The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-01
SOME MEN THINK
WIFE BEATING RIGHT
Discussion on This Subject Has
Been Raging i'm Eastern
Newspapers

If there is one subject upon which
fl might be supposed that there could
be no difference of opinion, it is that of
wife beating. Most persons are horri-
fed at the very idea. But Ii seems
that there is room for dispute and q
discussion has been raging in newspa-
pers in the east.sbou1 this very ques-
ton and letters 9have4been written on
both sides, So It seems there is an
other side and there are those who ad-
vocate Wife beating. Surely we have
advanced a few steps backward when
man viii boldly come out in print
and express his belief that some wom-
en- should be beaten. 1t is to be noted
tEat the men who think a woman can
be better managed by an occasional
whipping, have not signed their names
to the communications, and perhaps it
is just as we'll One man writes that
If a woman insults man beyond all
endurance he is justified in admins
tering corporal punishment, just as you
would beat a refractory boy. Probably
he would not think it the proper thing
for woman to horsewhip him if he
offended her beyond endurance, but that
is another matter.
There have been number of advo-
Streperous wives, but it is pleasant to
state that the number of writer's who
denounced wife beating was much
greater than of those who defended il.
That there should be even one man in
this country, sufficiently enlightened to
write a well constructed letter to
newspaper. Ito advocate wife beating, is
depiorabe.
But then some we'll educated and ap-
parently cultivated men. say very
strange things. Not SO long ago when
the murder of a woman was under dis
cussion, the writer heard a man say
that there was nothing to do with some
women but kill them. He was some-
what excited when he said it, but was
I'm earnest and meant IT. To Offset that
the other day in New York some wom-
en- at club meeting were discussing
the killing of a man by his wife, and
one woman present said that there was
nothing to do with some brutal hus-
bands but to murder them. Doubtless,
both those persons would hate to be
judged by these chance remarks, as
they revealed ugly spots in their minds
and dispositions better covered up.
1t has always been considered among
reputable people that the very depths
of degradation have been reached by a
man when he beats the woman he has
sworn to honor and protect. But it
seems that there are two opinions about
1T. The New York Sun has been pub
fishing the letters referred to and more
than one has advocated wife beating
and by the very fact of publishing such
communications, the paper has done
untold harm. 1t has encouraged bru-
talism and has suggested to the read
ers of Its columns that not all educated
persons are agreed on the iniquity of
beating wives.
This is a great surprise in an age
when the world Is fairly going mad
about humanitarianism toward cats,
dogs, horses and other animals, and
that man holding such views can get
them into respectable paper is also
q matter of surprise.
OF course, 1t goes without saying that
there are innumerable cases of wife
beating which never come to light ow-
Ing to the loyalty Of women. No wom-
an can have any respect or love for a
man who would raise his hand against
her, but there Is a certain decency to
be maintained. and a desire to cover
up the brutality of the man you have
married, which is close akin to self
respect. The man who would strike
woman is, of course, not a man at all
but Just brute thing made in the
Semblance of a human being. He is
probably very careful of his horses and
dogs if he has them
There are women as we'll as men.
whose hearts seem to be more con-
cerned with animals than human be-
1ngs. The women we hear of now and
then who spend their time and money
on dogs and dislike babies, are almost
as unnatural as men who beat their
wives. There is now a shop in New
York where the nails of dogs are mani
cured. Comment is unnecessary. Il is
to be feared that the cases of wife
beating will be sensibiy increased. by
reason OF this remarkable discussion.
What THIS department would like to
know, is whether a woman is ever ms
klhed in beating her husband?