The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-01
Miss AnthOny's Case.

The final discussion in this interesting
case was not unexpected. In spite of
Judge Selden's logic and eloquence, Miss
Anthony stands convicted of the crime
of illegal voting, and the inspectors of
election who received her vote, mast
suffer the same penalty. There can be
no farther appeal. The penalty is n
severe one; not more than five hundred
dollars or three years imprisonment, or
both. What next from the Woman
Suffragists? is the natural question.
This much talked of Collision with the
Federal Government" by q ftsquad Of
women" Is something of more serious
moment than newspaper squibs would
make il. If not so considered by the
"enslaved half of the community it was
intended to benefit, it surely is no
laughing matter to the individuals who
must bear the consequences of the act.
Miss Anthony's is the test case and the
thirteen other women who voted with
her know their fate in hers.
Those who are awaiting the excite
ment of seeing Miss Anthony carried to
prison will undoubtedly be disappointed.
She will act sensibly in any extremity,
and without fanatical obstinacy. Desert
her espoused cause she never will, nor
acknowledged citizen of the United
States. If refusal to pay the fine, and
the serving out prison term will best
accomplish the enfranehisement of her
sex, she will eat the prisoners loaf at
Auburn or elsewhere, with thankfulness
and without n whimper. But we can
not answer for the peace of her party
/ left at liberty.
Let the sentence be what il may, we
reasonably look for her pardon by the
President, although General Grant is
well known TO be no enthusiastic we'll
wisher of the Woman's Rights Move
ment. The Vice President has publicly
committed himself to the cause, and
taken the greatest interest in this trial.
What would be the effect upon the
women of America, it is not amiss to
ask, should Miss Anthony for this act
"Voting in good faith, in the belief that
such voting did not constitute Grim.
inal offence under the statute" be i'm.
prisoned like common felOn, and held
TO serve out a term of years within
prison walls, she an intelligent, law
abiding "citiZen," a woman who has by
heroic eXertion wrought great changes
in the laws regarding the rights of mar
ried women, uproOted absuTdities an'
conditions imbedded in the common
law and the statute book, unjust enact
ments and tyrannical penalties, whict
would, as her elegant counsel affirmed
have remained there until the day o
final doom, had not she and other
goaded our lawmakers by persistent ef
forts until these laws were changed am
the condition of women elevated there
! by? 1--WE would rise to man i'm he
defence,n we heard u woman say, "be
fore they should take her to prison.;
and she was no Woman's Rights WON
an, but the representative of an intelli
gent conservative class.
Even if Miss Anthony and the rest ar
ultimately pardoned, the end of the mat
ter comes not with the Presidents sig
nature. The incensed followers of Mis-
, Anthony will remind us that the defea
at Bull Run did not foreshadOw the re
suit of the Great Rebellion, but lent tn
needed impulse to undisciplined troop
; and inexperienced Generals. Tn
Woman's Rights Conventions following
this Judgment will be like the old Anti
Slavery conventions, when the Fugitiv
Slave Bill made its platform eloquen
for the defense of human rights and lib
erty. And who doubts that the spiri
kindled by that infamous bill secure
the hard-won but triumphant victory
-ROchester Euening Express.