Life and writings of Amelia BloomerBloomer, D. C. (Dexter C.)
History
Life and writings of Amelia Bloomer
Bloomer, D. C. (Dexter C.)
Bloomer, Amelia Jenks, 1818-1894; Women's rights -- United States
But Mrs. Bloomer’s attention and time were given chiefly to the
_Lily_, the publication of which in her new home was commenced on
the first of January. Printed in new type on a steam press, it
presented a very neat and handsome appearance. The people of the
state were greatly pleased with its removal to their limits and new
subscriptions came in with surprising rapidity; its semi-monthly
issue soon reached over six thousand copies. Mrs. Bloomer was greatly
encouraged by these signs of approval and renewed her exertions and
labors to make the _Lily_ in all respects acceptable to its many
friends. She wrote from one to three pages each week of original
matter for its pages, and was aided at the same time by numerous
correspondents. She continued to write continuously in advocacy of
temperance, making that the leading object of her work, but she also
wrote for woman’s advancement in all the fields of honest endeavor.
She asked for her plenty of work and good pay; she insisted that to
her should be opened every educational institution; and she demanded
for her also the right of suffrage as her inalienable right. Some
extracts from her editorials will follow.
ENFRANCHISEMENT OF WOMAN.
Replying to and commenting upon an article on an alleged corruption
in the state legislature, Mrs. Bloomer wrote as follows:
“Where then shall the remedy for purifying and healing the nation
be found? We answer, in the education and enfranchisement of woman!
Loose the chains that bind her to the condition of a dependent, a
slave to passion and the caprices of men. Open for her the doors
of our colleges and universities and bid her enter. Hold up before
her a pattern for womanly greatness and excellence, and bid her
to occupy the same high positions held by her brothers. Teach her
to aspire to that true knowledge that should fit her to become
the future mother and teacher of statesmen and rulers. Resign to
her control the children committed to her care, and bid her guard
them from all temptation and danger that threaten to assail them
both at home and abroad. Restore to her her heaven-born right of
self-government, and give her a voice in making the laws which are
to govern for good or evil the actions and sentiments of society
at large. Let _her_ say whether the grogshop, the gaming house
and the brothel shall be suffered to open wide their doors to
entice her sons to ruin. Let her say whether man shall have power
to override virtue and sobriety and send the minions of evil into
our halls of legislation to make laws for the people. Let her say
whether we shall have a Maine Law, and whether such a law shall
be observed and enforced——Do this, and we shall soon see a great
change wrought in society and in the character of our rulers! Our
only hope for the future of our country lies in the elevation
of woman physically, mentally, socially and politically, and in
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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