Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-30
An Extract from a Letter Written by W. N.
Stead 10 the W. c. 7. U. Convention al
Chicago.

Another great source of encourage
ment is the immense reinforcement
which science in its demonstration of
the working of the law of heredity mas
brought to all those who are contending
for justice for woman. Strange though
it appears. it is nevertheless indisputable
that every child is more or less of an
equation between the mental, moral and
physical qualities of both his parents, is
ignored by the immense majority of the
human race. The fact that the woman
when degraded into the mere playthinlg
or. the drudge of man avenges herself
measure of her degradation to her sons
is obvious. But, instead of regarding
every prospective parent as the trans
Inherited and acquired capacities. viz
tues and vices. it is too often supposed
TO be sufficient to allot different virtues
TO be brave and women to be chaste.
But the child Of the cowardly woman
and the immoral man starts afresh at
the bottom of the ladder, with it,. full
share of the inherited cowardice of the
one and the vicious propensities of the
other. And then marvel at the siowness
of the progress of the race. How is II
possible for progress to be more rapid
when each sex is taught that it is a mat
ter of no consequence whether or hot II
neutralizes in posterity the virtues of the
other. It is time we were done with
this one-legged system this eternal
goose step to which we have been so
III.
even if we care nothing for our gi1ls. we
must educate the mothers of our boys.
not merely in book learning but in all
the manly virtues which We wish to be
reproduced in these sons. We must no
longer have a different decaogue for the
two sexes. The moral law is one that
applies equally TO- both men ana women 90 i,sid
to their chastity. bravery, and our men
to add to their bravery. chastity. Other
wise we can no more expect higher
e,t,r n ,vI IL, .,,tr nh Ii X
pect to pour pure water from pitcher
which we have half filled at a cess--poo
But when all has been done by the
work in hand will remain almost UNI
touched. That work. roughly. speaking.
may, be defined, as that OF bringing ~. up
womans level If that is not done then
beyond all gainsaying the woman Will
level down her standard to that OF the
men. Unless we are. prepared to see our
daughters sowing their wild oats We
must stop the raising Of that kind of
crop by their brothers. The idea! OF fe-
tered for centuries. until it has come 10
be regarded as almost the only virtue re-
quired of a woman. That is irrational
and an archaic survival from the time
when woman was the mere chattel kept
by her owner under lock and key in the
harem or the Zenana. 1t Will pass, may
able consequences Of the woman's move
ment is that woman In this respect, as
in others. will please herself. Nor will
1t be surprising if, in the beginnings OF
her freedom, she should initiate the err
rors and practice the vices of her broth
ers. This is the great danger ahead: a
danger which nothing can avert; save inc
resoute insistence upon the obligation OF
the one law for both sexes. If We can
not level up the men, the women Will iev-
el down. Our daughters will be in tiine
as immoral as their brothers. Moranty
like water. will find its own level and the
water-tght bulk-heads, which hitherto
have kept the morals of the sexes al
different elevations are leaking at every
pore.