The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-10-27
Woman Suffrage.


Miss Susan B. Anthony, the renowned
advocate of universal suffrage and Tenn
perance reform, lectured in OLYMPIA
Hall on Tuesday evening upon the one
great object of her life-the enfranchise-
ment of women. We had formed a high
opinion OF the ability of the lady, and
her remarkable talent as a public speak
er, and our expectations have been more
than realized. She presents her argu-
mentS i'm graceful and elegant language,
her Illustrations are ample and we'll
chosen, and the hearer is irresistably
drawn to the conclusions which she
seeks to inculcate. She cited the made
quacy Of the wages and salaries paid to
women, as a result of her disfranchise-
ment, and illustrated by the history of
the trades Unions, and the Strikes
which result when capital bears with
too remOrseless a tread upon labor.
Those inaugurated by men had generally
been successful, for men with their votes
were enabled to control the politicians,
by the same means could control the
capitalists. With women, however, the
case was different When they required
an increase of the miserable pittance
which constitutes "woman's wages" or
a reduction of the number of hours con-
stituting Il days labor, they were met
with prompt refusal; and experience
had proven that ''strikes" were OF no
avail, for without the potent charm of
the ballot, the employers found but little
opposition to their plan of starring the
employers into compliance with the
old rates; or, probably, a further reduc-
ton, or still more OnerOus burdens were
imposed to punish such presumption. In
the higher branches of labor, requiring
special knowledge or skill, the salaries
paid To men were always higher than
those paid to women for the same ser
vices, performedwit equal precision and
fidelity. She cited an instance in which
the authorities of one of our metrOpOl-
itan cities advertised for principals for
the common schools, in response to
which several applications We're made
by women, who were refused the posi-
tions although amply qualified to dis
charge the duties, simply because they
were women; and another instance
wherein the salaries of a number of lady
teachers were reduced, though already
lower than those of the male teachers, to
increase the salaries of the men. She
likewise related an amusing incident in
which the person authorized TO pass
upon the qualifications of teachers had
to employ Il lady school teacher to eN-
anime applicants, and signed his name
with an y when the certificate was
written out by his assistant. But it eN-
cited no comment, for the authority was
held by a man, even if he did avail
himself of the use of wOman's brains to
eXtricate himself from dilemma. He
could vote, and exercise influence at
ward meetings, and this covered all the
defects of intellect or education. She
referred to the condition of the negro
before the ballot was given to him, as
the most universally condemned and
despised of all races or conditions of men,
and noted how plant had become the
hinges of the knee of the politicians
now, whenever SambO asserted his
"rights." 1t could have but this effect
if given to the women. While il might
not be required by those surrounded by
all the luXuTies Of wealth, or those who
have never known want through the
exertions and earnings of fathers, hus-
bands or brothers, it was essential as the
life blood to those who labor early and
late for their daily bread.
There is no denying the. sound logic
of these arguments. They appeal to a
sense of right and justice which cannot
be longer denied. In expressing this
OpiniOn-and it is no new position for us
we are aware we invite criticism, but
we have resolved to meet and answer all
arguments against the proposition with
candOr and earnestness, to the best of
our ability. 1t must be understood that
we do this as an individual, and not as
party journalist. 1t is a question upon
which Democrats as we'll as Republicans
may honestly differ. We do not depart
in the least from the principles we cher
ish and have so long advocated, nor do
we intend to do so. 1t is simply a ques-
ton of right, upon which We wish to be
/ on the side of RIGHT. - Washington
/ Standard, oct. 81.