WOMEN’S RIGHTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1564, 12 March 1887, Page 2

WOMEN’S RIGHTS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— -Previous to reading bis notes on women’s rights, I thought Cori O’Lanus bad nearly attained the level of a serai-civilised state. But since reading these notes I have been driven to the conclusion that he is not much in advance ot the blackfellow who sits in his wigwam, tears the flesh of hie fellow creatures with his teeth, and “ chucks ” the bones over bis shoulder to bis Wife, The man whose intelligence is equal to that of the average woman is not afraid to meet her on an equal platform. None but those who are imbued with an instinctive feeling of intellectual inferiority will try to keep her in the background by brute force and talk about it being her place to “ sit by the fireside of the affections.” Poor fellows! Do they imagine she knows as little about the “ affections ” as they do p If they were able to realise that the more she flatters their vanity the more she despises them they would give her affections to sit or stand by. Love begets love, and is born of esteem. How can man love woman if he thinks she is oniy fit for domestic drudgery ? Do you think she is imposed upon by the idiotic twaddle that is poured into her ear because it suits her purpose to make it appear that she submits to your sweet will 7 Woman is quietly working out

her emancipation, and treating with contempt the vain fools who think they, are her lords and masters. The argument that those suffering from want of reform are not demanding it is an old argument. It served the Planters in the Southern Slates of America when free men were clamoring for the emancipation of the slaves. It has served political and other oppressors from time immemorial. A few years ago there were only a few agitators demanding Horae Rule for Ireland. The voice of these few has been re-echoed by a nation, and those who are middle-aged now will not be old when Ireland will have wrung justice from her oppressors, as political justice has always had to be wrested. Laws ought to be what is agreed to by an intelligent majority, and the men or women who are subservient to lawe they have no voice in making or amending are serfs. The franchise is not i privilege, it is a right that belongs tc every adult man and woman, anc time will come, and now is, when legis lators will think about the rights of thi the people before they have been de manded by the same kind of force tha ! has withheld them. We don’t clain that all our women will become full blown politicians, and know how tc make the best use of political powei immediately after it is conceded to them Very few men know what their vote it worth. If the men who are clamorim to Government from day to day anc year to year for a dole of charity knew that an intelligent use of their politics power would procure for them a fai share of the blessings by which thi world is bounteously bestrewn, wouli they give their votes for a glass of bee or a little flattery ? The power has heel bought for us at a cost of the lives am liberty of many of the noblest high souled men that have lived, and are w to deny our wives, sisters, and daughter the measure of freedom that has been sc dearly bought for us? Shame Coril— ] km, etc., Wm. L. Duncan. Kakahu Bush, March 8,1887.