The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-11-28
THEORY AND PRACTICE.

=
Dear Mrs. D,milray:-With your per-
mission, will endeavor to define my
so-called departure from my ''platform.
No impartial benefit is to lie acquired
/ by the exercise of self-denial and
thorough willingness TO erase the po-
litical blots from the Constitution. The
qualifications of the present must be
sacrificed for the sake of the greatest
good to the majority.
Taking the preceding thoughts as
basis upon which to establish my feeble
/ arguments, see nothing inconsistent
or at variance with my past record.
/ My letters entitled, Magma Charta
OF Universal Liberty" written some
time last summer, and published i'm the
columns Of the New NORTHWEST, de-
fine my position on the platform Of
Human Rights and Woman Suffrage.
Under the operative principle of our
social and political organizations,
founded on the pillars Of Liberty and
Human Rights, there is 4 constant tran
stion in every condition of life which
amounts almost to a rotary motion.
These peculiar changes are beneficial,
and are calculated to bring the greatest
amount Of good to the greatest number
You say that am a Man Suifragist.
Is not the argument paradoxical ? Man
has the right to suffrage already, and
anyone advocating such an absurd idea
at the present day ought to be compelled
to sit and listen to a sermon of six
hours duration.
I am conservative in politics and
have but little faith in any party. To
rob, to lie and to betray their friends is
the role of the present American poll
tician; and no wonder that / stood
aghast, when one Of the chief advo-
Gates of Human Rights entered the arena
and, for time, left the 'green pastures
and still waters" Of our political field
and allowed herself TO enter the bleak
and sterile regions Of mans politics.
You say that / am n Theoretical
Woman Sufiragistn II have too much
respect FOR aiy laiy to dispute her word,
but beg teave to inform you that YOU
are badly mistaken. l have advocated
: the doctrine of Woman Suffrage for six
years, and more than that, | have Ia
bored for it to the best of my ability.
If you please, we will discuss the little
difference that may exist between us
until we arrive at the same goal. l see
nothing, even now, to hinder friendly
shake of the hand across the mythical
/. chasm.
Hoping to hear from you again on the
doctrine Of Human Rights, am
Yours truly,
= JOIN \. WoMACK.
: The trouble with our friend was briefly
o explained in our comments last week.
d He is like the good mother who thought
e "every boy ought to swim, but Tommy
must keep away from the water.n
: We contend that we gave no paradox
e ical argument when we said that our
s friend was a Man SufTragist in practice.
= He knows himself what all men are
n who exercise the right to vote. No ar
t gument on that point is needed, and we
have Offered none.
Now, friend, why is it ''the role OF the
American politician" to do the naughty
deeds you name? Is it not because the
/ Government fails TO recognize the laws
a of Nature and common sense when try
Il ing to perpetuate 4 une-sexed system of
/ politics? ?
Il You need 'stand aghast" at our polit-
, zeal deeds no longer, sir, for we have
. never been in the "green pastures and
: still waters" Of any political field. We
T. have never found any such n pasture
ii yet, and know we never shall until the
re trees have been felled, marshes re-
re claimed, sod broken, seed sown and
l. filthy pools so purified that "the bleak
II and sterile region of mans politics.
e shall be fructiiied and made TO blossom
E. as the rose.
g Good friend, our correspondent
"Yours Trulyr-would call you "anpu.
lar-pated." We prefer to call you the.
D oretical Woman SufIragist, or one who
/ believes in the great principal of Human
]. Rights in the abstract only. You'll pro-
ol gress beyond that plane after awhile
s, but just now you see through a glass
1t darkly.
J. OF what avail is it to labor for Woman
lie Suffrage six years, or twenty, if we ac-
p complish nothing? Do not say that We
4 under-rate your labors. They are splendid
n rs far as they go; but the difference
between your work aud ours is you viii