As are a country's institutions so are the people, and as the people so are its institutions. Action and reaction are inevitable, and therefore just that influence which man exerts upon the position and character of woman, the latter will exert necessarily upon the world in return. A few enlightened minds know how dependent society is upon the morals and refinement of woman, and they know also that she is and must be that which man and society make her.2 Female character has a fundamental
and vital influence upon the world, building the foundation of peoples, by presiding over the sphere of childhood, the sphere of family and the social sphere. According to surrounding circumstances and the quality of materials which she is compelled to employ will be the elements which woman furnishes, whereupon to erect the mighty superstructure of nations and the world. Through the medium of childhood she moulds the individual; through the family she influences and refines her husband; through the social medium she spiritualises legislation and government.
Female elevation and consequent liberty are inevitable results of social reorganisation and true republican government. Woman is a beautiful combination of immortal affections; but should the sphere of her movements cramp her expansion, dissatisfaction—and perhaps dissipation—will be developed. The internal and spiritual circles are spheres in which she particularly fulfils her mission. The female element should be incorporated completely into the three spheres already mentioned and be allowed its legitimate action therein. It is not possible to prevent her action in these circles, but it is possible to encompass her with deforming environment, to put her in possession of heterogeneous materials, and thus render her work imperfect and unprofitable to the race. She imparts constitution and character to the individual through the medium of childhood, domestic example and social intercourse. But she is only an
instrument and dispenser of those influences, conditions and tendencies with which her husband and custom have surrounded both her and her offspring. By way of compensation to her, and for its own interests, the world should supply her with good matrimonial relations, home advantages, ennobling social institutions, to enable her to furnish society with noble minds.
Woman exerts a positive influence upon the constitution and character of individuals until the national sphere is reached, when—compared with male influence —her power is negative. Thereafter the wisdom principle pervades the individual, for the purpose of modifying, harmonising and developing the mind further. Man has properly but two circles of action—in the national and universal spheres, being circles of government and harmony. Woman cannot produce harmony of herself, but she can furnish elements for its elaboration; man cannot produce these elements, but he can discover and enforce the principles of discipline. Thus, childhood, family and social spheres are circles of love, while national and universal spheres are circles of wisdom. Female influence is positive and potent upon individual constitution and character until the point of merging is approached. Thereafter it acts as a balance-wheel to the higher portions of governmental and constitutional arrangements.
As regards the three spheres, that of childhood is a garden, and its cultivation depends almost exclusively upon woman. Herein the love principle is at home. Immortal germs of individual constitution and character are deposited in the soul's rich soil; the tenderest buds of affection spring forth; and the gentle horticulturist watches them day and night. She needs to be informed that true marriage is the most sacred of all relations into which the immortal soul enters, that its consequences endure for ever. Those who receive and act upon this philosophy will impart it to their children, and they will
not be found wanting in their culture of the figurative garden.
According to the organisation and education of the female spirit will be the home she presents to her husband and children. The female presence therein is the spirit of the man's life: it is a spirit of love, a revelation of refinement, grace and beauty. She needs to be educated in the duties of life, in the nature and extent of the mission which Deity designed her to perform. She needs to be disabused of the enslaving conviction that merely keeping house and bringing up children are duties involved by the letter of the marriage contract. Her mission is sublime and universal—to people not only the earth but all the spiritual spheres. She needs to learn that harmony may be established in childhood and the home, and from husband and children it will then radiate upon her own soul and on society. So instructed, she will not be found wanting in those spiritualising influences which should permeate every department of the sacred household sphere and cast a halo over the holiness of home.
Woman builds society by building the foundations of childhood and the home, and society is a great edifice of female action and influence. Woman breathes forth an atmosphere which modifies that heavy and oppressive influence which ordinarily circulates among men. She sheds abroad upon the world of mind a warmth of spirit which soothes, enlivens and develops the better nature in the soul of man. Constant association with pure and cultivated woman is one of the most powerful promoters of sympathy, morality and religion. With her dwells something of that sublime influence which angels impart to one another in higher spheres. But she needs to be instructed that her mission extends to the threshold of national government, as a representative of her situation and influence. She should know that she is not some lower ingredient in the constitution of humanity;
that her angelic endowments and immortal qualifications were not given to her as toys are to children; that she is not to be insulted by flattery, deceived by false attention, enslaved by heartless promises; that she is man's eternal companion; that upon her depend the harmony of the individual, the family and society; that the destiny of the race is in her hands; that the virtue, refinement and elevation of all are dependent upon her heart and mind, upon her philosophy and upon her actions.
In fine, let this truth be remembered by all,1 that female elevation and consequent liberty are the natural concomitants and inevitable results of social reorganisation and of a universal republican government.