The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-06-14
WHAT THE WOMEN WANT.
by MRS. CARRIE p. YOUNG.

AS Acoiu lhe ABOVE cOnSeTsdtlOH.
Almost the first words after introdue-
ton were an attack upon the character
Of scholarly, pure women,
mothers and wives-whose children rise
up and call them blessed; women who
have given the world intellectual sons
and daughters, and yet are so vigorous
in intellect and pure in character as to
win the praise of their enemies and
the respect of the world.
"What do you strong-minded women
want?" was the oft repeated question.
"WE WANT JUSTICE, not fiattery; we
want knowledge, not novels or sweet
little simpering talk; We want fair pay
for fair days work; we want, if We
make logical, argumentative, telling
speech, the well done accorded be-
cause it is deserved-not the milk-and-
water approval, 'Oh, very well for a
womanr"
A man said to us yesterday, "a wom-
ans place is at home"
"What," we asked, "and who is that
bent, ,sad-faced woman across the street,"
"She? Oh, she's a wash-woman.
She's carrying work home"
a little daughter followed, bending
under the load of garments.
"Why does she go away from home?
Why does she take washing to do?" we
asked.
'Her husband is a drunkard," was
the ready answer.
"Who made him n drunkard? Who
permitted men, too indolent 10 work,
to toss out the glittering, sugared bait
that lured the weak-minded man to his
destruction? Who reached his avar-
icious, unholy hands into this wOman's
happy home, and, little by little, took
the husbands money and his ability to
make money-took his self-respect-
took his affections-took his time-took
his manhood, and coolly showed the
money in his till, and the wreck of a
man into the street to die like n dog,
and to be buried like a beggar? Aye,
sir, who followed the young wife's
cheeks and robbed them of their roses,
and from her eyes drove the love light
of former days? Who imposed upon
her tasks that Chinaman would break
down under-yes, upon her, the deli
cately reared, frail little woman? You,
sir, and your thoughtless, selfish COM
rades, who, for the sake of political tri-
umphs, have winked at and counte-
nanced the whisky traffic! If you wish
women forever to stay at home, why dc
you, by your failure TO protect oul
homes, drive US out?
"Last night in my audience sat 0
thinly dressed, anxious mother. Three
little shabbily dressed girls nestled
close to her. She wept-her whole form
was shaken with emotion. Why sc
tattered? Why so shaken? Her strong.
handed husband is in the tolls Of the
tempter-he is spending his money OF
lewd women and in gambling hells.
"Give these women the ballot. LeI
them clearly understand that they caI
use it TO save their husbands and littl,
ones from degradation, and see If they
will not use it conscientiously and will
an JUNCTION for the overthrow OF thes,
twin relics of selfish, sensual age"
'I don't care how good a case you
make out-a woman's place is at home
There is Il. hate her WHY
don't she stay with her husband?"
"AIay / tell you, sir? Her husband
Judge -, married her, pretending t.
be wealthy and learned. She haC
worked at school teaching, type setting
reading, copying, to make homes
bread. Her fathers estate gave her ,
marriage portion of 81, 400. Like tru,
but unwise woman, she passed thii
money over to her husband. Travelinl
expenses, board bills and housekeeping
expenses were paid until she was salts
fled that he would not try to do any
thing. Then she resorted to the uncer
tain profits from boarders, to eke out tn,
means of support. To-day l Learned
that she applied for work at the office o
your county paper, and was refused
Her wardrobe needed replenishing. Sh,
was a spirited, ambitions woman, an,
could not meekly sit down, conscious
that her bread and garments must b,
scant or 'bummed.' Do you blame he
for wishing to eat honest bread? tt
earn it she was obliged TO go where he
talent as composition would bring he
wages. From her scant earnings sh,
has helped to clothe her lazy husband
He puts on an injured air and speaks
disrespectfully of all women who carr
their own living. And you, from th'
pinnacle of your good health and pros
perity, clap your hands and cry 'goodI
forgetting that the wheel of fortun,
may turn and leave you-if not /,
drunkard-a beggar, and your sister I
helpless dependent, not as well calcu
lated to win honest bread as the pa
tient, pale woman you affect to iespis,
so much"
He answered: "Well, there Is Lizzi
s. What have you to say for her
Surely, in that case, you can find n,
apology for her conduct"
"Do you know, sir, that her parent
crossed the Plains when she was ST,
years old? That her father, in the win
ter Of '66-7, was a miserable drunkard
That her mother had seven children
and but her own poor head and hand
/ TO earn bread for them all? That Iizzi