The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-12-11
LETTER FROM MRS. LOUGHARY

READ BEFORE THE YANHILL COUNTY ". 5. A.
To the officers and members of YamhHL
County " S. Association II, session as
seD15led-
Up to this date I had hoped to have
been present with you, giving what aid
could for the advancement of our COM
mon cause, and exceedingly regret my
inability to do so.
1t would be far more pleasant to be
with you, battling for truth and justice,
than to be watching and waiting in the
sick chamber; but cares and disappoint-
ments are incident to human life, and
the most favored of earth cannot hope to
escape them.
Although circumstances prevent my
presence at the deliberatiOnso the pres
ent meeting, yet be assured of my earn
est and hearty sympathy in any meas
use that may tend to advance the cause
of Equal Rights. This cause was never
/ in a more flattering condition than now.
Notwithstanding the action of few
men in the Oregon Legislature, whose
eyes were blinded with the films of
prejudice, or the action of the men of
Michigan, TO whom the question was
referred at the ballot-box, our cause goes
/ grandly and gloriously on.
The ardent and faithful labor per-
formed by the many heroic men and
women engaged in working for Wom-
ems Enfranchisement, will not, cannot,
be in vain. The banners of truth and
justice, so long trailed in the dust, will
soon be borne aloft to be dishonored no
more.
Vital principles may suffer temporary
defeat, but the seed, being so constantly
and zealously sown, will certainly spread
and grow, and in time become deeply
rooted.
When John Brown rushed into the
arsenal at Harper's Ferry, he lighted a
torch that soon set the whole land
ablaZe. He suffered ignominiOus defeat
and shameful death; but the cause for
which he labored marched gloriously
on, until the last fetter fell from the
<AlIltdl SltNt III America.
If We are disposed to be disheartened,
let us glance backward in the history of
our cause to the time when Lucy Stone,
Lueretia Mott, and few other brave
and devoted champions of right, worked
alone in the great conflict. Now hosts
of true women and noble men are strik-
ing vigorous blows for justice, and
everywhere men Of influence and intel
lect give us their aid.
No reform since the world begau has
escaped discouragement and misrepre-
sentation; but through the darkness of
the night of oppression, come faint and
far-oT glimmers of the light that IS to
be, and these rays of light constantly
brighten and increase.
\ certain man had suffered shipwreck,
and, elinging to a floating spar, was
drifting away from land and friendly
human aid. Weary and exhausted, he
was just about to relinquish his hold
upon the frail piece of wood that stood
between him and death, when he looked
skyward, and between a rift in the
clouds he beheld the stars shining down
upon him. With renewed courage he
held on until morning came, and with
ii vessel that rescued him.
So, fellOw-laborers, waiting for the
light to come that shall cause the night
of human prejudice to vanish, let Us
steadfastly keep our eyes fixed upon the
stars of hope that are cleaning down
upon US, and grasp the spars Of truth
and justice with renewed vigOr. Let us
have more concentrated action; let
every ray be brought to bear upon a
single point, trusting that in the near
future the darkness will disappear, and
the whole earth be filled with light.
Let us work steadily, my friends, keep
ing ever this object in view, remember
ing the promise AIN due time ye shall
reap, if We faint not" That true men
and women may continue to work faith
fully until the goal is reached, is the
sincere wish of yours,
Most respectfully,
II. \. LOUGHARY.
Amity, Nov. ., 1874.