The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-03-20
ESSAY.
READ EY MRS :. MIRANDA BUcK, AT THE AN
SUAL MEETING OF o. :. W. :. A., FEB. l3, 1874.

REA BY MRS :. MIRANDA BUCK, AT THE AN
SUAL MEETING OF O. :. W. :. A., FEB. I8, 1874
FRIENDS: a few words on Equal
Rights are apropo TO this occasion.
There is not much to be said. We can
not fight, we will not quarrel, and every
argument that is strong and conclusive
known to man has been used. There
fore, We will first read an extract from
that most excellent paper, the Toledo
journal, after which we will gently
touch various little points and conclude
Hear the Journal:
SHALL woNES BE ENANCIPATEDs
am well aware that this interrogaiory,
though often advanced, j. sim met by many
with Indifference.
The customs and usages of society are so
firmly fixed, that what is really wrong seems
to be right, because Il has always been prac-
ticed. II is readily understood, in speaking OF
the American race, what emancipation meant
for them. That question having been settled
by baptism of blood, the time has come to
throw aside all false ideas and give this ques-
tion the investigation IL demands. But little
thought or exertion Is necessary TO come to the
realization OF this fact: that there is a class OF
people deprived of their natural rights merely
on account of sex. What strange reason for
depressing part of our race and Withholding
from them the universal right OF the American
citizen, for enfranchisement has belonged to
women ever since the establishment OF Ameri-
can independence. Shall she longer ask for
rights that are her own ? Shall such injustice,
long meted out to her, still continue? The
halls Of learning, that are the pride and boast
OF our land, are closed against her; the en-
frances to elevated and lucrative positions are
refused her; consequently she has to perform
the most unremittins toll to secure livelihood
for herself and those she Is obliged TO support /;
and II so fortunate by such self-denial as to lay
by a surplus against the time OF need, portion
must be rendered 10 maintain the Government,
the laws of which she must obey suffer the
extreme penalty.
There has never been given any wise and
consistent reason why women should be de-
MED her GOd-given rights. II is often asserted
that If the ballot were given her, she would not
use IT, This reasoning is rs sensible as the
grand-parent who forbade his favorite going
near the water until he had learned to swim.
Did not the noble Miss Anthony and others, at
the peril of reputation and property, east their
vote into the Nations history? Give her the
her own head
Fearless, able women have been agitating
this question for a quarter Of a century. Though
met with opposition and reverses, the cause
has steadily advanced, and to-day receives the
aid and encouragement OF the philanthropists
and statesmen OF the land. In looking from
the past to the present, a candid observer can
not fail to observe the magnitude OF their work
and the grand results that must surely follow.
1 could quote hundred speeches
from far-seeing, public-spirited men,
occupying high positions of trust and
honor, all having the true ring Of this
article. But it is unnecessary. Men
are already convinced that the principle
is right, and are ready to accept the
signs of the times and the solution OF
the "Woman Question" along with
voman's enfranchisement. All that is
needed now is for the disenfranchised
class to earnestly claim what is theirs
by virtue of American citizenship, and
sthe great transactions doneIr Then
people will look back and wonder that
| il took such struggle TO accomplish it.
For an illustration let US consider the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of men! If we were
to write an essay on man, every think
ing mind would suppose we meant man
kind.
But in speaking of mans disfranchise-
ment it is potent to all that for the pres
ent, but small portion Of the kind is
under consideration. We have nothing
to say concerning the "kinds" coming
under the name of idiots, lunatics, Chi
namen, OF babies, (which last, we love
'em), and woman Is usually left, politi-