The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-02-20
ANNUAL ADDRESS.
BY ABBEY Z. ernsos, PRESIDENT Q. :. VISA.

Members of the Oregon State Woman
Suffrage Association in Contention as
senaJled-Ladies and GentLemen:-In
looking back over the history of the
current year, I find that much has been
done to advance the cause of Human
Rights since we last met together as
State Association.
The Legislatures of many of the States
have been petitioned for the right of suf-
frage for woman, and though we have
in no State or Territory succeeded
wholly in coaxing men to act consist
emily with the Constitution ofthe United
States by granting the women that rep
resentation without which no American
citizen should submit to taxation, yet
we have, in every case, made import
ant advancement over the legislation OF
former years; and this fact, coupled with
the rectitude of our purpose, gives US
new impetus to carry forward our work
until every individious distinction of
caste that tends to uphold the political
inequality of woman shall be thor
oughtiy uprooted.
AS your President, aided in every way
by the editor of the NEW NORTHWEST, |
am proud to say that | have accom-
plished much more than anticipated In
forwarding the movement in this city
among the lea5ing residents.
Every work that 1 have undertaken
has been met by the respectful consider
alton so highly priced by any lady
whose heart is in her mission.
Many women are becoming thor
oughly awakened to the Importance Oi
the movement, and hundreds, in this
city, are its secret aiders and abettors,
who are yet afraid to attend Woman
Suffrage Convention.
find the better class of men generally
more disposed to favor the movement
than the women are, but this does not
discourage me, for in the contest for the
abolition of fslavery, to which the woman
movement is in many ways parallel,
those in bondage were generally dis.
posed, at least, in public, to declare
that they would not be free if they
could.
But the irrepressible logic of event:
overcame them aud made them free
and we know it will be the same with
the women who are to-day in politiea
bondage.
And we know, further, that they, lik,
the slaves Of a past decade, will readily
embrace freedom when they find them
selves possessed of it, though they will
probably fail to tina nix the friends VIII
bore the burden of public ignorance t,
secure it for them, while yet the eaust
was in its infancy.
l would recommend that some unfin
ished work Of last year be attended to q
this session.
In finances, we, as an Association
have heretofore allowed the burden I,
rest wholly upon the shoulders of Mrs
Duniway, and I suggest that the mem
bers of the Association be called upo
to sign the Constitution, now in tn
hands of the Secretary, and requested t
pay into the Treasury the sum of on
dollar each, or such other sums as the
can afford, toward defraying the ex
penses Of the Society.
would also suggest that we petition
Congress to enfranchise the women o
the District of Columbia, over whicl
that Body has sole Jurisdiction.
The work before Us must be short
sharp and decisive.
perturbation ofexisting politiea
parties We see the coming necessity fol
some party to espouse our cause, anC
knowing this, let us buckle on the ar
NOR of truth and with Freedom as oul
battle cry march onward straight t
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