The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-11-19
THE VALUE OF THE BALLOT.

1t has been long argued by the enc
mics of freedom that the use of the
ballot will not benefit woman, and this
extreme and illogical view of the matter
has been met sometimes by intemper-
ate response that has leaned far the
other way, alleging that the ballot was
the only thing necessary to complete
the emancipation of woman.
In reply to the first statement men,
toned, which to every observer bears
upon its face the lack of common sense
and discernment, we have but to con-
slider the real significance of the ballot
to man. 1t means for him a voice in
the making of the laws by which he is
governed, and the selection of those who
are to administer these laws. It means
that he is sovereign, politically speak
ing, of himself; it means that he has by
right supreme control of his own person
and property, so long as he does not in
terfere with the rights of others. Now
this is precisely what the ballot will
mean to woman. Since sheis like man,
an intelligent human being, with like
duties and necessities, the ballot means
for her the same rights, the same pro-
lection, and its denial to her means that
she is denied the most efficient, indeed
the only potent instrument wherewith
to obtain protection of rights and re-
dress of wrongs. Those, therefore, who
believe that Woman Suffrage is simply
an idle clamOr, that, were it assured,
would have no other result than to in
crease votes, are gravely mistaken.
1t signifies an increase in the amount
of liberties, and just here is the place
where the enemies of freedom take OBJ
stinate stand. Asovereigu citizen, with
power to make and unmake politicians
and laws, will hardly be expected to sub
NIT to a moral code criminally severe,
which results in social ostracism, while
another sovereign citizen, whose mis-
deeds at least equal her own, retains his
passport TO good society, and his eligibiI-
ity to offices of honor and trust.
When two persons with the ballot in
their hands do the same work equally
well, it will not be considered necessary
to ascertain their sex before their pay is
announced. Thatthe ballot is necessary
for the protection of the interests of
working men, no one will question;
that it is equally necessary for the pro-
lection of working women, no one who
views the subject dispassionately will
deny.
The "woman movement" assumes its
true and just proportions as these things
are understood. It ceases to be petty
question, hampered by thousand insig-
nificant obstacles usually known under
the common name of expediency, and
becomes a great crusade for a principal
of universal justice. 1t is not merely a
matter of interest to women themselves,
but its basic principles are of vital i'm
portance to social, national life.
1t is no wonder that in this great work
the aristocrat, the stickler for that
which has nothing but age to recon-
mend it, and the believer in sex superb
Ority and the divine right of husbands,
holds back. We expect that they will
do so, many of them, perhaps to the end
Of the chapter, and though by their
united weight they may place brake
upon the wheels of reform that will
somewhat retard the progress of the car
so heavily laden with the hopes aud as
pirations of millions, momentum will
after time be acquired that will send
their theories to the winds.