The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-03-14
To Women Everywhere.

rccfiag.-Whereas the social evils
in our country, by their frightful in
crease among all classes, have become
questions of startling interest and alarm
to profound thinkers and lovers of peace
and order-leading as they do vast num-
bers Of human beings into the practice OF
spoilatiOn, intemperance, vices and
crimes Of every degree and magnitude
until their perceptions of morality and
justice, their obligations to each other
and to society and entirely perverted.
Therefore, we of the Social Education
Society, in view of this sad state of OuI
social condition, and in view Of the fact
that to woman has been given the
special care and guardianship of the
morals of her family and social circle
no matter i'm what condition of life her
lot has been cast as wife and mother
and i'm consideration of the educational
advantages, together with the facilities
for gaining Information which the
women of our country enjoy, we feel
that she is now, involuntarily, in a posi-
ton of great moral responsibility, and il
vices and crimes are permitted to in
crease in the future without her protest,
she will be alike culpahle with man.
We are convinced that we cannot
longer shut our eyes and ears TO the eX-
istence of injustices and wrongs.of any
kind, as not coming within the sphere
of our duties, and still preserve for our
sex the high moral status which it is
the desire Of all good women we should
retain.
It is clear that we cannot longer af-
ford to leave the treatment and adj
judication Of important social questions
to the uninformed or immoral, who
cOnfound liberty with license of action,
and human rights with the full sway OF
pcrUertcd iRctiRdtiOns. These things
must not usurp the place of the orderly
expression of limitations which inhere
in the laws of equity, and those mutual
obligations and restrictions which must
be imposed upon individuals and classes
TO preserve i'm balance equation Of rights,
or liberty for all.
Intelligent and high-minded men are
now looking to women for cooperation.
The young everywhere, in their helpless
innocence and ignorance, call upon good
women 10 save them from the seductive
snares which corruption and depravity
have placed in their pathway. Can we
be deaf to these appeals and discharge in
integrity our obligations to those over
whom an all-wise and beneficient Father
has placed us?
We cannot longer afford the reproach
continually cast upon us by men, that
"Woman is woman's worst enemy
Therefore we must come, through good
works and noble deeds, into closer rela-
tions with each other-relations which
will unite our sympathies and interests,
enlarge our knowledge, and so our
capacities, enable us to see more clearly
our duties and strengthen their per-
formances.
And we now earnestly ask all women
to join US, as one sisterhOOd, i'm this cd
ucational work, by organizing in their
VARIOUS towns acd cities, in their
churches and social circles, Social and
Educational SOcieties-and there discuss
in n religious and humaritan spirit
those subjects of vital interest which
concern women as wives and mothers
TO gain all possible information As to
the prevailing vices and crimes in their
respective towns and cities-where lie
the causes and what stimulates theiI
growth, and also the best method of re-
moving them-to cooperate with kin
dred societies for the free exchange oi
information and experiences.
We believe that by thus uniting, con-
centrating and exchanging the thOuhgt
and energy of women Of our land, We
can do much towards saving our race
from the vices and crimes that are now
eating out its vitality, and raise q
standard of morality and of equitable
relations that will greatly c0nduce tC
the rapid increase of health, Happiness
and peace to humanity.
LUCINDA B. CHANDLER, President
| J.. NJ. Bronson, Cor. Sec,
I49 L 5lst Street, New York.