The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-06-19
GAG LAW.

relation to Suffrage and its bearing upon
the political question of Temperance.
He spoke well and feelingly, bringing
up "reminiscences Of the late Rebellion in
proof that the lamented Lincoln had
acted wisely in ,0aiting when the people
clamored for action in their haste.
We had not been upon the street dur
Ing the day, and had not seen the OBJ
noxious Temperance Book" which IL
was claimed had been distributed by
crusaders. As 1t is well known that we
believe that the proper thing for women
to do is not to electioneer upon the
streets, but to demand their legal rights
as voters, we feel no call at this stage Of
political action to attend the polls, ol
their vicinity. But we gathered, from
the drift Of Brother Medbury's remarks
that women had acted in some instance:
with more zeal than discretion during
the day, In seeking to folst a principle
upon the voters for which public senti-
ment was not ready. He thought the
work should be confined alone to prayer,
and we cheerfully accord him the credit
Of having been personally consistent
throughout the whole temperance ex-
element. As he had talked against
Woman Suffrage for half an hour, the
Spirit moved US to answer him for ten
minutes. We did so In spirit OF love
and truth, and full concession TO others
Of the God-given right to think and act
and speak as seemed good to them
selves.
Going back to the times that had
been feelingly alluded TO by the speaker
when that cry Of "On to Richmond"
caused Mr.. Lincoln TO yield to the de-
mands Of the people and permit the Bull
Run disaster, we dwelt upon the fact
that the enemy was everywhere victori-
Gus, until at last, guided by the Hand
Omnipotent, Mr.. Lincoln saw that the
people were ready, and then he issued
the famous Emancipation PrOclama-
ton. This was the work for which God
had been preparing the people through
their humiliation and defeat, and forth
with, when it WAS done, victory perched
upon the banners OF Freedom, and all
the hosts of Oppression were brought
low.
So, In this great moral war, God was
educating the women to q knowledge OF
their political necessities through such
defeats as they had met to-day, and we
calledupon our brethren In the ministry,
In the name Of the God OF Freed ON, to
issue an Emancipation Proclamation,
demanding that the women, who are
working in fetters for the overthrow OF
their children's arch enemy, shall be le-
gally empowered to do that work which
they can now only defeat as outlaws.
-Four or five persons who are strangers
to US, land that, only, is why they act
30 badly, left the church, as they inva-
risbly do when we arise to speak, but the
large audience listened with almost
breathless attention, and all, save
Brother lzer and s very few angry.
looking crusaders, looked into our face
as we proceeded, with kindly eyes, and
we know, listened with sympathetic
hearts. But it took more courage fol
us to stand alone that night and face the
fierce displeasure Of a vindictive anC
proscriptive few, than any crusader
needed to enable her to face Walter
Moffett's hirelings, when supported by
her band. II anybody thinks that such
duty is pleasant, let them attempt It.
After we sat down, Mr.. Izer arose, and
with spirit Of intolerant prescription
that would have put the Pope to shame
when issuing a certain famous bull
against the comet, this potentate POM
pously declared that freedom of thought
and speech and conscience should not be
tolerated in that church hereafter. He
was pastor, and, II people wanted tc
talk suffrage" they must leave the
church to do It, He was evidently re.
solved that God should do the work &C.
cording 10 the Izer plan, or il shouldn't
be done at all. He had planned that Goo
should do this work through prayel
alone, and the people and God had go
to submit, or they must go somewher'
else to work. We are not claiming 3,
give the'pastor's words, but their logica
sequence. He forgot, too, that he har
been The party 10 appoint committe
TO take political action in regard to tn
very defeat under which he was writhe
Ing. He forgot that other gentlemeI
were opposed to the measure, who onl
consented TO act TO please him. He fol
got that he had preached the dires
vengeance against the lawmakers /
the church, and that he had urged th
people TO arise and compel the "vil
mlscreants'' of the rum-shops to respeC
"pure Christian women, under the law.
In short, he forgot everything exceI
that we had made an unanswerable a.
gument in favor of enfranchising won
an, that she might thus be able to n
form the world as a law-maker, and nc
as an outlaw. Seeing this, he resolve
to apply the lash OF prescription TO tn
liberty Of conscience, and declare this
hereafter nothing OF the kind shall b
said In the church.
After the above declarations OF prc
senp'ion had been reiterated a hall
uo%en times, he brother Izer) con
Guided to sit down, and DIR. Atkinson
wishing to prevent debate, demande
the Do1ology and dismissal. AS IN
audience arose TO their feet, we ,aif
with as much composure as We conI
command ''If in any Of tbose me-,
fnps. have said or, =, Hee'