按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
has ever raised the entire race even within sight of the point of
elevation predicted by the champions of what is called the
emancipation of woman。 Hear them speak for themselves： 〃It is
hardly possible； with our present experience； to raise our
imaginations to the conception of so great a change for the better as
would be made by its removal〃the removal of the principle of the
subordination of the wife to the husband； and the establishment of
the entire independence of women； to be obtained by female
suffrage。 These are not the words of some excited woman making a
speech at a public meeting。 The quotation is from the writings of Mr。
Stuart Mill。 The subordination of the wife to the husband is declared
by Mr。 Mill to be 〃the citadel of the enemy。〃 Storm the citadel；
proclaim the entire independence of the wife； and our feeble
imaginations； we are told； are utterly incapable of conceiving the
glorious future of the race consequent upon this one step。 This is a
very daring assertion。 It is so bold； indeed； as to require something
of positive proof ere we can yield to it our implicit belief。 The citadel
we are urged to storm was built by the hand of God。 The flag waving
over that citadel is the flag of the Cross。 When the Creator made
one entire sex so much more feeble in physical powers than the
other； a degree of subordination on the part of the weaker sex
became inevitable； unless it were counteracted by increase of mental
ability； strengthened by special precept。 But the mental ability； so
far as there is a difference； and the precept； are both on the side of
the stronger sex。 The whole past history of the race coincides so
clearly with these facts that we should suppose that even those who
are little under the influence of Christian faith might pause era they
attacked that citadel。 Common…sense might teach them something of
caution； something of humility； when running counter to the whole
past experience of the race。 As for those who have a living belief in
the doctrines of Christianity； when they find that revealed religion；
from the first of the Prophets to the last of the Apostles； allots a
subordinate position to the wife； they are compelled to believe
Moses and St。 Paul in the right； and the philosophers of the present
day； whether male or female； in the wrong。 To speak frankly； the
excessive boldness of these new theories； the incalculable and
inconceivable benefits promised us from this revolution from the
natural condition of things in Christendomand throughout the world
indeedwould lead us to suspicion。 Guides who appeal to the
imagination when discussing practical questions are not generally
considered the safest。 And the champions of female suffrage are
necessarily compelled to take this course。 They have no positive
foundation to rest on。 Mr。 Stuart Mill has said in Parliament； in
connection with this subject； that 〃the tyranny of established custom
has entirely passed away。〃 Nothing can be more true than this
assertion。 As a rule； the past is now looked upon with doubt；
with suspicion； often with a certain sort of contempt； very far from
being always consistent with sound reason。 The tyranny of the
present dayand it may be just as much a tyranny as the otheris
radically opposite in character。 It is the tyranny of novelty to which
we are most exposed at present。 The dangers lie chiefly in that
direction。 There will be little to fear from the old until the hour of
reaction arrives； as it inevitably must； if the human mind be strained
too far in a new direction。 At present the more startling an assertion；
the farther it wanders from all past experience； the greater are its
chances of attracting attention； of gaining adherents； of achieving at
least a partial and temporary success。 In the age and in the country
which has seen the development of Mormonism as a successful
religious； social； and political system； nothing should surprise us。
Such is the restlessness of human nature that it will often； from
mere weak hankering after change； hug to its bosom the wildest
theories； and yield them a temporary allegiance。
Let us suppose that to…day the proposed revolution were effected；
all women； without restriction； even the most vile； would be
summoned to vote in accordance with their favorite theory of
inalienable right。 That class of women； and other degraded classes
of the ignorant and unprincipled； will always be ready to sell their
votes many times overto either party； to both parties； to the
highest bidder； in short。 They will sell their vote much more readily
than the lowest classes of men now do。 They will hold it with greater
levity。 They will trifle with it。 They will sell their vote any day for a
yard of ribbon or a tinsel broochunless they are offered two yards
of ribbon or two brooches。 They will vote over again every hour of
every election day； by cunning disguises and trickery。 And thus； so
far as women are concerned； the most degraded element in society
will； in fact； represent the whole sex。 Nay； they will probably not
unfrequently command the elections； as three colored women are
said once to have done in New Jersey。 A hundred honest and
intelligent women can have but one vote each； and at least fifty of
these will generally stay at home。 If； which God forbid； it actually
comes to female voting； a very small proportion of the sex will； at
common elections； appear at the polls。 Avocations more urgent；
more natural to them； and in which they are more deeply interested；
will keep them away。 The degraded women will be there by the
scores； as tools of men； enjoying both the importance of the hour；
the fun； and THE PAY。 Fifty women； known to be thieves and
prostitutes； will hold； at a moderate calculation； say two hundred
votes。 And； as women form the majority of the resident population in
some States； that wretched element of society will； in fact； govern
those States； or those who bribe them will do so。 Massachusetts；
very favorable to female suffrage now； will probably come round to
the opinion of New Jersey in former days。 Great will be the
consumption of cheap ribbons； and laces； and artificial flowers； and
feathers； and tinsel jewelry； in every town and village about election
time； after emancipation is achieved。 We are compelled to believe
so； judging from our knowledge of human nature； and of the use
already made of bribery at many elections。 The demagogues will be
more powerful than ever。 Their work will be made easy for them。 It
seems； indeed； probable that under the new era our great elections
shall become a sort of grand national gift concerns； of which the
most active demagogues of all parties will be the managers。 Not
that women are more mercenary； or more unprincipled than men。 God
forbid！ That would be saying too much。 We entirely believe the
reverse to be true。 But the great mass of women can never be made
to take a deep； a sincere； a discriminating； a lasting interest in the
thousand political questions ever arising to be settled by the vote。
They very soon weary of such questions。 On great occasions they can
work themselves up to a state of frenzied excitement over some one
political ques