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

iOllh ahA bhC oOuSh anu tue east anu
he west, and they will go into history,
humble as they are. And here, stand
ing before you in the light of the pres
ant century, dare, with fear and trem-
bling, to make a prediction that 1 be-
lieve will live 3 hundred years. see
beautiful and stately Senate Chambers,
where men and women, clothed in regal |
dignity that is not born
Of gilded trappings and great posses
sions, but that individual dignity which
is the proud heritage of every intelligent
con and daughter Of God; see men and
women taking counsel together in re-
gard to the Government, just as they do
now in regard to our homes. And see,
also, this Government divested of all
that is now crude and unfinished, built
up and he6ged around and about with
all that beauties the human intellect
and adorns the human mind with noble,
generous impulses. see in the nearby
future our Halls Of Legislation, where
men and women mingle together, con-
sulting as only men and women can,
concerning that in which each is SIS
much interested as the other in relation
TO the great network of human govern
ment, which shall be of the people and
by the people. And dotted all over our
broad expanse of country I see beautiful
cottages rising up, set round about with
vines and gardens, adorned with all that
is pleasant to the eye, with all that is
elevating TO the mind and the body. l
see matrons-queenly, womanly women
content to apply themselves diligently
to the avocations Of their homes, build
ing up around them such pure and
homelike associations as shall make
their husbands praise them in the gates,
their children rise up and call them
blessed. 1 see no longer the hollow eye,
the bowed shoulders, the dispairing
look, the furrowed cheek of mothers
whose every impulse Of soul and body
is left free to go forth in untrammeled
liberty toward the dear offspring of their
life aud suffering, who need every mo-
ment Of a mothers care, every deep,
devotional impulse OF a mothers love to
train them up in the nurture aud admo-
milton of the Highest, and to endow
them with that grand and perfect phys
ical constitution which naturally and
rightfully belongs to every child Of this
Republic. I see all over this country
beautiful buildings with their spires
reaching heavenward devoted to the
service OF a free religion. see grand,
stately, massive edifices wherein the
poorest child of the poorest man or
woman can enter, supported and sus-
tanned by the Stately the Nation, If
you please-in the purest knowledge
preparing to add daily to the glories OF
the Republic in its high destiny. / see
men and women walking side by side
along life's rugged pathway, struggling
earnestly, unseifishly aud zealously fol
the promotion of all that makes up the
well-being and happiness of humanity
1 see in the good time coming and in
the glimmer Of the distance that spans
I a hundred years the disappearance
gradually, of every penitentiary, every
almshouse, every gibbet, every asylum
for the insane. I see DO more idiotic
no more blind, no more deaf and NJ
more dumb; for the people, elevated be
yond their present ignorance and preju.
dice, shall no more make the mistake.
that throw around humanity those ad
I verse influences that cause them so offer
to groan under misfortunes that bring
forth bitter fruits.
o, friends, you who have been disposed
to look upon my mission merely as al
idle clamor for "woman's rights" littl,
have ye known the dreamiugs, little
have ye imagined the aspirations of my
soul. How little do you know of the
tumultuous human aspirations that bea
tonight in the breasts of tens of thOus
ands of women, who look with steadfas
interest upon all that pertains to tn,
Destiny Of our beloved Republic. AnC
as they gaze into the morning paper
day by day in the crowded cities, or il
the more lovely villages and by-ways o
our country await the tardy arrival o
the weekly mail-how little do you
know what deep emotions stir theil
spirits as they read the proceedings ever
of this Legislature in fsr-away Oregon
in this year of our Lord, One ThousanC
Eight Hundred and Seventy-Four?
Ah, friends, you who are disposed t
} treat this matter lightly, let me say I,
J you that this Legislature has a granC
opportunity to open a chapter of history
that may make this northwestern Stat,
of ours famous historic ground in tn,
next hundred years. Very soon there il
} to come before you an opportunity t.
decide whether or not Oregon shall b,
the first planet in the grand galaxy o
. States 70 clothe its women in eoua
power with its men before our laws
that shall enable woman 10 take he
rightful seat in the northwestern Stat,
. Of this Republic by the side of he
brother'man, taking counsel with hin
in all that pertains to the best Interest,"
of men and women.
All, brothers, ye of the Legislative,
Halls of Oregon who are here tonight
and L am thankful that see so many O
} you-let me entreat you, by all the pas
history of our Republic, by all upor
which hangs its future destiny, to lie