Goldwin Smith On Woman's Rights

Professor Goldwin Smith discusses, ia theMaroh numberof tho öana&iafo Mtmth,, the qnestion of Woman's llights, in a vory oxhaustive, and, at the amo timo, very Bueoinct miiuncr. Every plea that has been urged by the advocates of tho now theory is examined and tested by puro roasou, without refurcnce either to rhotoric or suntimoiit, the author's aim being, not to assert tho value and dignity of wonuin in her present sphei-e, but rrmine whether Bhe can, with ndvantftge, or inju lUa to herselt, exohauge her présent sphere for another. Both the temperament ot' the writov and cality in whioh. h; writc favor a :!■ consideration of tho topic. Goldwin Smith is, in tho bost sonso of thé tonii, au historioal acholar, aecustomed togaugo uil questions without projudioe, from tho high piano of philosophia thought, and to augur fature resulta trom ilio re ilitiea of tóe presoui us ini'.u: by, and grpwing out of, tho operations of the past. Tho looality is equally fortúnate, us in Canada, tho qucsüon touches only education, and is freo from the demagogy wbioh attaches to it i:i the United States, and the politieal use vrhich is aadp of it by the Conservatives !. and tlius tho condítions aro 1 1 un impartial discussion of it. Professor Smitii's aegumeni goee owar tho wholo groiind, and i.-!, thereforOj so th i. wo oannot, in tho at our oomindnd, do move than rotbr to its salient pointe. Ho first brings f orward' history to show that the represen tations of wilfull and systematic injustioo to woman are without foundation, the lot of both man and woimm having been dotermiruid from time to timo by oirottmstanees only to a very lirnitod extent subject to tho will of either sex, and whioh neither sox could bo blamod for acoepting or failing to m ittt tho theory of the suliordination of wives to their husbands, or tho denial of suft'rago to women, does not grow out of slavoi-y, but out of prii.. e, slavëry having been the cominon lot of both sexes, and having been tenninated by comraon emicipation ; that the idea that tlation between man and woman has hitherto bi:uix based on force is equally imple proteotion implies i.irity of force, and that this force in implied in tho protection of an infant by its inother, as well as that of a woman by her liusband ; and that the sexual rolation álways has ruled, and always will will rulo, supremo over this question and every question eonneoted with it. er refuting, and as we think very supcessfully, tlio yarious assumptiona upon which tho advocates of woman'srights baso their theory, he then proceeds to examine the rights themselves which thcy claim, llis deduotiona wo inay also stato briefiy as foUowa : 1. Education. Upon the general subject of educütion, as iniplying a preparation for life, Professor fimith has no doubt of tho justioo of tho doiuand, and claims thut "God luía opened to all his intelligent creatures tho gattía of knowlcdge," that every thought of olosing thom f oxclusivcncis and joalously should bo swept away forever. I to the use of universities and othor public iustitutions by women in oommon with men, it is easy to seo that Professor Smith's improssions are unfavorable, although he virtually loavcs tho question ópen a? ono of public expediency, to be deoided by roason and exper1; J . SVhero woman's labor i available as inanes, ho has no prejudioe against her employment, and, indeed, claims that, by the romoval of traditional s and tho substitution of mochanical contri vancos for manual stn new industries of batter kind have been oped for woman's Labov. Mrs. Bradv, ,!1, nowever, seriously object to his exclusión of woman from tlïo practico of the law, and if. under the now act of tho ituro, aira. Bradwoll shoukl suceectl in her new oalling, hor objection I bo well taken, in on'o case at lenst. iposition is based upon tho intiuoncoof the sox whieh " will be present male advocate riaeeto addresa jurymen and judgea." H is a tion, hpwever, whèther the natural prejwhich exists in tho minda of noarly all men against the appearaiïee of tt miurm in auch v aapaoity would not oföet any damage jastioe might snffer i'roiu tho sexual iniluonoe. :!. '. f Chriiftian Mhrriage. A.gainbt tho pernioioas doctrine of cohabitation daring the plensure of both partías, eoramonly called Freo Love, Fiiofeasor Smith makes an nnanawerable tent, based upon conimon morálity; but ie strongeit and most eífeotive objeción which he urgea is. that, as man is 10 stronger of the two, the rcbult would ily fatal to vroman, reducing ■ a condition worse than slavery, nd depriving ohildrèn of parental care. 4. , Tho question vhelhor it is desirable tbr womcn to take D politics, tO voti' and ho'ul oflioc, is xaminëd very oarefully, and with all tho ight that hisiovy Oan throwupon it, and, ■!ii b i'xiioctod, ho argües ËCQpa the Lve st.andpoint. He oontcnds that t is nol a (jui'stion as to the relativo inelligenco or viriue of tho two soxos, but -lmi her politics are or con 1ü woman'a ])h.-re. Against the lattw thoory ha arthe sentimental questions which would spring t t ovcry eloction, tho disturbanoe of fomily relations oaused by political difforonces, tho dangors ot' tho mixturo of sexos in political asseinhHes and eluctions, tho inoompatiDHity of political dulics with child-boaring, tho absolute nee ssity of oni rusting the itefonsf) of a country to men, and tho uttcr impossibility that womcn eau enforco law, npr'euiacy of which depends upon the force ot the community, which Kets with the rnftle sex. Upon tho question ol tho oapacity and cliuractor of wotnen for politicnl duties, ho brings a crusliing historical argument to bear, drawn from thé exporiences through which England ïi:is passed when fcnialo rolen havo boen in power. "Vo havo endeavored vory briofly to present tho mnih points of Pr. Smith'g argument, and, although they can p;ivo the reader only a slight cluo to tho able manncr in which ho di ousses tho nxain quostion, they will bo sulficicnt to show that he has approached it in a calm and dignifled manncr, examining not from the falso gronnd ot' sentiment, but i'roiu tho proper plane of puro reason, doing so with sinccrity ot' ptlrposo and absence of projudico. Ho wimld gire to a woman everything that is proper and that does not conilict with tho dnties of hor natural sphero ; more entended employment; eijiial remaneration for tliat employment win n her labor has un equal it valué with that of men; i" ot' holding propertyfor thsix Beparaté use and devising it by will ; and tin: tight of t Ik; wil'i' tn appropriate her own earnings for hor own uso, and, ut tho same timo, bo ontitled to maintenanoe by luw hof ■;;ihiKt tho two prominent doctrines ofFroo Love an suffrapo lic bas brought tb hiatory and the overy-day experifinooe of ootnmon lito with a foros and inoisivenesa that shoüld command tho respect of all thoughtful pergons, and the seriousconsidoration of women thomgelves, who are the most interi in tho decisión of this question, whioh vitally concerns thom fov good or evil. - Oh