LETTER: Manuscript memo, signed, “Julia Ward Howe," a "Review of the 19th, presently the 20th century."
Manuscript memo, signed, “Julia Ward Howe," a "Review of the 19th, presently the 20th century."
8v0.; three leaves, three pages.
Howe writes quite positively in this memo about the progress made in the 19th century; in part:
“The immense area of territory which it returned to civilization and the still more wonderful enlargement of liberty civil, social and religious—these two combine to make it a period memorable in the world's history. The abolition of slavery, the emancipation of Women from a false and constrained position of ignorance and inefficiency are [] which answer for the awakened conscience and native intellect of the century…."
She writes of the influx of immigrants—“a foreign element”—of their growing understanding of "the nature and design of our institutions," through "the working of our public school system.”
“The greatest difficulty developed in the second half of the century is seen in the enormous appetite of men who, starting from poverty, desire unlimited wealth, and are not always either scrupulous in its acquirement or conscientious in its use.”
Ultimately, however, she believes "the good brought about during the century to be greatly in excess of the attendant evils," and her forecast is positive.
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