The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-03-06
ADDRESS OF THE CALIFORNIA
STATE ". s. ASSOCIATION.

STATE W. s. ASSOCIATION.
To the President, Officers and Mem
: bers Of the Oregon Woman Suffrage As
: socidtion, in Annual Meeting assem-
6led:-The undersigned, officers of the
} Board of Control of the California
Woman Suffrage Association, in ac-
} knowledging the receipt OF an invitation
( from your Executive Committee, to
commission delegates to the annual
, meeting in Portland on the 18th and
: 18th of February, proximo, gratefully
express theirappreciation of the fraternal
r act, and cordially reeiprocate the neigh
, bOrly spirit of kindness, consideration
D and fellowship by the appointment of
2 Hon. John \. Collins, Mrs. Cynthia NJ.
! Palmer, Hon. John NJ. Days, Mrs. f. G.
Leavitt aud Mary f. Snow, as delegates,
( and earnestly hope that they may be
E able to command the leisure to attend
. your annual gathering, assist you by
' their counsel, cooperate in your pro-
ceedings and receive fresh inspiration
! therefrom.
These annual gatherings are of the
greatest Importance. They not only en-
D able the Association to carefully and
intelligently examine into the condi-
1 tion and requirements Of the cause, pre-
: pare, mature and adopt q systematic
method of action, to be set in motion
: throughout the State, for the years in the
, future, but they also assist to awaken
enthusiasm, inspire hope and beget a
t feeling of strength and confidence, on
r the part of delegates who, on returning
home, will reflect their influence for
= good on their respective localities.
: While timid and desponding Woman
, Suffragists complain that there is now
3 less of popular excitement and enthusi-
D asm on the great question of Woman
Suffrage, less of hope and confidence
!. among its friends of an carly victory
e than these possessed few years since, il
:. is nevertheless true that the cause, will
}. determined will and firm step, is still
e hopefully and confidently "marchin:
on"
: Recent experience, however, ha
Z pretty conclusively demonstrated th'
q fact, that there is now no ''short cut
y by which to reach the goal of Woman
Suffrage. It lis generally understood tina
the Federal Courts are essentially uniteC
e in their indisposition to confer on woman
= any of the enfranchising advantages
o latent i'm the Constitutional amend
ments, which conferred the right of self
e government on emancipated male ne
g groes. To the undersigned, however
', this is no reasonable ground for discour
% agement. The course pursued by the
u Federal Courts has deprived the move
'e ment of no right it possessed before tn,
', adoption of these amendments for op
lr Grating on the public mind, politica
n parties, and on the Legislatures of tn,
N State and National Governments, b,
b means of organization, the employ
It ment of the platform, the forum and the
press, the great levers of agitation 70
IL progress and reform. Rather this mega
: tive action of the courts may be regarde'
a in the light of victory over which W
j. have occasion for rejoicing. Woman
If Suffrage, like other great revolutionar!
1t movements, gains strength from opposi
s. tion and triumphs by defeat. HavinI
T. learned the temper of the courts, ther
D. is now no longer any reason that Woman
a. Suffragists should be divided, either il
le feeling, sentiment or action, as to tn
er necessity of, or the means to be em
ployed, for obtaining the desired Con
l stitutional amendments. Is not this a
is important point gained ?
is The ballot for woman, therefore, bein
o. conceded, as the central thought, tn
1 pivotal principle on which the Woman
it Suffrage movement turns, and Contsti
.h tutional amendments the only legiti
" mate or possible means for securing tn
to desired boon, it follows that the metho
bit of action which these facts suggest
m plain, practical and effective.
II While laboring to remove from our OIL
~ ganie laws the degrading stigma of won
Sc ans inferiority and political Unequal
be ity, the Woman Suffrage Association
d? can and ought, in the mean time, to e
lie fectively employ the political and legi:
or lative machinery of State and Natiol
,n to remove the numerous annoying an
er humiliating disabilities, within legisl,
st tive range, to which women are hourl
l subjected.
n There are other important reasons f,
Va the present seeming apathy in til
, . movement, among which are the follow
If ing:
IL The novelty of wOman's claims I
at the ballot; Woman's Conventions, f
n considering the means to be employe
So. not only for her enfranchisement, bI
,s- also for obtaining share of the honol
ad and emoluments of the public offices;
is her appearing upon the platform bot
NO as advocate and presiding officer ov'
IL deliberative bodies; of her dischargin
n. the duties of editor, physician, elerg,
.er man, attorney, postmaster, secretar.
le, book-keeper, cashier, copyist, invento
merchant, sea captain, professor, scho
rn Superintendent, school committeeman
?u oyerseer of the poor, of charities and nj
a merous other responsible positions, 70
lIy merly monopolized by man, have ceas'