
1t is understood that since the marri.d
womaD's bill has been again in the hands
Of the House District Committee it has been
so amended as to cure the defects which
heretofore made it unacceptable. Such
being tue case it will, of course, be re-
ported again to the House next Monday,
and there should be no difficulty in the
way of its prompt disposal. The bill does
not deal with intricate questions; it is
based upon the essential principles of justice
and humanity. Nothing can be more re-
pugnant to every kindly impulse than to
deprive the mother Of the custody of her
children; yet, under the present laws of
the Districtthe husband may from very spite
make a Will which robs her of her dearest
treasures and place them in the hands of
strangers far less qualified than the mother
TO care for them properly. The proposition
that the surviving parent shall be the nat
ural and legal guardian of the person of
the child, unless it be shown by proper
evidence in court that he or she is mentally
or morally unfit to discharge the trust
properly, is strictly in the line OF common
sense and common humanity.
The other proposition embodied in the
bill-that a ma rried woman shall be per-
mitted TO exercise untrammeled control
over her property and earnings-is equally
incontrovertible from the sta ndpoint of
logic and justice. A man has the right to
enjoy the fruits OF his labor; no valid
reason can be given why woman shall
not enjoy the same privilege. No question
can be raised as to her ability as q man.
ager; in fact, very large percentage of
ma rried men will confess, if they are
honest about it, that but for the excellent
and Judicious management of their wives
IulDSS NOulu DS S1uig dJ sihGs anu SeNeDS.
Women have demonstrated their capacity
to control great business establishments;
they have shown shrewdness in the acqui-
sition aud disposal of property OF every
kind; they are good at buying and selling
far better than the ma jority of men; in
every department of life they have demon
strated business tact and talent. Why
then should they surrender that managerial
talent the moment they take upon them
selves the bonds and obligations of mat
rimony.
wife's property, whether Inherited
or acquired by her personal effort before
or after marriage, ought to be hers abso
luteiy and completely, subject in no wise
to the husbands control. unless OF her
own choice she surrenders it to him.