The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-03-19
YOUNG AMERICA.
BURTON NICELY, AGED 1 3 DELlN.
ERS A FORCIBLE SPEECH AT
THE HIGH SCHOOL.

The Opening and Closing Debate at
the High School on the Question
Resolved That Mans Education
Should be Superior to That of Wom'
en-,
It is necessary for us to take matters
as we find them, not ns we would wish
them to be, or as they might be. and on
this line shall aim to conhne my re-
marks upon this allimportant question;
" Resolved That mans education should
be superior to that Of woman"
Mr.. Chairman, Honorable Judges and
Fellow School Mates:
1t is hardly necessary for me to partic-
ularize in calling your attention to the
fact that, in the various pursuits in life,
man follows those which require q super
Tor education, while woman follows those
and is engaged, almost exclusively, in
those Calliugs that require more moder-
ate or common education, or state Of
medtocrity.
In the different vocations Of life, such
as the mechanical pursuits, woman is
not able physically TO engage; and
hence the education required for such
pursuits Il not necessary to her.
Who are your great contractors and
builders, and ship captains? Who are
your train dispatchers who directs the
running of hundreds of trains over the
great railroads, daily? Who can be in fact
the machinists who had their work and
art of working exhibited in that magnh-
cient and incompatible building at the
Worlds Columbian Exposition, the ma
chinery hall? How did the woman S
building compare with that great archi-
tectural structure, the liberal arts build
ing at the Worlds Fair in ChicagoY 1t
would be absurd to say that woman need
ed the education for such voCatiOns when
she could not pursue or practice them.
In the great and higher institutions of
learning, in this and all other nations,
the higher callings and responsible posi-
tions and chairs Of professorships, in the
sciences and researches, are almost exclus-
lively, and have been, and are likely to be
for centuries to come, filed with men.
Therefore, il is perfectly clear that II any
distinction is TO be made between the
sexes, in regard to educational qualiflca
tions, it should be in favor of the male
sex.
Again, Mr.. Chairman and honorable
judges, in the wise economy Of nature,
man, or the male sex, has been created
superior, physically in strength and sagac-
ity, to the opposite, or more delicate sex.
1t is altogether natural for the feminine
sex to look to man, not only for protec-
tion, but for guidance through all the
viCissitdues of life.
And you may rest assured, Mr.. Chair
man and honorable judges, that, when
ever you follow the dictates or promptings
of nature, you will not err, or fall short
Of reaching the right results as a perfect
solution of any question.
And, therefore, to the intelligent mind,
IL is perfectly clear that, for man to be
a perfect creature, he must be symmetri-
cal in all his functions, mind equal to
body, and will equal to strength. And,
in his culture, 1t is in harmony with
nature that his education be of that su-
perior degree which will enable him to fill
that sphere which the Creator formed
him fOI.
CLOSING REMARKS.
Mr.. Chairman, honorable judges and
fellow school-mates and indulgent: The
task which falls to me in the closing of
this debate, l conceive should be the
summary Of the arguments produced by
the affirmative and negative sides and
the calling of your attention to their
CleaIness and their application to the
question under consideration. 1t is not
necessary for me to state to you that it is
not my duty to offer any new arguments,
but that only have the liberty and privi
2ege TO rebut such arguments as have
already been advanced.
Relying wholly upon your ability and
contlding in your unbiased judgment,
will proceed with the rebuttal of those
arguments which I deem of sufficient
Importance to receive recognition in the
rebuttal which shall now advance, 1t Is
true that a woman may be a clerk,
administering to the wants Of the people,
who wish to make a purchase at some
and lO-cent counter, but compare that
with the position held by our ambassador
at London.
A woman may be a typewriter or
stenographer in some lawyers office, but
she has never been the chief justice OF the
United States or associate justices
The great responsibility Of this govern
upon and is borne by the men and con-
tend that even If woman did possess the
educational qualities necessary for this
task her physical abilities are such that
her nervous system could not Withstand
the strain which often breaks down the
strongest man The education whic,
man requires TO enact his daily duties Is,
and must needs be, much superior to that
required by woman in her callings, to say
the least. Man is superior physically,
and requires education for vocations which
woman cannot pursue, hence his educa-
tion should be superior. This is in ac
Cordance with the law Of nature.
take the opportunity of thanking the
chairman for his kind and courteous
presiding, the judges for their individual
attention, and the teacher for her +" ise Sc
lection of this important topic, and rest
the question with you.