The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-05-08
The Philosophy of Suffrage.


Talking over the philosophy Of re-
forms with some friends, a few days
since, one remarked: "The strongest ar
gument to me against Woman Suffrage
is the fact that It rouses no enthusiasm
among the people. There must be some
great lack in the merits of the question,
or i'm the women who make the demand.
See with what enthusiasm all woman's
work during the war was hailed In
the sanitary movement, in hospitals, or
on the battlefield, all men were ready
to second every effort. With what pro-
found admiration the Florance Night
engales, Clara Bartons, Grace Darlings
and Ida Lewis are heralded the world
over. When women get up fairs for
churches or schools, for sailors and SOL
diers, or for the relief of the poor, every
body is realy to lend helping hand.
Just so with the women interested in
the Centennial, and in the Temperance
Crusade. See how chivalrously the
men stand by and back every effort, and
all these women accomplish what they
undertake, while your handful of Suf-
fragists have stood in the same spot
quarter Of a century, making the same
demand; as far as / can see, to no pur-
pose whatever. With your Conven-
tions, tracts and newspapers, your pluck
and perseverance, If there were any
wisdom in the suffrage question, you
would certainly have gone into the polit-
ical kingdom with flourish of trump
cts and gilded chariots, long ago."
Thereupon, with a lordly, eomplacent
air, my friend took a long breath, and
paced up and down the parlor, while the
listeners looked at me, as if to say
"Welll with such an avalanche of facts
and statements up on the Suffrage Re
form and its representatives, where is
1 your defense ?"
Having Travelled a thousand times
over every inch of this ground, through
every hy-way, round about, and short
cut to the great turnpike, l smiled, and
with an equal complacency said: ''rhere
Is no mystery about all this; the philos-
/ ophy of the facts you state, can be easily
! explained"
Woman as a ''helpmeetn in any di-
rection, as second fiddle for anybody,
ever has been and ever will be most
heartily welcomed.
As patient drudge, in scraping lint,
binding up wounds, and ministering to
mans physical necessities, woman is
useful. In the attitude of petitioner,
looking to man with prayers and tears,
she is charming. In echoing his opin-
ions, secOnding his plans, stimulating
his ambition, dying for his success, she
is angelic. Bat as an Independent crea-
ture, with power, with her own aims,
ambitions, and life purposes, with her
own opinions; and these, opposed to the
creeds, codes aud customs of her times
standing upright, in the dignity of a
true wOmanhoOd, and asserting her
equal right with man to explore the
moral and material universe, she must
be an offense to the masculine power
that has thus far held undisputed sway
and ruled the rest of the world.
In the old days Of slavery, the help OF
black men aud women, in . surbordi-
nate capacity, was always acceptable, in
every relation. No one objected to then
doing the rough work of the world
They might even be heroes or heroines
in defense of their masters lives, prop
erty, or interests. AS faithful body ser
wants, as walters, as dressing maids, a:
nurses, in the nearest and dearest rela
ton, no one ever objected to their color
As slaves they might travel North il
the same cars, coaches and steamboat
with whites, might lodge at the same
hotels, might play with the children il
the parloTS and halls, on the piaZZas o
: made an objection.
But the moment a colored man, o
woman, no matter how well behaved o
well educated, went anywhere in thei
own right, ga strong oder' was at one
: perceptible. They were kicked out o
bOtels, cars, coaches, and places Of woT
! ship, education or amusement.
The same principle covers both cases
It is the assertion of equality tina
rouses the latent tyranny in those &C
, customed to rule, and that provokes an
tagonism. The trouble is not in tn
suffrage question, or its representatives
for i'm point of education, virtue, refine
ment, morals, manners, and appearance
they are as class superior to an,
women in the nation, and the deman'
they make is just one, maintained b,
l every argument that secured our Ma
tioual Independence.
John Stuart Mill says-"the generalit!
of the male sex cannot yet tolerate tn
2 idea of living with an equal.n Henc
D any movement among women tina
, tends in that direction cOnnot in the ma
ture Of things command the hearty sup
; port of most men.
] Many an abolitionist, who worke'
; and prayed earnestly for equality" ol
2 a Southern plantation, struck it dowl
at his own hearthstone.
When did any class of rulers wit
5 loud huZzas ring out their own dynast.
[ of wrong and oppression, and willingi
, extend the boon of freedom to thos
from whom they could withhold it i
: safety?
J. Women understand this so we'll that
the moment they project any new thing
the first concession they make to tn
men whose assistance they ask, is th
s declaration that they do not believe i
"Woman's Rights.n
4 lady came on from Philadelphia
J, not long since, to interest the ladies {
= New York in the Centennial. Sh
: took special pains, at the earliest me
Il ment, to assure those she met that sh
n had no sympathy with the suffrag
a movement.
L suppose the mass of these Temper
:, ance Crusaders, and leaders of the pOpT
a lar charities, would say the same thins
o All kind of slaves seem to have blin
instinct, compounded of ignorance an
hypocrisy, that teaches them just ho'
: to please their masters.
!, Those who demand the civil, polite;
) and social equality of women are, tO-da,
battling against the last, and most il
Is sidious type of slavery that has eve
cursed lne race atu 10 one need eXpel
u to enter this higher civilizatio
i through the education, growth, and d,
;, velopment of woman herself
The Southern slave, in running
y Canada, might as well have looked for
r "GOd speedn from his master, as ma
l. woman in achieving her freedom loo
- for aid from most men about her. BI
those who break their own chains an
$ start out, determined TO achieve the
lie liberty, conquer friends at every step
/ victory. Men, as well as gods, "hel
=, those who help themselves"