The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-12-03
A FEW IDEAS.

A FEW IDEAS.
Why is it so many would-be logicians
of the anti-suffrage stripe advance such
queer and, withal, totally absurd ideas
in regard to the proper sphere desig-
mated by the All-wise as belonging to
women? Why, unless because they
must say something or abandon their
false position, and the very few really
cogent reasons for Withholding the bal
lot from women, are as utterly incom-
prehensible to them as though written
in Sanscrit? But 1 suppose it takes
people of all kinds and people of widely
different opinions and talents to consti-
tute our world, otherwise there would
be something like "sameness" con-
nected with our lives.
We must have the ambitious vines
and trailing vines, strong oaks and de-
cayed ones. One class of these noble
trees are of slightly an imaginative
nature, and very strongly inclined to
think themselves several degrees above
others of even equal stature. This class
is probably hollow-hearted, and the sap
is liable to be found mainly in the top
branches. Woe to the unlucky vine
that, outreaching for support, twines its
tendrils round this tree; for, though this
tall oak may stand calmly, quiet and
serene, through the balmy days and
beautiful nights of the lovely summer
time, still, methinks, should the wild
tornado come rushing through the
grand old wood, this tree, though boast
ing of superior height, would not long
resist the ruthless blast, but be among
the first to yield to its fury. Then what
would become of the twining and beau
tiful ivy? Would it not be crushed and
mangled, unable, through its long
clinging tendency, to command the
means of self-support?
"Ifthe story is simple, the moral is plain"
But to return. AS a specimen of the
strange logic referred to in the begin.
ming, will instance some remark:
made by highly-educated gentleman
in my hearing not long since.
This gentleman stated that were the
women of our country allowed the priv.
ilege of the elective franchise, boys o
fifteen and thereabouts would soon bC
seen voting; that, in consequence o
women working together with fathers
sons, and brothers in forming our gov
eminent and guiding our ship of state
bad, degenerating laws would be passed
and the government take an anarchia
form.
Why? We ask again, why shoulC
such dire calamities befall our grand ole
nation, which is so near its hundredtl
birthday? And all because the womeI
of our country had the privilege of as
sisting in framing laws? We certainl!
plication can be made. It seems very
odd that "boys of fifteen aud sixteen
should exercise the right of the fran
chise because women of twenty. one har
the privilege of so doing. think n
one would ask the right of suffrage un
der twenty-one. To be sure women ar
considered "of age" at eighteen, bu
does it follow they should VOte at tha
age? l think not. We want an equa
chance in the world with our brothers
but don't ask the advantage of thre
years. We have heard the same argu
ment advanced often, but never couL
determine wherein lay its force. An
as to 'degenerating laws" and "anarch
ial government" those are othe
thoughts not quite clear to our obtus
mind. The women of the United State
have intelligence and reasoning facul
ties capable of thinking, studying, an
comprehending. OF course there ar
many frivolous, thoughtless womer
and others who possess but average in
telligence; but, on the other hand, viev
the men! Do not all sorts of boy.
when they arrive at the age of twenty
one, become voters?- Do we not Sc
drunken, unintelligent, uneducate
f specimens of manhood (?) staggering t
the polls-men who have scarcely tn
intelligence they had on first beholdiu
this world of ours? Do these peopl
ruin the government? Where will yo
find a woman born under the Stars an
Stripes who would assist in framin
laws detrimental to the best interests
our nation? Why would the laws
a degenerating? Certainly the averag
woman is possessed of as much purit
a and natural goodness as the averae
, man, and would they not work togetht
+ in the national home? n. Z. E.
q Lafayette, November II, 1875.
The first number of the semi-weekI