The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-11-06
THE CONTEST IN MICHIGAN.

L
For some months past, those Of the ad-
voeates of womah's enfranchisement,
who have found it possible to do so, have
been working with patient zeal in
Michigan. Those who have found it
impossible to lend their personal efforts
to the great cause in that section Of the
nation, have striven to be heard through
the press, while the thousands Of its
friends scattered all over the land have
looked on with anxious hearts, some
times in hope, ofttimes in fear for the re-
suit. 1t was generally understood that
Michigan wCs to be the great battle
ground for Woman Suffrage for the pres
ent year, and the eyes Of those who
oppose as well as of those who advocate
these principles, have been turned with
interest toward her. Ere these lines
shall reach our readers, the great ques-
ton as to whether the privileges of citi-
zenship shall depend upon the sex of the
citizen in that State, will have been de-
cided. The sons of Michigan will have
proven whether or not they appreciate
the intelligence Of her loyal daughters.
The campaign, which seemed to lag
during the heats of summer, was opened
with renewed vigor as fall approached,
and the banners of justice and equal
rights never had nobler standard bear
ers than this campaign has furnished
them.
The convention of the American AS
soeiation, which met in Detroit on the
18th ult., drew thither many valuable
workers. Michigan has heretofore been
foremost in good works and upon this
fact the hopes for the triumph of the
great amendment have been based. The
difference in the arguments advanced by
the opposing forces in the contest is the
difference between logic and nonsense,
between decency and obscenity.
Witness the following as sample OF
the arguments advanced upon either
side. Curtis says: Whenever a free
and intelligent people ask any question
involving human rights or liberty or de-
velopment, they will continue to ask
louder and louder until they are an
sWered." The New York Nation an
swered, and the Detroit Post echoed the
answer thus: "If you insist upon it and
upon treating our reticence as a sign of
acquiescenee in the serious changes you
propose in our laws and manners, we
certainly shall not be restrained by con-
siderations of decency, and give you fair
notice that We will invade your privacy
in way that you do not like"
To this latter class of opposers, belong
the persons who say with complacency
that 'custom has fixed the status of
woman" We admit that It has, and in
the old days of barbarism, when there
was, than custom, no higher law, it
might have been excusable (; but to be
a devotee of custom in these days is
simply to be branded as an ignoramus.
Nothing is left, however, for suffragists
at present, but to look with what
patience they can muster upon these
''shRm battles" hoping at least that
they will eventually accomplish good f;
and Notwithstanding the lodges resorted
to, and the vulgarisms threatened, il is
certain that the question OF Woman
Suffrage has been pretty thoroughly de-
bated in Michigan during the past few
weeks of the fall campaign. And while
we announce our hope that victory may
perch upon the banners of justice, which
are being borne aloft by her friends and
advocates in that State, We feel sure
that the hope is reciprocated by thous-
ands Of as true and loyal hearts as live
beneath the sun. If, on the contrary,
defeat shall be their portion, these hopes
though cast down will not be destroyed,
and each advocate of the right will feel
the necessity of working with added
courage and persistence for the day that
not all the Vaccinations of our enemies
will be able much longer TO postpone.
Since the above was in type, news OF
the defeat Of the new Constitution and
the Woman Suffrage amendment has
been received. Yet a little longer must
the advocates of justice labor and wait