The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-03-08
LETTER FROM MATILDA JOsLYN
GAGE,

OAUhs
WASHINGTON, d. C., Jan. 2I. 1872.
The recent Convention of the National
Woman Suffrage Association in this
city drew out immense audiences. and
was in many respects the grandest Con-
vention ever held;-grandest in the
promise it gave of the combination and
co-operation of all the great radical ele-
ments of the day. That we are on the
eve of mighty change in politics is
evident to the most casual observer.
The work of the war is practically over.
and with it ceases the mission of the
Republican party. 1t is already split
into factions, and the Tribune, in its op-
position to Gen. Grant, has already ac-
quired the name Of the great Democratic
paper. The Republicans evidently in
tend to do nothing for women before the
Presidential election. To avoid this ca
tastrophe they are willing to take up
the burden of estate Rights" )" which the
war whipped out of the Democracy.
The Senate Judiciary Committee in its
report last week against the memorial
lists, claimed that the State had the right
to regulate suffrage, and to prove it re-
verted to legal quibbles and to the de-
finition of rights by implication. Yet
the work goes on. Members of the Ma
tiOnal Committee from several different
States are still in Washington, and still
at work upon members of Congress.
Last Friday Gen. Butler presented
an enormous roll of petitions numbering
$1,000 names, all asking for Declara-
tory Law. A petition of this size was
never rolled up during the anti-slavery
struggle.
We are having great aid from one of
your Western women, Laura DeForce
Gordon. She reached Washington in
time to take part the last two days of
the Convention, and also to show what
a powerful reinforcement she was to be
to the assaulting force at the Capital
this winter. Newspaper reporters de-
clare her chief forte the making politi-
clans feel uncomfortable. This is Just
what we wish. They must+be made to sec
the handwriting on the wall, and seeing
it they can no longer feel comfortable.
The Republican plan is to hold back
on Deelaratory Law, but privately in
struet election inspectors to receive
women votes. When members elected
by these votes have their seats contested
the question will come up for judicial
settlement, and then Republicans, in
the guise of Sancho Panza decoying tho
damsel, are to step in with party power
and make Of this n party question. We
do not propose to be so freed. We wish
to step into our rights in broad day, will
drums beating and banners flying. We
do not propose to take seats out in the
cold until our masters see fit to open the
door. We have grown to power. We
are no longer despised and prosecuted
few, but in ourselves and our allies W,
number large force, and we are de
termined to make our mark upon tn,
next election. The Democrats have m
policy. The Republican policy is onl,
power and spoils. We must split thi
party in pieces, and out of its ruins W
will gather up the men of moral idea
and incorporate them into our own neN
party. In this work we look for effieien
aid from Mrs. Gordon. She has alread
been invited to visit Virginia, and ais
I to take part in the pending constitu
tiOnal contest in Pennsylvania. If yo
have more like her, send them out t
US. Washington is this winter tn
Richmond of the women. Here ou
enemy is firmly intrenched, and here
must be assaulted and his position cal
ried. MATILDA JosLYN GAGE.