The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-06-14
WOMANS ENHANCEMENT.

EDITOR NEW NORTHWEST:
In n former communication | endeav-
ored to show the absolute and uneondi-
tional equality of the sexes. Upon this
doctrine | predicate woman's right to q
participation in all that pertains to her
own interest and the interest of the
community of which she is n member,
and the republic, kingdom or country
OF which she is citizen. The frInda-
mental principle, which has passed
into an axiom, that all power emanates
from the people, cannot be ignored with
reference to woman. Woman's right to
voice in the election of rulers, in max
ing and executing the laws by which
she is governed and to which she is
amenable, is just as complete and per-
feet, and just as necessary to her hap
piness and welfare as mans; and any
system of legislation which contravenes
this great truth and denies to woman
these natural and inalienable rights to
which God and nature entitle her is at
war with the highest and best interests
of humanity, and is subversive of the
great principles of human liberty. Fol-
If We may make laws for our fellow
creatures without their consent in one
case we may in another and if the
simple fact that person happens to be
woman deprives her of liberty and
makes her absolutely dependent upon
the will of another in all matters per-
tanning to legislation and government,
the highest principle of human liberty
is contravened and set at naught, and
woman becomes what for ages she has
been regarded-the servant and the
slave of man.
This Government will never extrieate
| itself from the maelstrom of political
corruption and moral perfidy and crime
until woman obtains her rights in the
field of the worlds enterprises, and vim
dicates herself from the slanderous i'm
putations that have been preferred
against her in the declarations of selfish
men that she is incapacitated and dis
qualified, by virtue of being a woman,
from taking a part in the public affairs
of the country.
And this she will do whenever the
opportunity is afforded her by the re-
moval of the political disabilities which
now hold her in chains and compel her
to be a silent spectator of the worlds
iniquities and the wrongs of selfish leg
islation. And as surely as the sun shines
in the heavens to-day and lights the
earth with his benefieent beams, so
surely, at no distant day, will woman
rise in her greatness and power and de-
mand that these chains and fetters
which have for ages held her in thrall
be broken in sunder in order that she
may enjoy the glorious and sublime
privilege Of lAboring side by side with
her brother man in the great reforms
that are 10 renoyate the world and bring
the long-expected day when swords
shall be beaten into ploughshares and
spears into pruning hooks, and the ma
tions Of this world shall learn war nc
more Nothing short Of the recognition
Of woman's absolute equality with man
before the law and the removal of all
political disabilities that prevent hel
from the enjoyment and exercise of thi,
equality will answer her demands and
purposes and enable her to exercise that
power and influence and enjoy that hap
piness of which her nature is capable
And that wOman's right to this equality
will sOon be recognized by the powers
that be Is clearly evinced from the con
sideratiOn that many Of the most emf
nent statesman of the republic are its
warm advocates and supporters, and the
vote upon the question in several of the
State Legislatures shows conclusively
that yoman's right to political equality
cannot much longer be withheld. And
when this glorious event shall occur
throughout the nation a new era will
dawn upon the Republic. Reforms that
will refine and purify society will be in
troduced and carried forward to success
full contamination, some of which we
shall hereafter notice.
! LABAN CASE.
! LUCKTAMUTE, Ogn., May 25, 1872.