The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-11-10
W0MAN's LACK OF INDIVIDUAL
TTY

ITY.
Many are the false ideas prevailing IN
society in consequence Of woman's es-
teemed inferiority to man, and to them
are traceable nearly all the woes whlch
to-day render the marriage state so lull
of misery The gallantry which men
profess towards women Is in many III
stances really hurtful in its tendencies
and results. For instance, a poor but I
meritOrious young man keeps company
with a young lady, and being suited to
each other they form a matrimonial en-
gagement. But the happy time when
they can be united is far Off The young
man has no dowry except clear brain,
sound body and good constitution, and
must labor long and faithfully to amass
a fortune sufficient to maintain a wife
in keeping with the requirements of
the false and extravagant ideas which
pertain to society. His intended wife,
instead Of helping him hoard up the lit
tie fortune which is to start them on the
matrimonial voyage, is really a him
drance. In the first place, were she dis
posed (which she is not to also labor for
the consummatiOn of the cherished OBJ
ject both have ia view and forward to
which both look so eXpectantly and
hopefully and joyfully, the wages paid
TO woman are so very small that her ef-
forts would amount to little indeed The
idea of say fS a.-a,, oo rrfad into fI,o ,,-,,.ll
Of employment, and if woman wishes 10
compete therein she must consent to re-
ceive but a noiety of what is paid her
masculine co-laborers. Surely there is
little encouragement for woman TO en-
ter the avenues of labor, unless COM
PEELED TO do so by stern necessity.
Then it is considered indelicate and
unwomanly by society for young lady
to provide for that event in which she
certainly has as much interest as her in
tended husband. Instead of that it is
expected that he shall devote large
share of his earnings to vain pleasures
and amusements. What if he sees the
folly Of this course, and protests? In
nine cases out of ten the engagement is
broken Off If not, the same state of
things is kept up until marriage, after
which it generally turns out that the
wife is subjected to rigid, CALLING econo-
my to make up for the previous lavish
expenditure. The husband has the
power now, and must not be blamed too
much if he exercises it a little harshly.
His wife had the power once, and was
arbitrary in its use, and it is only natu-
raj that he should evince the same dis
position when the conditions are re-
Versed.
Often, after the young man has toiled
for years, his affianeed bride, lured by
the sOrdid temptation of gold, proves
false and marries another; or he him.
self, seeing naught but continual pow
erty in the future, struggle and delve
and toll as he may, abandOns the love OF
his heart and weds some favored daugh-
ter of fortune.
Is it necessary to go on and trace out
the legitimate result of such unions? In
the courts all over the land may be seen
the sad sequence in the thousands of di-
vOree suits, and there are hundreds OF
thousands more who would fain be free
did opportunity and circumstances offer.
We contend that every woman should
learn trade or profession, whether she
intends to follow it or not. She should
qualify herself to bear her due propor-
tiOn of the business cares of life. Her
labor should be just as well rewarded rs
that Of mans. 1t is also the place OF
woman, unquestiOnably, to be present
with her growing children, if possible,
and train their youthful minds as none
but mother can. Her services, while
performing this important duty, should
be considered fully equal to those of her
husband, instead of being treated so
slightingly as they are to-day.
We think we have plainly shown in
the foregoing that the great cause of
trouble in the marital relation as it at
present exists is woman's lack of indi-
viduality. 1t is charged that the Woman
Suffrage Movement, if successful, will
bring discord into families by arraying
husband and wife in hostility to each
other' whereas nothing is more patent
than that the success of the movement.
Dy clothing woman with that individu-
aIlty which rightfully belongs to her,will
tend, more than all else, to ameliorate
the hardships now experienced in mat
rimOny.