tually remove the blot from the national
escutcheon.

The "Oneida Communists" are essentially polygamic, although they have
no marriage system. They do not marry, and ignore all marriage codes.
Cohabitation is under no restrictions between the sexes. Marriage is
also not observed among the "Shakers."

MONOGAMY--WHAT IT IS.

This is the conjugal union of a male with one female only. We have
seen that monogamy was coequal with civilization, and that most
probably the majority of the males had but one wife, even among
polygamic nations. Universal polygamy is practically impossible, the
scarcity of females and the poverty of the males forbidding it. The
excess of females is not so great in any country as to allow to each
male more than one wife, except the male portion is depleted by long
and disastrous wars. Monogamy has done more for the elevation of the
female than any other custom of civilization. The rich could only
afford to practice polygamy, and should the poor imitate the example
it would necessarily subject the wives to a state of serfdom. In the
economy of nature it is designed that the male should be the protector
of the female, and that by his exertions the provision of food and
raiment should be secured. In polygamous nations the female has not
attained that social state that she has reached in countries where the
male is entitled to but one female as his wife. Woman's highest sphere
is not in the harem or zenana, but in that dignified state in which
she is the sole connubial companion of but one man. It is debasing to
her nature, and subversive of her dignity in the rank of humanity, to
make her the equal only with others in the marital union with one
male. She becomes only the true, noble and affectionate being when she
is conscious of a superiority to others in the connubial companionship
with her accepted one. The female bird chirps but for her single mate,
and she is pugnaciously monogamic, as well as virtuous, allowing
neither male or female at or near her home. The spirit of independence
she gains by being the mate of but one male gains for her the victory
over the intruders.

The physical and mental welfare of the female is also dependent upon
monogamic marriage. We have demonstrated that temperate indulgence is
conducive to the sanitary condition of the sexes, and that absolute
abstinence is opposed to the designs of nature. It is also evident
that the male is not endow