The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-09-05
written for the New Northwest.l
Man.
A New Ally.


Journal for the following soul-cheering
evidence that mems eyes are being
opened:
The Cincinnati Commercial, in its
leading editorial of the 7th inst, takes
ground in favor of Woman Suffrage.
About fifteen years ago lit seems to US
but yesterday, the Commercial, which
had been previously Southern in all its
sympathies, started the Ohio abolition
lists, one morning, by brilliant anti
slavery editorial. We welcomed its
strong arm then, as we welcome it now.
II was a herald OF triumph then; we
hope it may prove so now. The article
is entitled
SEX AND POLITICAL RIGHTS.
A meeting is to be held at Hopkins
Hall on Wednesday afternoon next,
which the women OF this city are in
vited to attend. 1t is stated in the call
that there are three thousand women in
Hamilton county alone who pay taxes
upon millions of dollars worth of prop
erty, and who have no voice in the
election of trustees to disburse the taxes.
They have no voice to say for what the
disbursements should be made. On the
other hand, a non-property holder, if he
be an adult male, though he pays no
taxes, may determine who shall handle
the money, and is, indeed, eligible to
the offices through which the moneys
pass 10 and from the public treasury.
The question is continually pressed
upon the attention of the public, why
should not these women, all women,
indeed of proper age, have direct repre-
sentation at the polls? What good and
sufficient reason is there for denying
them the ballot? So far as the princi-
pie is concerned, it makes no difference
whether there is one or one hundred
thousand women in the State who are
directly taxed on their property. The
fact that they have legal rightte acquire
and hold property entities them to the
full privilege Of the citizens, so long as
their property is subject to taxation.
1t is no answer to say that they will
be protected in all their rights by laws,
general in their operation and bearing
equally upon all property, whether
owned by men or women. That is
simply begging the question. 1t used
TO be said in defense of African slavery
that the negroes were happy and con-
tented on the plantations, because it
was to the interests of their masters to
cherish and protect them. But that
was no defense of a system that de-
prived one human being of his rights,
and conferred upon another eXtraOrdi-
nary powers over him. Nor is it any
defense of the denial of representation
tOwomen to say that they will not suffer
injury for the want of it. The duty OF
the State is to provide each of its citi-
zens with all the political powers it con-
fers upon any of them, that they may
be able according to the measure o.
those powers to protect themselves. To
do less than this is an injustice, anC
States, according to enlightened demo
cratic theories, are not created to organ
iZe injustice.
Those who bear their proportion o
the burdens of the State are entitled Il
all the benefits of the State. If they dt
not enjoy them, it is their duty to in
quire why they are denied, and for whaI
reason the laws are partial and discrim
inative. Is it because of mental inca
pacity, or constitutional difference? /
the line Of qualification is TO be drawn
along either of these reasons, there are
thousands of women in Ohio who would
come within the boundaries of privi.
lege, and thousands of men who woulC
be excluded. The mass of the womer
of Ohio are as Intelligent and capable o.
forming judicious conclusions touching
political movements and candidates fol
office as the men themselves. And
EUusLlLuLlOilAl
that would operate as a bar to the exer-
else of any political right that goes tc
vindicate the direct representation oi
women in the State.
The imputation that goes with the
denial Of equal political and civil rights
TO women is that, for some reason OF
other, not clearly defined, and never
likely to be distinctly stated, they are
so incapable that it will never do to al
low them to take care of themselves.
There is precious waste Of fine senti-
ment whenever the sex is toasted at q
banquet amid the fumes of wine and
clouds of tobacco smoke, about the re-
hnement of woman, and the heavenly
radiance she sheds over the home circle,
within whose sacred precincts nothing
unhallowed must ever enter. Would il
not be something gained in public NOR
ality il something of this refinement
and heavenly grace were infused into 9
orutalized politics? Is it is all to be
housed up and guarded carefully from
the wicked world, why not go further
ana insist that the women should adopt
the oriental custom of never appearing
IN public without dOminOes
Ihls soft nonsense, supposed to be eX.
ceedingly chivalrous and quite th,
proper thing, usually spirits out of pulpy
young men whenever an allusion to tht
adCred sex Is made. Women are suffer
ing, like the country at large, from tot
much protection. They could afford Il
dispense with the incense OF gallantr,
burnt under their noses il they wer
given the right to protect themselves.
IL is too late to talk of restrictions AM
limitations of the ballot by tests @
property, education or race. All thes
barriers have been broken down. w
are trying the experiment of Universe
Suffrage, so far as man is concerned
The area has Widened with the years
until all are included, without regard Il
race, capacity or previous condition
Only the women, the lunatics and tn
criminally prescribed are excluded
Day by day and year by year womei
are demonstrating their capacity 70
Office. There is hardly q profession 4
be named that has not its successful fe
male representative. The arts anC
sciences reckon among their brightes
ornaments many noble women. Thel
nave shown capacity for the practica
ahalrs OF life, managing not unfre
quently large establishments. The,
are competent accountants. GOOD clerks
and shrewd financiers. The fact fba
there are among them so many Dronart,
owners who manage their affairs viii
ability, is proof of high capacity.
Why should they not be permittad 2,
vote? What reason has the State fo
denying them equal partnership i'm II
offices? Are they less thought of he
cause, like Emily Faithful and KAT
Field and Anna Dickinson, they taIS
the rOstrum, or like Mrs Stowe an,