The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-11-03
A VIEW OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

Gail Hamilton is one of the most pun
gent women writers of the day. In the
New York Independent she presents for
the consideration of readers the follow
ing, and we should like to hear Miss
Anthony or any other champion of the
Woman Suffrage folly respond to IL.
Gail says:
"When women are cursed with their
granted prayer, the hardest lot will fall
to those whose lot is hardest now. 1t is
the workingwoman for whom all is
asked; but it is the worl1ingwoman on
whom the sword will be turned. She is
the unfriended or the insufficiently be-
friended. Workingwomen are chiefly
those whose male relatives are unable or
unwilling to support them. "Ihe low
! ing and beloved wife" the "petted and
caressed daughter of the strong and
successful man will be scarcely con-
scious of any change. In her we'll
| guarded home il matters little to heI
whether she is loved by law or grace.
| But the unguarded woman must fight
her fight with the same real and relative
disability as now; but with an assumed
a legal equality, which precludes privil-
/ eye, though it cannot disarm fate
] When she has no vote, no defined power
{ her position is a constant appeal tO
chivalry, a constant rebuke TO brutality.
When she has seized the suffrage, heI
brutal employer and the not-toO-gentle
! bystanders will not fail TO say. "Now
you have got your long-sOught equality,
make the most of il. Ask no favors, and
look out for yourself Alas but
women are women still. Change thy
laws, thy state is still the same. Good
men will be good, but the bad and selfish
will have no cloak for their sin. With
women somewhat deferred TO, with greed
somewhat held in leash by shame, the
life of the weak woman is hard enough.
Is il likely to be easier when she has
dismissed the advantages while retain
ing the disadvantages Of sex, challenged
her foes to combat, and dulled the
swords of her defenders ~
We clip the above from the Corvallis
Gazette.
Is the "chivalry" alluded to above ac-
corded to women in obedience to any
law? Is it obligatory upon men no,g to
show women Difference and respect? =?
viii men, simply because woman may
possess a political power tomorrow she
does not to-day, refuse to treat her with
respectful consideration We have
more confidence in human nature than
to believe that. But there is a kind OF
false respect-we know not wnat else Ia
call it-which every woman of sense
would like to see abolished. What is
that "chivaIry" worth to woman which
to-day gallantly tips the hat on the
street or surrenders the best seat at the
parlOr entertainment, and on the NOR
row pays her ORe-hdJ the wages for hel
services that men receive for the very
same kind of work? If the price of sucl
''chivalry" rs this is half-wages, dowI
with ii. The sooner it goes by the boar
the better. We speak the sentiments o
every thoughtful woman in the Ian,
when we say this.
1t was argued that the negroes wOulC
not be protected by the ballot; that in
stead of redressing their wrongs it woulC
array them in hostility to their old mas
/ tiers. This i'm substance is the argument
above quoted against Woman Suffrage
The writer believes that the ballot viii
array woman in opposition to her for
mer lord and master, man. The argu
ment in reference to the negro has beer
proven faliacious. The one in regard t,
Woman Suffrage will, in the march o
events, share a like fate.
We have no fears that men will eve
be lacking in courteous conduct towards
women. We see not but that those Ia
dies who most strenuously urge tn,
right of women to vote and hold oflicl
are just as respectfully treated by mel
as any. We have travelled considerably
our views are well known; and yet, de
spite this, we meet with as much genu
inc courtesy as any woman who 'hai
all the rights she wants"
Is the gazette satisfied with the re
sponse? Now, Bro, come out from you
retreat behind the absurd inanities o
Gail Hamilton, and speak for yourself
II looks just a little cowardly to put Cal
forward to fight your battles-and she 3
woman, tOOi