The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-03-15
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
BUENA VISTA, Oregon,
March 10th, 1872.

and waiting, ready to exhibit its friendly
power in Corvallis, whenever some
worker in the great suffrage movement
should appear among the people, became
a living, moving avalanche of action
during our brief sojourn in the city. We
arrived in Corvallis on Tuesday, the 5th
inst, and Immediately sent circulars
through the town announcing a lecture
for the evening upon Politics. At the
close of a two hours talk, which was so
well and enthusiastically received by
the audience that we were astonished to
find that we had spoken so long, We
made the usual proposition forquestions,
suggestions, or opposition. One gentle
man arose and fiatteringly eompli-
mented the speaker Of the evening. We
began TO wonder il we hadn't made
something of convincing speech, but
he soon upset our self-complacency by
acknowledging himself open to eonvic-
ton as soon as he should hear some
Woman Suffrage arguments! We set
tied back in our shoes, almost persuaded
that public speaking wasn't our forte;
yet remained serene and happy.
"Why," said he, 81 am open to eonvic-
ton. Brother Driver was concerted IN
one hour at the State Convention. This
sort of conversion may yet be my fate,
but I'll have TO first become convinced. -
Brethren" said we, rising, with as
rueful a visage and doleful voice as in
our amusement we were able to COM
mand, 81 hope you'll all pray for the
conversion of brother S.n The house
emphatically came dorm. Asked if anv
particular subject would be the choice of
the meeting for the second evening.
Leading citizens of Portland, let US
whisper in the your ears that the Cor
wallis and Salem men of influence have
backbone enough to talk right out i'm
our meetings. Judge Chenoweth said
that he should like to hear us on the So
cial phase of the woman movement.
Flattered ourself that he had broaehed
one Of our strongest points. Would be
happy to oblige him. Mr.. BiddIe said
that at their Carlisle Society OH the
previous evening, Woman Suffrage had
been discussed pro and con and decided
in the negative by the Chair. That the
decision hinged upon the ID clause of
the l4th Amendment, which specified
male voters, and he would be pleased to
-ahem-hear the-ahem THAT ahem's
ours, not Judge Chenoweth's) able and
distinguished lecturers opinion on this
legal point. Would be happy to accom-
mOdate him. If the speaker had a strong
forte it was on legal decisions. Judge
Strahan wanted to hear about "the good
time coming" Thanked him. That
was our specially.
Meeting closed with a handsome col
lection and a number of new subscribers
for the NEW NORTHWEST, and we
occupied the next day in receiving calls,
writing editorials, letters and "Ellen
/ Dowd."
Wednesday evening brought large
audience. All sorts Of seats were inn
provised for the occasion, and everybody
made comfortable. Then the fun began.
Proved that while the Fourteenth
Amendment excluded those unfortunate
''malesn from citizenship who had been
guilty of certain misdemeanors, no such
| penalty accrued to women who had been
thus guilty. Gave the social phase,
of the woman movement from the
standpoint Of the NEW NORTHWEST.
and made every bachelor happy. Tried
to picture the "good time comingi in
glowing eolors for the benefit of the
"brother'' who had the prayers of the
audience. Called, as usual, at the close
for questions and opposition. The
Southern Methodist preacher was op-
posed to Woman Suffrage ON Bible
grounds. DIR. Bayley-an uncompro.
missing Woman Suffragist, by the way,
who deserves n seat i'm the United States
Senate-challenged him to discuss the
Bible question with Mrs Duniway. The
Scripture-loving divine refused. We
asked him to come out and hear us on
: the Bible question. He pleaded previous
engagements. Puckered our counte-
nance into a persuasive grimaee, in
tended for benevolent smile, and gently
urged him to postpone his previous en-
gagement. Failed. Felt sorry. Father
G. arose and was ready to prove that the
Bible degraded women from Genesis to
Revelations. Agreed to prove the con-
trary.
Packed Court House on Thursday
evening. Many failed to obtain any
kind of seats. Halls and aisles full.
Everybody enthusiastic Bible argu-
ment of over one hour. Call for opposi-
tion. Couldn't rouse it. Called fol-
questions. The old gentleman who had
promised to prove woman's degradation
from Bible standpoint, eontented
himself by asking if the women intend
cd to engraft God and Jesus in the Con-
stitution. Replied that men only had
ever been verdant enough to seek to
unite Church and State. Women would
always be too wise to attempt 1t. Zap
plause.] Asked for an expression from
the audience as TO whether or not wom-
en- should be allowed to vote. Hundreds
arose, both men and women. Called
for the negative. y few striplings from
the agricultural college and a hoary-
headed Methodist preacher rose. Told
the boys they were evidently bachelors,