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preserve a healthful political atmosphere； an honest political
practice； that women； so much less experienced； physically so much
more feeble； so excitable； so liable to be misled by fancy； by feeling；
are likely； in a position foreign to their nature； not only to stand
upright themselves； but； like Atlas of old； to bear the weight of the
whole political world on their shoulderslike Hercules； to cleanse the
Augean stables of the political coursersto do； in short； all that man
has failed to do？ No； it is； alas！ only too clear that something more
than the ballot…box； whether in male or female hands； is needed
here。 And it is the same in social life。 The public prints； under a free
press； must always hold up a tolerably faithful mirror to the society
about them。 The picture it displays is no better in social life than in
political life。 We say the mirror is tolerably faithful； since there are
heights of virtue and depths of sin alike unreflected by the daily
press。 The very purest and the very foulest elements of earthly
existence are left out of the picture。 But the general view can
scarcely fail to be tolerably correct。 Take； then； the sketch of social
life as it appears in some half dozen of the most popular prints from
week to week。 You will be sure to find the better features grievously
blended with others fearfully distorted by evil。 There are blots black
as pitch in that picture。 There are forms； more fiend…like than human；
photographed on those sheets of paper。 Crimes of worse than brutal
violence； savage cruelty； crimes of treachery and cowardly cunning
and conspiracy； breach of trust； tyrannical extortion； groveling
intemperance； sensuality gross and shamelessthe heart sickens at
the record of a week's crime！ It is a record from which the Christian
woman often turns aside appalled。 Human nature can read no
lessons of humility more powerful than those contained in the
newspapers of the day。 They preach what may be called home truths
with most tremendous force。 From this record of daily crime it is only
too clear that universal suffrage has had no power to purify the
society in which we live。 If no worse； we can not claim to be better
than other nations； under a different political rule。
This admission becomes the more painful when we reflect that in
America this full freedom of fundamental institutions； this relief from
all needless shackles； is combined with a well…developed system of
intellectual education。 We are an absolutely free nation。 We are； on
the whole； and to a certain point； intellectually； an educated nation。
Yet vice and crime exist among us to an extent that is utterly
disgraceful。 It is evident； therefore； that universal manhood suffrage；
even when combined with general education； is still insufficient for
the task of purifying either social or political life。 The theoretical
infidel philosopher may wonder at this fact。 Not so the Christian。
Great intellectual activity； and the abuse of that power for evil
purposes； are a spectacle only too common in this world。 Look at the
present condition of the most civilized nations。 Of all generations
that have lived on earth； our own is assuredly the most enlightened；
in an intellectual sense； mental culture has never been so generally
diffused as it is to…day； nor has it ever achieved so many conquests
as within the last half century； and yet mark how comparatively little
has this wonderful intellectual progress accomplished in the noble
work of improving the moral condition of the most enlightened
countries。 To the mind humbled by Christian doctrine； living in the
light of a holy faith； these facts； though unspeakably painful； can not
cause surprise。 We are prepared for them。 We have already learned
that no mere legislative enactment and no mere intellectual training
can suffice to purify the human heart thoroughly。 An element much
more powerful than mental culture is needed for that great work。 For
this work light from on high is sent。 A thorough MORAL EDUCATION
is required； and the highest form of that education can be reached in
one way onlyby walking in the plain path of obedience to the will of
the Creator； as revealed in Holy Scripture。 We must turn； not to Plato
and Aristotle； but to inspired Prophet and Apostle。 We must open our
hearts to the spirit of the Decalogue and the Sermon on the Mount。
We must go to Sinai and to Calvary； and humbly； on bended knee；
receive the sublime lessons to be learned there。
We should never have expected moral progress as an inevitable
consequence of free institutions and mere intellectual education； had
it not been that； like other nations； we indulge in idolatries； and
among our 〃gods many〃 are the suffrage and mental activity。 We are
gravely told by philosophers that； with the vote in the hands of
woman； the moral elevation of the race is secured forever！ 〃Great is
Diana of the Ephesians！〃 The feeling is common in America that to
doubt the omnipotence of universal suffrage in its extreme
development is not only treason； but a sort of blasphemy。 And this
feeling is now leading many minds； unconsciously； perhaps； to shrink
from opposing the present movement in favor of womanhood
suffrage。 They bow the knee to the common idol。 They dare not
believe it possible for the suffrage to be carried too far。 For
ourselves we have no sympathies whatever with idolatry。 We
fearlessly declare our opinion； therefore； that no political institutions
whatever； neither despotic； nor monarchical； nor aristocratic； nor yet
the most free； are capable； in themselves； of achieving moral
education for a people。 Neither do we believe it more possible for
abstract intellectual culture to gain this most important of all ends。
Institutions wisely free are a very great blessing。 Let us be fervently
thankful for them。 Intellectual education is equally important and
desirable。 These are both noble and admirable means to work with；
provided we still look above and beyond them for a further
development of the racefor fullness of MORAL CIVILIZATION。 In
fact； if we wish for a vigorous； healthful； lasting development of
republican institutions； we must necessarily unite with these not
only intellectual teaching； but also a sound MORAL EDUCATION。 This
is a fact to which men； in the whirl of their political or commercial
struggles； too often willfully shut their eyes。 They are quite ready to
acknowledge the truth of the assertion in a general way； but they
choose to forget its vast importance in political or commercial
practice。 They recklessly lower the moral standard themselves；
whenever that standard is at a height inconvenient for the attaining
of some particular object toward which they are aiming。 They are
lacking in faith。 Unlike women； who carry faith with them in private
life； men act as if faith were not needed in everyday public life。 At
least the great majority of men； nominal Christians； fail to carry
Christian principle with them into common business or politics。 Faith；
in the heart of women； is connected with love； consequently it is
less easily stifled。 They more frequently carry this principle with
them in daily practicenot to the extent that they should do； but far
more so than most men do。 And here； Christian women； is your great
advantage。 It is the Lord's work to which we would urge you。 The
work of true faith； however lowly； is sure of a blessing。 With faith
unfeigned in your hearts； giving purity to your lives； you have it in
your power to render most effectual service to the nation in your own
natural sphere； far beyond what you could possibly accomplish by the
path of common politics。 You have never； as yet； done full justice to
the advantages of your own actual position in this respect。 You have
overlooked the great work immediately before you。 We have no
magic talisman to offer you in carrying out that work。 We shall not
flatter you with the promise of unlimited success； we shall not
attempt to gratify any personal ambition of public honors。 We have
no novel theories or brilliant illusions with which to dazzle your
imagination。
FIDELITY TO PLAIN MORAL DUTIESTHIS IS THE ONE GREAT
PRINCIPLE TO WHICH WE WOULD MOST EARNESTLY CALL YOUR ATTENTION。
There is absolutely no principle so sorely needed in the civilized
world to…day as this。 We live in an age of false and inflated ambitions。
Simple moral truths fare badly in our time。 Imposing theories；
brilliant novelties； subtle sophistries； exaggerated development；
arrogant pretensionsthese too often crowd simple moral truths out
of sight； out of mind。 And yet； without that class of duties in
healthful action； corruption more or less general is inevitable。
Truth of word； honesty of action； integrity of character； temperance；
chastity； moderation； sincerity； subordination to just authority；
conjugal fidelity； filial love and honorthese duties； and others
closely connected with them； bear old and homely names。 But；
Christian women； you can not ask for a task more noble； more truly
elevating； for yourselves and your country； than to uphold these
plain moral principles； first by your own personal example； and then
by all pure influences in your homes and in the societ