Year: 1870




Women's Rights Workers Against the
Steinway Hall Exhibition.


NEW YORK. June 3 1870.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-


In addition to my claim for woman generally
demand specifically her right to be truthfuy
represented by those Of her sex who assume to
represent her at ALL and also the right of both men
and women to be fairly and honestly treated in all
relations OF life; and this more particularly when
called together for the purpose OF listening to
an address advertised as treating Of that move
ment which is OF such deep and vital in
terest to me that every blow 1t receives
by word act seems like q personal
excorialion. 1t would scarcely be worth while to
refer to the exhibition OF Thursday evening last at
Steinway Hall were it not for the following facts:
First those wno for the first time, heard a woman
on women, imbibed such a disgust of the whole
movement as will probably prevent any further In
vestigaton or toeraton their part forever more.
Second 1t provides another morse to be rolled
unctuousy under the tongue OF those opposed to the
woman's movement-a large class, who have neither
rhyme reason In their opposition. Lastly, it af-
fords an opportunity--if any were needed-for the
saying OF things which are always seasonabe if
slble for the expression of few ideas on the duties
and responsibilities Of lecturing, which so many
aspirants to the platform fail to appreciate.


10 the ursC IdCl L WOulu reply tudt, from Cne
crucihxon of Christ down to the present day. every
reform has had it's parasites and mpostors, and to
condemn or Judge movement by the acts Of those
inevitable excrescences amounts, in my opinion to
nothing nor less than confession on the part
OF those who do so to an inferior judgment or pre-
JUDGE that rises superior to all reason. AS well IN
dulge in wholesale denuncatOn OF Christianity
because OF cergymen who disgrace the name, and
cover for disreputabe practices or stepping stone
TO some wholly selfish and dishonorabe purpose


The second fact is to be regretted because it Is
made to serve the purpose OF influencing those who
content to accept things second hand, and also
because the woman's movement Is not yet strong
enough to stand mistaken against the assaults OF
avowed enemies, Notwithstanding the fact that open
enmity carries its own antidote.


Lastly, no person has The right to go before an
audience wholly unprepared, trusting entirely 10 the
inspiration OF the hour for thoughts and fitting
phrases wherewith to clothe them; and especially is
any audience. 1t Is an insult and injury added
when done under the auspices OF a reform whose
at best. 1t Is doubly both when done by
woman who can so far presume upon her sex as to
suppose that the worst rendering OF Old IDEAS even
may be given by her and forgiven by the people be-
cause she is woman and assumes TO defend the wo.
mans cause. The fact that any woman. SO
appreciates that cause nor cares for its
success any farther than it may serve some
undeserved end. But as everything under the
these monstrosites Of women (and men, tool; the
good exists and does its work by shocking certain
class oil people INTO mental actvlty ana stl Iarther
by serving as check to impetuous advocates, whose
zeal and earnestness might betray them into
reprehensble extreme but for this never.
to-be-forgotten spectacle OF a woman ranting
up and down before crowd or people
In shameless and haunting attire, gesticulating
with fists and feet, beating the air and expressing
by spasmodic and inconsecutive effort ideas whose
Intrinsic worth is absolutely destroyed for the time
being by the slang phrases in which they are ut
tered.


IT Is not possible that any woman VINO pitles the
Wretched and honestly desires to add her little effort
toward me emancipation OF the race from It's multi
form evils could be induced to do these things.
S.F.N.