Year: 1870

While the Mary Walkers and Susan b. Anthonys
of this country advocating the elevation of woman
from posi- ton Subordinate to that of the sterner sex,
and for their efforts in that behalf are exciting the
general ridicule-while Legislatures are investing wo
men with the glowing honors of the elective iran
chise; of holding office, and occupying the jurybox
John Stuart Mill, one of the most profound think
ers of England and of the age, has come forward IN
vndication OF the rights of woman, and entered
his protest against their social and political subechon'


1t is obvious that we live in new era. The world
occupied with the questions of political and social
revolution. Innovation and experiment characterize
the medations of statesmen and philosophers, wheth
er of confessed reputation OF thinkers in the science OF
government. While the United States are extending
their boundaries by every possible acquisition of ter
rory, some Of the abIest pens of England are favor
ing the modification of her colonial system, and recon-
mend the policy of emancpating and federazng such
possessions. While England is gradually approaching
democracy, and slackening the reins of government
the United States tightening the reins and retro
grading to military despotsm. We have witnessed
here in own country, within half decade the
emancipation of four million slaves and their elevation
to the exercise of the highest political privileges We
are now beholdng transition from the practical po-


cal degradation of woman to the recognition of her
equal right with man to participation in public affairs.
What will be the upshot of this last reform, it is i'm
possible to tell; but willing, if the dear crea-
lures want it, to give them black mans chance


Woman has found a bold and able champion in Mr..
Mill. man who has been doing the thinking for the
English people for long time whose immense
quirements and force of character have gained for him
their respect and admration is not likely to burn the
midnight lamp in vain. The confidence which is felt
in the honesty of his purposes and the soundness Of
his judgment, will nfuse his doctrines into the veins of
the people not only of his country but wherever
those doctrines may be known.


His main propositions are summed up in the follow
ing passage:


The principle which regulates the existing social
relations between the two sexesthe legal subordina
ton of one to the other-is wrong in ITSELF and
now one of the chief hinderances to human improve
ment, and it ought to be replaced by principle Of
perfect equality, admitting power privilege on
the side, disability the other"


1tis unque5tionaby true, Mr. Mill says, that the
adoption of the present system of inequality never
was the result of dcberation or forethought or any
social IDEAS any notion whatever of what conduced
to the benefit of humanity the good of society.
1t simply from the fact that from the very
les twilight Of human society, every woman lowing
to the value attached to her by men, combined with
her neriority of muscular strength) in state of
bondage to some man." We are not prepared to ad
NIT that, in general sense, woman is equal to man in
strength Of intellect. We do maintain, however that
occasions invoking judgment in the ordinary affairs
Of life, she is his equal We often witness the display
and must set it down to equality of Judgment, to
high order of caution that controls the judgment and
renders her conclusions worthy Of all the regard that
mans intelligence mis- ght arrogate.


We shall not be surprised to aradical revolution
in womans favor. A revolution that will confer upon
her many rights unjustly withheld on the plea of in
capacity to exercise them; revolution however, that
will scarcely be effected by the peripaetic Walkers and
Anthonys