The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-08-23

mitted to say yea or nay-with a ballot
to Grant or Greeley? Have you, sir,
subdued ten or forty acres of forest land
and made it produce wheat and pota-
toes?
No.
Why, then, do you insist that we
shall do something? Why do you not
set the example? This lounging about
whisky shops and gambling-hells is dis
graceful. "Why don't you do some
thing to prove yourselves worthy
voice in law-making before you" rebuke
us for asking the privilege of protecting
ourselves?
From the city Of Portland few weeks
ago working woman went by steamer
to Lewis river, w. I. There she took a
small boat, and with her own hands
rowed up stream TO a settlement. She
found piece Of unoccupied land. Then
she returned for her boys-half grown
lads. With provisions and n saw and
axes they returned and made clearing
yes, with their own hands cut the
giant trees, trimmed and sawed them
into lengths, and made every prepara-
tion 10 build the cabin. Then the
mother returned for more provisions,
and went to Vancouver to enter the
land.
Up to this hour she had been eneour-
aged by the pioneer settlers, steamboat
men and sailors, who are enthusiastic
in their praise Of her good sense and en-
ergy. But at the Land Office she was
met with the objection that she was
married 1comdn and could not file on
homestead! "You must bring your
husband to do this business for you"
BY the way, her husband is at work
in this city. Then promise had to be
won from the officer that he would keep
the claim for her, and she took the day
to get the consent and the presence of
her husband to do the business that she
was just as well qualified to do for her
self. 90.
/ We see and call attention 10 the facts:
lst. 1t was the plan of the mother to
take piece of land and set herself and
boys at work.
ID. To save her boys from vagrancy
and bad habits acquired so easily in the
city.
Sd. To her energy in looking up and
personally making the preliminary i'm
provements.
4th. To the loss of time and money
consequent upon the delay. The hus-
band lost a days wages, 81; steamboat
fare, 81; meals, 80 cts.-equals S3 So
As much more for the wife makes 81.
5th. To the insult implied-''You are
a married woman, and therefore legally
incapable Of making a bargain"
9th. Practically-a premium is Of
fered to sunder the marital relations by
divorces.
9TH. A premium is offered women to
raise families out side of marriage, for a
widow or single woman, the head of a
family, can file on and hold home
stead.
probably this woman knows little,
and cares nothing for Woman Suf-
frage.n
That, sirs, does not affect the case or
the right. We claim that citizenship
for ali will give to her and to us n legal
existence. And n legal existence will
enable women in thousands of instances
to acquire and hold and manage prop
erty that will keep themselves and chill
dren from becoming paupers and va
grants.
We have brought this case to show
you that at least one woman has done
and is doing something. There are in
the aggregate thousands of them with
steady nerves and cool heads, sharp per-
ceptive faculties and lively consciences,
toil-hardened hands and tender hearts,
who are doing something TO prove
themselves worthy place and a voice
in this great Republic.
Every wife who plans and thinks and
longs for knowledge of the ty7lo condi-
1 ton Of her husbands affairs is capable
Of doing something and worthy Of citi-
zenship.
Every mother who has gone to the
doors Of death in giving birth to her
boys is capable Of suffering keenest an
guish in prospect of the fact that these
children of her love will be ruined by
the preeepts and example Of those who
sell and drink whiskey. This capabil-
ity Of love and suffering proves their
capability Of exercising the voting priv
ilege for the protection of their children.
( Therefore, dear readers of the NEW
NORTHWEST, use your influence TO give
to all women the elective franchise.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.