The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-01
1nHNR. GouGH ANpJ.H.MITCHELL.


As all the venom of lewd-minded pol
iticians has, probably, by this time ex-
pended itself in denunciatiOn of our
former exhortation to Senator Mitchell;
and as the few women who became
frightened because we asked him to be-
come the champion of wOman's enfran-
chisement, and because of their alarm,
accused us of afliliation with crime,
which is only another name for crime
itself-as all these have, We hope, 10y
this time got rid of the film of prejudice
that blinded them, we now renew our
charge and exhortation.
John B. Cough became victim to the
curse of intemperance. Wherever his
name was known it was spoken in
loathing and scorn. Mothers taught
their daughters to shun him, and news
papers loaded him with vilest epithets.
But in spite of his fall, in spite of the
fact that pious women elevated their
noses, and temperance men, who may
have imbibed more whisky than he,
only its consequences upon their physi-
cal nature were not so apparent there
fore they were very righteous), passed
by on the other side at his approach; in
spite of the abuse of the press and the
clamor of the people, John b. Cough
arose in the majesty of his noble intel
lect, himself a monument Of the evils
of intemperance, and with the eloquence
of a Clay, the logic Of a Webster, the
bravery of Baker, the wisdom of a
Lincoln and the bad personal example
of a Cough, appeared before the cohorts
of intemperanee and became the cham
pion of total abstinence. From the
baehannal orgies of the worst sinks of
inebriety, he stepped forth upon the
platform Of temperance and shook the
world with his wisdom and pathos.
Never would there have been such re-
former had it not been for his fall.
Never could he have so effectually ap-
pealed to the throbbing heart of the
breathless multitude, as they shed tears
over his misfortunes, if his tragedy had
not been real.
So with Senator Mitchell. In spite
of the general clamor of the press,
and the occasional fright or indig-
nation of some well-meaning but
misguided woman; in spite of his fall,
his humiliation and sorrow, we say to
him: "Behold the result of the subjuga-
ton of woman! 1t has entailed untold
suffering upon both sexes. You can
become the same champion for Human
Rights in your misfortune that John b.
Cough is aud has been for temperance.
Now is your golden opportunity. I'm
prove it, we pray you. Let the remark
able forensic talents that you possess be
used hereafter in the Senate, at the bar,
or wherever you can be heard, in de-
nunciation Of alllaws and usages that
lead women to merge their womanhood
into the sole protection of men who ART
so often weak and cruel. Women need,
rs badly or worse than men, the equal
protection of the laws. The inequality
Of the sexes works untold hardships
upon both men and women. You have
suffered. You still suffer, but you can
see the remedy for this accursed state OF
class legislation which places women 50
often in the power Of men, and men Sc
often in the power of their own weakness
The great mass of womanhOod will
welcome you to do this work. Feal
not the outcry Of the dissenting few.
The crushed and bleeding victims OF
mans inhumanity to women every
where cry out to you, who have sinned
and suffered, to use the potent influence
that you possess as Senator, and tn,
full magic Of the mighty eloquence yor
WELD as orator, to elevate the politi
cal status of woman, that the social anC
financial may be free to adjust them.
selves. Fear not the rabble who would
hiss you down. Again we say that man.
extremity is Gods opportunity. If yor
fail in this we shall acknowledge thar
we have altogether misjudged you. Blu
you will not fail. Your own wrecke,
life and the pale ghosts of days departed
urge you on. Never, except in the cas-,
of John b. Cough, did such opportunity
present itself for man to rise above tn,
ashes ofluined reputation and reinstat,
himself by self-renunciation and publ,
restitution. Your private duties res
between yourself and God. Faithfully
perform them as well as the public ob
legation which Providence has laid a
your feet, and ali the gates Of hell shal
not prevail against you"