The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-01-09
Represented Rights.

Represented Rights.
AZ ESSAY By MRS. NJ A. WORK. READ nEFoRK
4HE POLK COUNTY WOMAN SUFFRAGE CON
vESrIoN.
An eminent writer affirms that mo
class, however Intelligent aud well in
tentiOned, can ever be trusted with the
fall disposal of the interests of another
class.n Men almost universally recog-
niZe the truth of this axiom SO far as
their own rights and interests are con-
cerned, but they manifest far less una
nimity OF sentiment when the rule is ap-
piled TO woman. Nothing, however,
could better illustrate the sonndness of
the maxim than the legal disabilities
and hindrances that are thrown in the
path Of woman by the law-making class
or sex. These unjust and impolitic dis
examinations against woman are not
likely to be fully remedied until she is
accorded the ballot, and is permitted 10
participate in the business of legisla-
tion, whereby she will become the
guardian of her own rights and inter
ests.
Conservatism, social, political, Iudi-
ciai, and religious, is, doubtless, startled
and alarmed at the progress of the wom-
an suffrage movement. SO 1t was at the
Inception and progress of the anti
slavery movement.
How did the press and forum TEEN
with denunciatiOns against the fanati-
cal maleontents and agitators of that
day? How did the pulpit anathema-
tlZe the impiOus attempts to overthrow
the divinely appointed institution of
slavery How many sermons, based
on the one short chapter containing
PauPs letter to Philemon in relation to
the slave Onesimus, have been hurled
at the heretical abolitiOnists?
But who, within the last decade, has
heard, even from the most conservative
pulpits, single theological disquisition
in defense of slavery? Doubtless PauPs
views in relation TO slavery were appro-
pirate to the age I'm which he lived;
they are not equally appropriate to the
changed conditions of the nineteenth
century. So in relation to his direc-
tions and recommendations concerning
women: they were proper for the state
OF society then existing; they are not,
in all cases, equally applicable TO the
present state OF society. Some minds
seem incapable Of realizing or appreci-
ating these changes. Having drifted
out Of the current of progress, or having
never been in it, these torpid souls lie
becalmed on the dead waters Of an effete
civilization.
Much pains has been taken to tighten
woman IN regard TO the exact limita-
ti0ns Of her sphere, and great solicitude
has been felt lest she should overstep
these limitations, and thereby trespass
upon the revered rights of the superior
sex. Mans efforts to attain exalted
professional or political rank are char
acteriZed as a noble ambition; his la
bors in the field of art, or science, or lit
erature, meet with generous encourage
ment, and his successes are crowned
with honOrs.
Hitherto, wOman's efforts in the same
direction have been deemed unbecom-
ing, ignOble; and she has been told that
she had better confine herself exelu-
siveiy4o her household dHties-tO keep
within the precincts of her little gar
den.
Man has often been compared to a
strong oak that could proudly defy the
lnry Oi the tempest; woman, to feeble
vine whose only safety lay in the pro-
lecting strength of the mighty tree.
Ihere may be kind of idyllic beauty
IN the conceit that man is a strong and
towering oak around whose sturdy
trunk ana iar-spreading branches the
feminine vine clings lovingly and grace
fully for support but, as there is an ex-
AN77 "a hAhN-'i = EsAL lllAllN must Oh ne-
ceSsity he seli-suppOrting, however will
ing they may be to attach themselves
to the first monarch of the forest that
may chance to offer. There must ever
be multitudes of women to whom the
acquisition of honest bread will be an
object of paramount importance, and to
whose pressing needs, poetic imagery
and fine sentiment will bring but slight
relief Let US look at the reverse side
Of this oak and Uine simile. Have you
ever seen the lOOsened bark and weak
ened limbs OF this same noble oak kept
in place by the persistent grasp Of the
twining tendril? Have you marked
how the slender vine was strained TO its
utmost tension in supporting the weari-
some weight of the leaning, tottering
giant, which, left to itself, would be pre-
eipltated ingloriously TO the ground?
Al'hongh human oaks and vines, how
aS,.y, very often has this spectacle been
VII "'riiesSeu! Again, how often it hap
- .hat the vegetable that the trust
80 N.ie accepts as an oak turns ont fO
.I Lo. d true IUercus at all; but proves.
PIn1psI 10 be only an Insignificant
tribe. VI mullen
This Kind OF hyperbole docs ~, -,
the necessities of the case En,,.ts.c'e liieee
pilment and meaningless fIatfeyy ~.
not germane TO the Question In -.
of gallantry let US have substa antio 'iace H,'.
tice and right. In the first nIac,.J US ,1so
ask that every educational faeiIitv he
extended TO us upon equal terms Will,
men; that the schools Of law, medicine
and theology be opened TO us. We ash
admission 10 every avenue of official or
professional labor whereby men attain
wealth and distinction. We wish 10
make il not only possible for woman 10