The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-04-05
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
GERvA1s. Oregon. ApriI 8, ls72.

GERvAIs, Oregon April 5, lo'z.
DEAR NEW NORTHWEST;
The largest audience here last night
that ever convened in the village. All
the citizens of the place were out; even
the saloons were closed. Farmers came
from distance on horseback, in two
horse and four-horse wagons, and on
foot. The church, which is very COM
modious one, was literally packed, many
men standing patiently for over two
hours to hear the new gospel Of peace on
earth and good will to men and women.
Two drunken men were present in the
beginning, who evidently had some sort
of backing among a very small but ac-
tive rowdy element, and they undertook
to display some disorderly conduct, but
the constable soon settled them, and
one is to be tried to-day before Justice
for attempting to disturb the peace.
We had been told, Immediately upon
arriving, that certain gentlemen were
very anxious for opportunity to debate,
and our friends wished them ruled out
of order in consideration of the fact that
we had been invited to lecture rather
than debate. So our would-be oppon-
ents sat there, fearing that their fine
speeches would perish in embryo; but,
as usual, at the end of the lecture we in
vited those who had anything TO say to
come forward and address the meeting.
a SIr. Eagen, who had been preparing
himself to slaughter us for a week or
two, was called out, and after the stereO-
typed apology that ''the honor was who'll
ly unexpected" he proceeded to make
his speech. He is a bachelor and like
all men in his situation, terrifically
frightened lest women will neglect their
babies; and he drew lurid picture of
poor, wailing infants, for whose natural
nourishment their unnatural mothers
had prepared India rubber substitutes,
and closed by the old saw about "crow-
ing hens"
We replied that it was nothing unus-
ual for bachelors to worry lest mothers
neglect their children; that married
men have no such uneasiness, for they
know that true mothers will not neglect
their children under any circumstances.
In answer to the "crowing hen' story,
we remarked that we once saw a rooster
try to 'set," and, like the Growing hen,
he made failure; so that hen argument
was all exploded.
He came forward a second time, but
couldn't awaken any enthusiasm.
DIR. NIagers, in the Chair, took the
sense of the audience as to whether the
meeting should be protracted. Carried
unanimously.
GERvAIs, Oregon, April 4, 1872.
DEAR NEW NORTHWEST:
Packed house again. Subject, contin-
uation of "Women and Politics." A
few questions submitted in writing, but
no debate or opposition could be aroused.
Great enthusiasm. Many new subscrib-
ers.
On the first evening our opponent,
Mr.. Eagan, had said that women, if
voters, could not enforce the laws; there
fore they should not help to make
them.
We told them last evening, in reply,
that we had seen a drunken yagabond
enter the hotel in Gervais, and the land
lady, with grace and dignity, stepped to
the door, opened it and asked him out
He hung his head and departed like q
whipped puppy; that if that woman
had been sent to the front on the pre-
vious evening to arrest the drunken un,
fortunate who had made the disturbance
in the church, he would not have re
sisted the arrest, but would have alsC
obeyed abjectly; that woman had mora
power to more than match mans phys
ical force, and that there was here {
home illustration of the fact.
This morning the drunken man, who
was arrested on Tuesday evening, came
round to the hotel and gave this item
for the NEW NORTHWEST: "On Tuesday
evening a woman peaeeably elected {
drunken man from the hotel. On We'd
f nesday evening was left in the care o
the wife of the constable, while he at
tended woman's lecture. And if
} woman had asked me to leave tn
, church because 1 was drunk and disor
T derly, would have been ali obedience
, Pm a woman's rights man; and whel
f the women vote they'll stop the whisk.
business"
The Gervais citizens are social, excel
lent people We have been cordial.
treated by scores who were previousl.
pledged against the Woman move
ment. Everybody is ready to espous
it when the scales of prejudice fall iron
their eyes and they are permitted to Sc
through the optics of reason.
: TrmmrD nnnlr Ankuur1mn