Author : James Gillespie Birney
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781332097333
Total Pages : 22 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (973 download)
Book Synopsis Address to the Ladies of Ohio (Classic Reprint) by : James Gillespie Birney
Download or read book Address to the Ladies of Ohio (Classic Reprint) written by James Gillespie Birney and published by . This book was released on 2015-08-04 with total page 22 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Address to the Ladies of Ohio We cannot away with the ferocious spirit of presumtuous superiority, in which sentiments so degrading to the dignity, and so libellous upon the influence of woman, originate. We must ever rebuke that selfish exclusiveness, which - arrogating to man the peculiar endowments of intellect and heart - designates every exercise of the same on the part of woman, as impertinent and assuming; which frowns upon her noble efforts to elevate and happily the world, and strives, by ridicule, inuendoes, taunts and abuse, to re-plunge her into the insignificancy in which Despotism has always held her. We have no sympathy with such sentiments - no congeniality with such a spirit. The former are as far from the dictates of humanity and the councils of courtesy, as is the latter from the genius of christianity and the spirit of liberty. In utter opposition to these monstrous and oppressive views, we hold that it is 'the chief end' of woman as well as 'of man to glorify God' - that it is her duty to contribute to the general happiness of mankind - that she is bound to be active in furthering every moral enterprize which promotes the common welfare - that it is her duty, therefore, to inquire into the merits of every such cause, which is before the public mind. Here is woman's sphere! Her duties consist no more of domestic cares, than man's duties consist of his merchandize, his professional, mechanical, and other business pursuits. These all are but parts of that humble machinery which supports our humble bodies. There are more worthy cares, more elevating employments, more ennobling duties, growing out of our sublime relations to God and our fellow-man, and also springing up from our own immortality, which should enlist the energies of both woman and man. To deny these responsibilities to woman, while we impose, with scrupulous exactness, domestic duties, - is to sacrifice the rational to the animal part of woman. And furthermore: as the pursuit of these high duties comprises the peculiar happiness of intelligent beings, consequently, the act which cuts off one half of the rational creation from participating in these duties, dries up all the springs of their rational enjoyments. Whether this injustice has not been virtually perpetrated upon woman, is a question of solemn import. That it is committed in those countries where woman is made a drudge, no one doubts; and we would submit - whether it is not as effectually, if not so grossly, perpetrated in our country, by that odious sentiment which makes her a painted puppet or a gilded butterfly? About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
