The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-07
THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION.

/ Hon. Al. Dufur, Commissioner TOT
Oregon, who is busy representing Inc
interests of our state in behalf OF the
Nations Centennial Anniversary, Is
pushing forward his work with COM
mendable energy.
A hundred years. Dear readers pause
and think. Here we are, upon the con
fines Of the broad Pacific, thousands OF
miles from the birthplace of our Ma
tional liberty, connected by telegraph
and railway with our most eastern
boundary; and as our thoughts revert
from Americas proud present TO her
obscure beginning, and then flash on,
through the dim distance, to the posi-
sibilities of the next hundred years, we
are lost in wonder and overshadowed by
conjecture.
Much as America has done, she has
vet much more to do. Her Govern
ment, based upon the holy idea that TO
be Just it must derive its powers from
the consent of the governed, yet ignores
the practice of its vital principle. Over
one-half Of its taxed and tax-paying
constituents yet contribute to the sup
port Of government in which they are
allowed no voice;-a government whose
fundamental tenet is that taxation with
out representation is tyranny. We call
upon our Oregon Centennial Commis-
sioner TO use the influence with the
press, the people and their servants, the
public office-holders, which his position
gives him, to make such n demand upon
Congress for Interrogation Of the equal
rights of women as shall cause that
numbering body of mental machinery to
awaken from its lethargy, apply the
spurs of enlightment to the heels of its
conscience and at Its next session pro-
claim to waiting world that the glo-
rious truth is self-evident that the wom-
en- of this Republic are, and of right
ought to be, free and independent.
Here is chance for A. J. Dufur TO
lmmortalize himself; here is opportu-
nifty for him to SOW seed for future per-
sonal promotion in the fallow ground
Of public opinion; here is incentive to
high and honorable and philanthropiC
action such as is not often engaged by q
single individual. Let the women re.
ceive their Emancipation Proclamation
prior to this forthcoming Anniversary
and the world shall behold such uni.
versal jubilee as it has not yet entered
the heart of man to conceive. Let Hon
a. ]. Dufur use his voice and pen t
carry forward this great work, to whicl
he has already been committed by prin
ciple and private declaration, and thu
women of Oregon will vie with eael
other in harmonious effort to assist hin
i'm a cause in which he is now discour
aged by the apathy Of his masculin
constituency.
Let the freedom Of woman become
fixed fact before the actual dawn Of on
Hundred Years. Let not our law-giver
pass this exhortation by in silence
Let not our Commissioner lay the flat
] NtIlliH ulIllol 10 Ills Soul Alltl We III
women, are not watchful of our owl
best interests. We are all aroused an
ready. We are all stirred with patriot
fire and freedom, feryor. Woe to tn
men who fail to get out of onr sunshin
before our emancipation chariot shal
roll along. Woe to the weall-knee
: brethren who forget the duty they ow
to women to aid them m their struggle
and let not our Centennial Commits
sioner be one Of these.
: Again, dear reader, pause and ponde
on the confines of a Hundred Years
: Look back through the dim distance +
our Republics humble beginning an
forward through the misty future, to it
probable possibilities, and join with u
l in an urgent appeal to the powers tina
= be to lift the load of vassalage from
, majority Of the people ere the sun shal
illumine the day that marks our Ma
tiOnal Centennial Anniversary.