The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-11-24
MISS ANTHONY AT OREGON CITY

OREGON CITY, Nov. 18th, 1871.
Dear Northwest: Being one of the
number whose good fortune permitted
them to hear Miss Anthony's lecture at
this place, on Friday, the 18th inst, 1
thought a few items concerning the
same might prove acceptable to your
numerous readers. The lecture was not
announced until late Thursday evening,
and in fact, was scarcely advertised at
all, yet the Court House was trcU filled
with an intelligent, appreciative audi
ence.
1t was announced that Miss y. would
answer any and all questions that might
arise in opposition to Woman Suffrage
and accordingly she invited any one
present to state objections and discuss
with her. As there was no immediate
response, she proceeded to state some Of
the most common objections, among
which | may mention: ''That it will
cause discord in families - "will be "A
fruitful cause of divorce :" ''politics will
degrade women;" "women will degrade
politics." twill destroy the headship of
families; - ''the Bible against it," etc.
etc. Taking each separately, she an
swered all in a manner at once logical
and convincing-at least to those who
are not so blinded by prejudice that log
ic fails to convince them of anything.
Nor did she fail to pay her respects to
her ministerial opponent of this city, in
manner that repeatedly drought
down the house" AS the gentleman
/ referred to failed to respond to her very
courteous invitation to state objections
and discuss with her, 1 presume he was
not in the audience-or perhaps he pre-
ferred TO answer(?) after she was well
out of the way.
Her repeated request for questions fl
nally elected one from a young man
near the door, who arose and, with feaI
of future connubial disaster before his
mental vision, in trembling accents in
quired, ''If women were allowed TO sill
on juries, what would be done if the
woman jurist was in possession of {
helpless family, consisting of husband
and several small children, in case hc''-
the helpless creature first mentioned
"was, from n pecuniary point of view
unable to hire help? Would'-horribI,
thought-"the husband he compelled {,
stay at home and mind the babies -
Miss A., with a womanly pity for dis
tressed humanity, consOled the anxiou
questioner by telling him that peculia
circumstances sometimes excused me-
from serving as jurors, and she did no
doubt that the court would be equal,
lenient in regard to women. Your cor
respondent felt like suggesting that if
man was engaged in business or som
kind Of employment, that he would b
able to hire help for his wife in ease i
was necessary. If he was nOt-why
then it was time for somebody to look {
the financial condition of the helples
r household, even if he had to "mind tn
babies while his wife did it.
In the course of the lecture, Miss 4
spoke of, the "Multnomah Count
Woman Suffrage Association" describe
its object and aims, read from the NEN
NORTHWEST the Articles Of its Consti
tuition and, in conclusion, exhOrted tn
women of this city 60 form like SociC
ty. Nor did she forget to speak a goo
word for the New NORTHWEST. Sh
, was in her most genial humor, and TN
lecture throughout did credit to herseI
, and the cause of which she is so able an
earnest an advocate.
With best wishes for your success, m
dear NORTHWEST, subscribe myself,
] Yours in Hope.