The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-24
OPINIONS THAT SHOULD HAVE
WEIGHT.

For the benefit Of such Of our contem-
poraries as still assert that only femi-
nine monstrosities and masculine nom
entities are advocates of Woman Suf-
frage, we submit the following extracts
from the opinions of eminent persons.
We are conscious, however, that it is
labor lost, for the opinionated mascu-
lines and vapid feminines who take a
sort of silly pride in their obsinacy and
general Obtuseness, make no note of
the incontrovertible argument arrayed
against them; instead, they give the
wheel of prejudice a slight turn, and
taking the first thing thrown up, pro-
ceed TO descant upon it in the usual
thread-bare strain, just as though their
tiresome platitudes had not been an
swered times innumerable. We some
times doubt the expediency of wasting
good ammunition on such exceedingly
small game. But here are the extracts:
Judge selden OF New York declares: First
That upon the principles upon which our Gov
eminent is based, the privileges OF the elective
franchise cannot be denied TO women. Sec
ond-That women need it for their own protec-
lion. Third-That the welfare Of both sexes
will be forwarded by granting Il TO them.
"But women cannot serve As soldiers" To
this the same learned gentleman replies: a
capacity for military service has never been
made the test OF the right to vote. II it were
young men from l6 to y would be entitled 20
vote and old men from 90 and upward would
mot II that were the test, some women would
present much stronger claims than many oi
the male sex" Another answer is, that the
duties and work and sacrifices Of women in wal
time are as important 10 the security OF the
state a. that Of the Soldier in the field. And
again, As war is the greatest curse known "a
civilization, we need the aid OF women 10 aid
the state in paths Of peace and to prove what
Richelieu said 10 his page: "Take away the
sword: states can be saved without it,"
When Charles Sumner WAS asked 10 give his
opinion on woman's right 10 the ballot, he re-
piled: ''Wriie woman in my speeches where
slave occurs, and the arguments are hers"
Let us select one passage from his speeches: Il
DO not hesitate 10 say that when the slaves OF
oEr country become citizens they will take
their place in the body polite as a component
part OF the people, entitled to equal rights, and
under the protection Of those two guardian
stands on the consent oft governed; second
That taxation without representation is tyr
amy; and these rights 1t Is the duty Of Con-
gress to guarantee as essential to the idea OF a
republic" Woman being a citizen, all this is
as true for her as il was for the slave.
Il is said political power is unwOmanly.
George William Curtis truly replies 1--WE can
not know what is womanly until we see the
iolly Of Insisting that the theories OF men settle
the question. We shall know what is womanly
only when women have the same equality OF
development and the same liberty OF choice as
men" The divine order Of nature viii keep
women women, the same as men men, II is
no more unwomanly 10 have AN education. or
political opinion, or a vote, than IL is unman-
ly; and one Sexwoud be called from its duties
no more than the other. The ordinary pur-
suits Of men are as foreign from political func-
tlons as those OF women. Politics is made the
business Of but a very small fraction Of male
voters: Il would be the business OF but a CORE
spending small fraction OF women.
Il Is said .'women don't want TO vote" But
thousands do want to vote, and are as fully quail
flied as the average OF men. o Il is an
error 10 suppose that few women would vote II
they could. We have facts to the contrary in
England, and from the better classes, sO-called.
II is said none but the lowest order OF women
woald vote We know better; the high eharae-
Ter OF the women earnestly demanding the
ballot refuteS the assertion. The London "Ex-
SIMMER" says: "In G. municipal elections, out
OF every 100 women who enjoy equal rights
with men on the register, SIC went to the polls
which j. bat - less than the proporiionatc
number Of men. And out OF 2 .94swomen reg
istered where a contest occurred, l4,4i6 voted.
Or men, there were lGi.sSl on the register, and
sCOsJ at the poll" The EXAMINER thereupon
draws This conclusion: Making allowance for
the reluctance Of old spinsters TO change their
habits and the more frequent illness OF the
soy. IL is manifest that woman would exercise
the franchise as freely as man. There is an
end. therefore, of the argument that women
would not vote II they had the power"
The foregoing extracts and PROPOSE
tions, with numerous Others, were pre-
scented at debate in Grand Rapids
Michigan, by Rev. DR.. Fisk, and arr
commended as worthy Of the considera
ton Of reasonable opponents.