The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-08-21
OLD VS.. NEW.

blind reverence that characterized our
forefathers, albeit there are many yet to
do them unreasoning homage. While
with the more intelligent and better in
formed class there is desire to investi-
gate all things, and hold fast TO that
which is good, there are still many who
regard all changes in the light Of dan
gerous innovations upon customs which
have only age to recommend them.
DIR. Young declares that "truth no
years IMPAIR" though this class Of per-
sons act as if their most vigilant efforts
were demanded to keep truth and pro-
priety from being utterly overwhelmed
by error.
The following lines Of Cowper aptly
describe such persons:
"Sueh dupes are men to custom, and 50 prone
To reverence what is ancient, and can plead
\ course OF long observance for its use,
That even seTyitude, that worst Of Ills,
Because delivered down from sire 10 son,
Is kept and guarded as a sacred thing"
No one will pretend to say that many
Of the popular institutions Of society, as
at present organized, are defective, il
not tyrannical; and yet, when q change
is proposed in the long established order
of things, pathetic reference is at once
made to the days of our venerated an
cestors, and the assertion made that
what was good enough for them is suf1i-
cient for US, and will be for our chill
dren. The wisdom of those who would
retard the progress of the race by plac-
ing obstacles in the pathway of the adj
vancement Of women, is certainly of n
questionable character. And the wis
dom and philanthropy of those who
persistently refuse to remove, or aid in
removing, the obstacles that already
hinder her advancement, are not the less
so.
There is really no reason why the
sexes should not be allowed 10 go for
ward side by side in the attainment of
excellence. The policy which tends to
keep women behind In the march Of in
tellect, and the great reforms that are
constantly at work, is indeed n very
short-sighted policy. 1t is utterly inn
possible in the very nature Of things for
the gain of one sex to be the loss Of the
other.
II is both unjust and unwise to set
bounds TO the attainments of women,
and the time will speedily be upon US
when it will be impossible. No one
will deny that mans sphere comprises
the whole range of his duties and posi-
bilities. And why wOman's sphere
should be bounded other than this, we
utterly fail to perceive. The prejudices
of those who think that woman's sphere
comprises only her domestic duties, are
too obstinate to easily he eradicated.
They are those who diligently quote ST.
Paul To the exclusion of the rest of the
apostles, If not the entire gospel, and do
violently write and speak against those
who are not content to slacken their
footsteps 10 the slow pace Of their grand
mothers, who wax indignant because
women are not content to stand still
while progression goes on all around
them. The advocates of equal rights for
women do not, as some falsely suppose
or assert, expect or desire to place wom-
en- In antagonism to men, but just the
contrary, allowing each to be in the
truest sense the others helper. II
woman is moving In sphere which
God and nature intended >her to fill, TO
the exclusion of all outside of il, then
surely our opponents need have no fear
that we shall be able in any manner to
nullify natural laws or subvert Divine
DEGREES. How valiantly indeed do these
self-constituted defenders of Deity and
His laws have TO fight, to prevent the
women from overcoming all This is
manifestly too ludicrous TO be treated
with argument. Men may continue to
dub as fanatics women who are dissatis-
fled with the customs that have existed
long before them, and as an obtuse edi-
tor lately declared "will exist long after
them;" yet the frequent repetition Of
the great principles of universal free
dom, as they arise and develop them
selves in different minds, cannot fail to
draw attention to the subject, the con-
slant discussion OF which will, sooner or
later, cause the hosts OF truth and JUS
tice to triumph over the legions of er-
ror, so long regarded as sacred legacy
bequeathed by our forefathers. Then
will persons cease the attempt TO ex-
plain, what Talleyrand declared to be
impossible, "the political phenomenon,
by which one-half the human race are
excluded by the other half from all par
ticipation i'm the government"
Then shall we SAY that
".All constraint,
Except what wisdom lays on evil men,
l. evil; hurts the faculties,-
"And begefs
In those that suffer it a sordid mind"
From the mannerin which the editor
of the Portland Bulletin culls every bit
OF scandal from his exchanges, and