The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-01-23
POLITICAL AND PEOUNIARY
RIGHTS.

a friend requests us, this week, to ex-
plain more fully the assertion we often
make, that the political right forms the
basis Of pecuniary rights.
This proposition Is so clear to us that
we can hardly see why any one should
desire its further elucidation; but, as
there are many who do not fully under
stand It, those who do Will forgive US if
we devote considerable space to its con-
slderation.
AS our laws now are, woman Is, in /
every respect, silent partner in the bus
iness Of the marriage firm. She may
earn money, but 1t is not hers. She may
work, as thousands do, year after year,
TO pay the mortgage on her husbands
home, and at his death find herself one
third owner in the property she has
amassed by her own efforts. If her hus-
band is profiigate or drunken, it is not
possible for her to defend her home
from the pollution ofshis presence, be-
cause the property belongs to him. She,
herself, Is nothing more than his chattel,
the only difference between her and
other personal property, so far as he is
concerned, being that he cannot sell her
body to pay his bills, though he may
sell her labor as long as he lives.
Again We must pause in our argu-
menl to assure men who do not take ad-
vantage of the laws as they are, but are
Just 10 their wives in spite of them, that
we have no intention to accuse good
men OF injustice, aud if they will not
take home the facts we give, which are
Intended only for those who deserve
them, they will save themselves much
chagrin and us a great deal Of annoy
ance.
But our friend wants to know how
the political right will affect women pc
cuniarily. He will please note the fact
that when women become voters they
will be eligible TO the Legislature; that
IN the State Legislature they will be al
lowed representation, and that then
bills can be passed for protecting them
In affairs Of property. Then, too, she
will be eligible to tens OF thousands
Of paying positions, now occupied by
men whose superior strength would thus
be spared for more masculine endeavors,
and thus secure to woman pecuniary adj
vantages that should never be given to
vigorous and able-bOdied men. She
would speedily repeal the law that robs
herself and children of life's necessaries
20 pay the fine so often imposed upon
her lord through drunkenness. She
would at once abolish the whole liquor
license system, which gives a privileged
class the legal right to protective mo-
nopoly in the whisky traffic; protec-
tion to the vender which robs the family
Of the consumer and fills the Nations
Golfers from the hard-earned pence OF
voting fools. She would pass bills for
the relief Of all mothers, allowing a
moderate pension from the general
Government for the support Of each
minor child. As men and women are
the property of the Government, it is
right that mothers, whose prime Of life is
spent in rearing them to the exclusion
OF other and more remunerative toll
should be compensated for the work
and thus encouraged 10 perform thei
highest duty.
Again, were women voters they woul'
stand equal chance with men TO b
elected to the highest offices Of the Ma
tion-offiees that are excessively lucra
tive, and the toll light enough to sal
the most delicately moulded form.
It is urged that these official dutie
would interfere with the duties Of moth
eFhood. We answer that all women ar
not mothers, and even mothers are ex
empt from the cares of maternity afte
lhey have reached the age a man mus
reach before he is eligible TO the highes
offiees IN the Republic.
But wOman's domestic dntias ora al
ways considered an insuperabIe barrie
TO other positions. To thi, Wa sns,ro
that Providence is thronging our bo,
ders with subordinate race that ia dc.
tined to relieve emanclpated and enf-a,
chised motherhood from the tread-mi
routine of unpaid toll 10 which woma
has so long submitted in her vassala,
that man accepts it from her withol
thought Of recompense, as though it we
his bIrth-right.
There is no justice in the long-pr
vaillng custom that calls household
Dor uuremuneratlve. Nobody but
working married woman, whose ON