The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-03-20
NUMBER 81.

+ to being thus left, contending that she
belongs to a more intelligent class, of
which she is the acknowledged "better
half" This brings us to the last round
Of the ladder, where we stared-whether
top or bottom cannot say-but to the
'worse half" of course. There is
another title which they delight in
thinking peculiarly suited to their pc
cular state of acOrSenesS. 1t is pro-
nounced rioters, and means very great
deal to them, though they try to per-
suade the "better half' that it is far
pleasanter, and infinitely nObler TO be
called nOn-voters.
Let us for an instant take the present
lawmakers at their word, allowing
them to occupy this desirable (?) posi-
tion. One would suppose they would
Immediately sink to a state of mildness,
temperance and contentment, and be-
come long-suffering and happy. But
alas for human calculations, we have
made mistake somewhere! For unfortu-
nately they are related mentally, NOR
rally, physically and socially with the
thinking, law-making element. Why,
friends, just think of it, They have
lawmakers for their life companions,
their lovers, their parents and their chill
dren. And under all these influences,
and with all these associations, are they
to blame if they sometimes feel patri-
otie, or understand law, or question the
excellence of this regulation or applaud
the effect of that? Certainly we can
not blame them. Are they not all chill
dren of one mother Earth and one father
Adam, educated TO act in unison and
harmony with those same voters, to un-
derstand and abide by their laws and
regulations, to pay taxes when they
have property, (for the powers that be
have great regard for person who has
property, be he or she dead or alive,
and will appoint assessors and collectors,
guardians and administrators, al infai-
tuBl and al UdloreBl.) If they have no
money they have citizens inalienable
right to take care of themselves! The
thousands of upright women in our
land, who can never hope to be happy
wives and mothers, and many of whom
have helpless ones to support-ean well
appreciate that last fact, if it Is mems
business to take care of the women.
But I was considering the advantages (?)
enjoyed by non-voting men. One par
ticular benefit is worth signing for.
They would be free from having to re-
fuse their votes for s. 80, new hat, 2
promise of Office or anything. They
would also be excused from imbibing
more whisky than was good for them
just because they hated to refuse, you
know. But, what's the matter now i:
Ali this last fact is too much. Bread
is the staG, but whisky is the life, and
if you threaten mans life, look out fol
the consequences. Presto, chdngey Our
fellow citizens (?) have a grand indigna-
tiOn meeting, which-for shortness
merely-might be called "rooster con-
vention." Resolutions are passed, rock
cts are fired, spirits are poured down,
causing spirits to rise high, banners in
enraged style are Haunted in the patri-
otic air, and the motto is, Taxation
without representation isn't fair"
Every fellow who won't sign pledge
against such inequality in free coun-
try is left as fool, or worse. Petitions
are circulated demanding, not praying,
1 fol- ho 1ttr
cheered on by the excited populace.
Strong language is used, but always
polite, of course, (AIr. Nesmith, for ex-
ample, and finally, "Give us our liber-
ties or give us.death," echoes from hill
top to homestead, while the popular
voice cries, "Down with the tyrantsr'
pause just here, and ask all to notice
how differently we, non-voting women,
press our claims, and, being of the "bet-
ter half" 1 cannot appreciate how men
declare war, aye, "war to the knife, and
the knife to the hilt," against their very
brothers, and all for less cause than that
they are obliged to uphold a Govern
ment which has its power Independent
of their consent, and that they mus
obey laws made without, and Otter
against, their Judgment.
One matter they would not have tC
complain of but once ere women legis
lators would heed their prayer and rip,
out the soul-degrading and youth-de
stroying institutions which now are 81
near our very habitations that oul
young are past redemption ere they out
grow their trundle bedsI And, my fel
low citizens, these things must be ,gipeo
Out, and forced to hide their many heads
beyond the walks of our little children
When voting humanity wish to accom-
plish anything, they gather together
and go at it with i0iU, and tbs hardly
sooner said than done. But they have
power in the ballot which we do moi
at present possess. They can, as Judge
Grant of Iowa says, "thank them with
their Uote," when Legislators pay atten-
ton to their petitions and wishes,
Mark this, my hearers, one vote weighs
more in public affairs than the dearest
wishes of ten thousand Intelligent wom-
en-. Why? Because the former may
count one for or against somebody's pei
scheme, and the latter are, forsooth
only idle wishes, not resp sctable opin-
ions. But non-voters though we are
zoe tOiI succeed, for "truth crushed t
earth will rise again. and God speed Tn,
day! a1