The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-12-26
PLAIN AND CANDID TALK.


While we gladly admit that there are
many, very men who scorn the thought
Of using their legal power to oppress
their wives, yet we also know-and we
do not care to deny that this knowledge
has been gained by both experience and
observation-that Mrs. Johns picture
is by no means overdrawn.
Most men, from their total lack of
experience in househoid matters, have
'H0fdez thatfi1s -iHeessant toll Of child
bearing, washing, ironing, mopping,
ehurpipg. cooking. dish7washing, CHAM
Der work, yegetable-gn nthsfipgn dEawing
Yaters bringing iu, and Offer, ,ehopping
stoye-Yood, waiIng on, vast rdToves Of
,ePmpspy and an nnlimitel supply Of
hired msnm7lmoss pYEs Rave Little idea
that this work Is haFd st II ls strange
that they 10. not consider that mater
nifty, being natural, ought RsVer to wear
womap 9pt; and thai q. women do
wear out under it in what ought TO be
their prime, there is q reason why they
do; and that reason is that they are over
worked.
We have more than once heard q
jaded, wOrn-Out woman say: 81
wouldn't ask anything better than to be
as well treated under maternity as my
husband treats his mares or cows"
"BuS" says some splendid fellow,
who feels that imputations are east at
him concerning expressions Of which he
is wholly innocent, 'you are unjust in
that you make such sweeping asser-
tioRs. No doubt there are such cases as
you describe, but they are exceptions. ]
have known many men whose lives
were literally worried out Of them by
incOnsideraie, lazy and incompetent
wives. The great mass Of men are not
to be judged by the delinquent few."
Very true, sir philosopher, and we are
very far from a desire to do you or any
good man an injury. We know that
there are many women who literally
practice mans idea that it is woman's
right to be supported. Such women
have very little interest in common
with their husbands. They are one ex-
treme of the legitimate result of mans
idea that he is the supporter and bread
winner and head Of the family whom
woman must "obey" as though she had
no Individuality Of her own. The other
extreme has been pictured faithfully by
Mrs. Johns.
Now, what humanity needs is 4 proper
equalization or distribution of the mas
euline and feminine elements of order,
reason, logic, mutual interest, politics
and law. Men and women want equal
opportunity to exercise their own indi-
viduality. II woman finds that one
Kind of occupation is too hard, or ,un-
congenial, she should have equal power
with man TO leave that and try some
thing that will suit her better. The
woman who is doing her part in bring
ing the future race into existence
should be as free from drudgery when
thus engaged as her husband judiciously
keeps his thorough bred animals whose
business it is TO better their kind IN its
formation.
But experience proves that man can
not be trusted to wholly care for, much
less rule, either woman or himself.
Gentlemen, there is no use in object
/ ing. Women have receiveda n glimmer-
ing of what the true light that Is to
guide them in the future shall be. They
do not intend to usurp your preroga-
tives or abridge your rights. They do
intend, however, TO use their own pre-
rogatives-to think and act according
to the dictates of their own Judgment.
They know that the interests of the
sexes will never clash if they are rightly
understood. They know that the hap
piness of man depends upon the health
and well-being of woman. They know
that the over-burdens which past gene
rations of women have borne have ener-
waited and will eventually destroy the
race if a change does not come, and that
right speedily. They are not accusing
those with whom blame does not rest.
Do all men imagine themselves erimi-
mails because crime is assailed in places
where it is known to exist? Then why
should all men put on airs OF injured
dignity when women arraign the guilty,
and complain that they are being un-
justly censured?
Gentlemen, let us softly whisper that
tits conscience that makes towards OF
us all. And while you may be person
ally innocent so far as your own families
are concerned, the fact that you know
/ that misery and over-work abound in
many places among women where there
is no excuse except that might rules in
stead of right, you well know that YOU
uphold the political and consequent pc
ct.niary system which makes these
things as they are; and this is why your
cOrns are so tender
Now, brethren, come out bravely and
DO your part towards making straight
the crooked paths into which the
weaker sex of humanity have been
driven in their subjeclion, and you will
cease to imagine that unjust blame at
taches itself to you when complaint is
made against oppression.
This advice is given gratis. We only
/ stipulate that you obey it.
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Democratic Woman SufIragists, who