The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-17
LETTER FROM SALEM.
. THE EDITOR OF THE NEw Nor1uwEsr:

ject may not be out of place. Out of
the agitation arising from its discussion
let us hope some good will come. 1t is
likely to be pretty thoroughly discussed,
and there is nothing more apparent
than that the sentiments of the people
are undergoing great change CONCERN
ing it. The reason of this is doubtless
owing, at least in part, to the liberal
education the masses have received, and
are receiving, enabling them to think
for themselves, and to act according to
their own judgment.
Whether right or wrong, it must be
apparent to the most of us, that this
restless and reckless generation should
be under lawful restraint, and be gov
erned by wholesome code of just and
equitable laws; though just what they
want, the people do not seem clearly to
understand. The class of misguided
ones who fly to the revolving extreme
of wishing to abrogate all marriage laws
are, to my mind, guilty of a monstrous
outrage upon the better Judgment of all
honorable men and women. 1t is not
possible to secure justice and protection
to the children of humanity under any
! other regulation than that of legal and
honorable marriage. Were it possible
that human beings could so far forget
their duty to themselves as to rush
headlong into the rash conditions of
promiscuity, the worst consequences
would fall upon the helpless progeny,
who would receive life as the result of
social anarchy.
There is no time in the life of a woman
when she so needs the entire devotion
and care Of tender and loving compan-
ion as when rearing n young family;
and at no time has her progeny so great
a need Of the fathers protection as dur
ing the time prior to their birth. There
fore, It is absolutely necessary for the
weil-being of the future generations that
a monogamic marriage law be held sa-
cred by both father and mother. Yet,
If the natures OF those Joined in we'd
lock are such that they cannot, or will
not, live agreeably together, the good of
future generations demands that easy
and honorable divorce may be obtained
by dissatisfied partners in the marriage
contract, that children may not be con-
ceived ia unhappiness and hate, and
brought mp amid discOrd and bicker-
ings.
1t Is the misfortune of many worthy
I people that they have made bad bar
gains in their youth, and, in conse-
quence, find themselves yOked together
with incompatible temperaments,w which
/ they cannot or will not mould to suit
each others dispositions. The children
Of such unions are peculiarly unfortu-
nate; and the day will come when no
marriage Of uneongenial souls will be
considered honorable.
As all humanity is suffering from past
and present errors, it behooves us to
search out the best and most speedy
remedy for those ills OF life which most
frequently besct Us.
Greece and Rome recognized woman
on much higher plane than did the
Jewish and Turkish nations. Yet we
of Christendom pattern after the latter
i'm our practice of subjecting the mothers
Of the race to the domination of the
sons.
The Mormons get polygamy from the
Bible, and whether right or wrong, the
Mosaic laws and those of the United
states are alike in tOlerating polygamy.
Yet we contend that polygams is not
right, for no man can pay proper atten-
tion to the wife and children of more
than one household.
Let husbands and wives but obey the
virtuous precepts dictated by decency
and common sense; let our laws be so
framed and executed rs TO secure equal
and exact justice to men and women;
let motherhood, which is more deeply
concerned in the administration of
wholesome social laws and usages than
fatherhOod possibly can become, have a
potent voice in framing marriage laws,
and We shall soon see order growing out
Of the present confusion. Then, and
not till then, will the nation be able to
cast of the imperfections of one-sexed
law rs applied to both sexes; and then,
and not till then, may humanity look
for the highest types of men and women
to be developed i'm the future genera
tions.
This work must rest with the mothers
of the people, just as it should have done
from the beginning, or we shall never
see a way out of the present evils that
are troubling our social world.
If fathers would do the duty that they
have now the power to perform, every
place of licentiousness would soon be
destroyed; but alas! as it now is, many
fathers lead their sons to saloons and
brothels; while mothers, bereft of legal
power and pecuniary rights, can. only
pray, like begging criminals, for the
abrogation of evils which they are de-
MED opportunity to legally oppose.
My great desire is to see the fathers
and mothers of this nation understand
their whole duty in the great cause Of
humanity. As the first step to secure
this great aim, 1 long to see the ballot.
meet representative of individual sover-
eighty, placed in woman's hands, that
she, the author of the race, may have
full power to infuse her wisdom, love
and gentleness into the whole science of
government, whether in the church, the
school, the social realm, the govern