The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-11-20
PREPARATION FOR THE BALLOT.

4 AA6A ann Avn \ OAh [A8 ~ AA1O -
A correspondent in one Of our ex-
changes expresses the opinion that there
can be no reform in government until
women are given the ballot; whereupon
another replies with the familiar objec-
ton that Woman Suffrage will be una
BILE to bring about reform unless wom-
en- are prepared for the ballot, from the
fact that there are as many ignorant
and unintelligent women in the country
as there are men Of like class.
Granting this assumption true-yet
would the extension of the right Of suf-
frage TO the masses be in itself reform,
since that which serves the ends Of
Justice must necessarily be so classed.
1t is impossible for one class to justly
rule and legislate for another. Each
should be allowed an expression OF what
he or she deems right and proper in the
formation of the laws which all alike
are required to obey. Whatever tends
to increase justice, in an exact ratio inn
proves the morals and elevates the con-
dItion of a people. Just, equitable and
wholesome laws cultivate the sense of
right, improve the happiness and in
crease the prosperity Of nation, and it
is, as we before said, impossible for one
class or sex to make laws entirely suited
to the wants and demands of the other.
It is just as natural as human nature,
for each caste, clan, or division to seek
J that legislation that works directly to
their own interest, pleasure or gain;
hence is the demand imperative for all
classes TO be represented.
The extension of suffrage to women
would pc a measure of reform in itself
because possessed of all of the elements
that might be used to accomplish the
reformation Of unjust laws and practices.
The question as to whether these ele-
ments would be thus used, is an after
consideration, but one which we think
the men Of this nation should be willing
to leave with the women to solve.
We hear in these days vast deal about
preparation of women for the ballot"
The opposers of this question are so
sorely pressed for argument wherewith
to sustain their position-the vantage
ground being all taken and easily held
by its advocates-that any dodge that
will give them time to rally, is, because
of the exigency Of the circumstances,
excusable. "Many the roads they take,
the plans they tryn to circumvent the
arguments that they cannot answer;
aud this hobby Of preparation" is one
of the by-paths into which many turn
to avoid a direct issue. How much
preparation is required of men before
they are considered qualified to express
an opinion through the ballOt-box
And not only to express their own opin-
ions, but to speak for the mothers,
wives, daughters, and sisters at home.
These last may be as ignorant as the
men who belong to the household, bui
they are frequently possessed of God
given instincts which men do not pos
sess, and these would certainly caus'
J them to speak upon the right side. /
: needs no preparation to teach a woman
: that when she performs a service she j
4 as fully entitled to receive just rewar'
! therefor, as any laborer whom Hol.
: Writ has declared 'worthy of his hire.
: It needs none TO teach her that thes
e wages belong Of q right TO herself, TO b
: disposed of according to her own bes
e Judgment OF her needs or the needs c
] others. 1t needs none to teach woma
II when she has worked side by side wit
: a man, sharing all things with him fo
years, that she is entitled to an equita
o BILE share in their joint earnings.
n needs none to teach n woman that th
D law which deprives her OF the society
!, direction and education Of her own chi
dren is an unjust one AMI should b
blotted out.
}. There are reforms that only the edit
II Gated classes can appreciate but thes
: are so simple, so palpable to commo
!. sense and justice, that neither educatio
. nor preparation IS needed to enab
o women to express an Intelligent opinlo
n upon them. And when we add to the;
O the Temperance legislation so long hope
4 for, yet waiting for the voice of woma
to accomplish, the school laws in whic
O they with men are so deeply intereste'
!, and the property laws that parcel an e
n tate out among lawyers and executor
q when a man dies, and leaves the san
untouched when it is the wife who
8 deceased-we shall surely have an ARA
a formidable and forcible enough to ent
IS tie every woman to the franchise
D, once; for upon ali these can she vo
,r Justly without other preparation tha
It her native sense of justice gives he
+ The time will come when these cobwel
IS called objections snail be swept ava
10 and all men shall recognize the fact tn
;. '1egalized injustice is nations shame
er Mrs. Duniway's promised serial, "Tl
ie Happy Home, or the Husbands II
lL - s.,