The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-04-26

misplaced. We called the old preacher
a "beast" and ''reprobate" after we had
said the emphatic "HUsH," before our
talk was concluded and while We had
the floor, and the excited old man was
believing from his chair at the top of
his voice, trying to talk us down. He
did not take the floor a second time.
But here is the report:
Mrs Duniway, in pursuance OF previous an
nouncement, lectured that evening al the Court
House on the subject OF IsinperancS anu anu foii,
Invitation to parties in the audience 10 speak
was extended. Rev. Mr.. Colwell responded,
when IL soon became evident that he had wrongs
10 redress His speech waxed furious and his
gesticulations feanul-not more 50, however,
than is the general wont OF Methodlst preachers.
But il his manner was violent, his theme was
well digested. He had said on a former occa-
sion that he had no objection TO women voting,
but was opposed TO the success OF measures now
advocated Mr.. Sullivan had assailed him
when he had no opportunity TO reply, Tor the
purpose OF explaining. He proceeded on this
decision to amplify; and II his analogies were
nasty, his points were fOrcibly made
At the point OF his wading into Abby Kelly
Foster, Mrs. D., who presided as MODERATOR over
herown meeting, raped Justify ior the speaker
to come TO order; speaker didn't see IL; scared
from climax TO climax. On he plunged-into
longer, when she made herself heard and
brought the speaker 10 bay. He harkened Suf-
hcientiy long 20 understand that Mrs. ID. took
issue with him as to the truthfulness OF what
he said OF the wayward Abby; he redoubled the
rancor OF the assault; said Mrs. ID. had herself
proclaimed herself favorable 70 'Splrltual mar
riages;" Mrs. ID. pronounced him an internal
LIARi an old beasti reprobatel a villain! but
he needed her not, but rather seemed 20 enjoy
the tempest he had raised; three other ladies
sang out that ne misrepresented. At this point
cries OF go onl go on! were heard while half
the audience rose TO their feet preparatory to
~ NHrna~ HNnnh IL
the rescue and beseeched everybody TO be
seated, that Il might not be said that a meeting
resumed seats. The preacher went on, but In a
lower key. Was followed by MrS. d., who
tongue-lashed him fearfully, only eliciting the
response, 'you can't hurt a Christiani" Her
talk concluded, the preacher reiterated what
he had said OF Dear Abby; engaged to prove IL
by the records. Mrs; ID. at this juneture, with a
pondeEous tramp OF her foot upon the platform
bade him HUSH! The meeting abjournedl
We have no words with which to ex-
press our sorrow at such disgraceful pro-
ceedings. The whole dirty attack was
sprung upon us without a seconds warm
ing, in an audience of ladies and gentle
men, who seemed perfectly stupefied
with the preachers lasciviOus talk, and
we sat there with our burning face suf-
fused with indignation, until we were
instinctively impelled to call the poor
old man to order. Had he then obeyed
there would have been no further trou-
bic, "but as neither words nor grass
would do, we tried what virtue there
was in stones" We pelted the old man
heartily with the stones of indignation,
which, though they had no visible ef-
feet upon him at the time, will in the
future, We trust, act with force upon his
benighted understanding, and prevent
8 recurrence of the horrible outrage.
What Abby Kelly Foster had to do
with Temperance meeting in Lafay-
cite, where two-thirds Of the people had
never hevrd of her, is more than the old
preacher attempted to explain. His at
tack upon her character was the vilest
harangue we ever heard in our life, and
his account of his own participation in
it, if true, was sufficient to blast him,
and if false, was sufficient TO send him
to States prison.
But granting that it Were all true, 1t
is no more, alas, than can be proved
against many a preacher; but it is no
argument against Christianity when
one man or ten men go astray;
neither is it any argument against
Woman Suffrage when one woman or
ten women wander from the paths OF
rectitude. Our friend utterly ignored
the fact that the social sins of women.
upon which he made such onslaughts,
are never committed without the COM
: plicity of man, who is almost always
the guiltier party. But it is not oui
purpose here to raise an argument.
The good people of Lafayette are in
no way TO blame for the disgraceful oc-
eurrence. We ask them to forgive the
poor old preacher, upon the condition
that he will hereafter conduct himself
with decency. We were confined to
our bed four days in consequence of ner-
vous prostration occasioned by the
melee, but we have again donned the
public harness and are at work as hard
as ever.
We do not ask any pardon or forbear-
ance for our own conduct. God AL
mighty gave us combativeness with
which to defend womanhood, and
though we never will be the aggressor,
we stand ready to rend an antagonist
when he deserves tiff the encounter
does make us sick. Thank Heaven.
such occurrences rarely take place, and
never twice with the same individual.
We ask the great Methodist Church
to deal leniently with the poor old
preacher. He has come to a country
where the people are far ahead of him,
and is more 10 be pitied for his ignor-
ance than blamed for his pruriency and
stupidity. We do not know that we
should act differently under the same
circumstances, if the same should again
occur. We were not angry but reso-
Lutte. Just so long as women submit to
these attacks upon decency, just so long
few men will not be found wanting
who will take advantage of masculine
prerogatives to insult the public i'm their
meetings.
We cannot close this report without
expressing thanks to Mr.. J. L. Ferguson
Tor his tact and skill in governing the
poor old preacher and preventing the
meeting from breaking up in general
rush for the door.
We assure our many friends in Lafay-
cite that we shall visit them again: and
when we do, if the preacher Is willing
to make the 0mende honorable, he shall
be given a respectful hearing.