The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-04
PROTEST ADDRESS.
DELIVERED BY MRS. II. A. LOUGHARY A.
M'MINNvILLE, JULY 4, 1876.

canoe and importance of our gathering
together to-day is so unusual as to occur
but once in a century.
At this hour, in fair city on the east
ern verge of the continent, which the
patriotism of thousands and tens of
thousands of the loyal sons and daugh-
ters of the United States of America has
rendered resonant with rejoicing and re-
splendent with emblems of our national
life, such magnificent demonstrations
are being made as will cause our gath
ering to pale into insignificance; such
patriotism, enthusiasm, and splendor;
such a display of talent, oratorical
power, and zeal will not again be COM
bined within the lifetime of the most
favored of those who to-day witness it;
for to-dayis the anniversary of one hund-
red years of liberty and freedom and peace
for the men of the fair Republic.
In another part of the same city of
Philadelphia the women of the land are
holding protest meeting, such as we
are feebly initiating, as are also thous-
ands of women elsewhere.
While this is day of more universal
joy; while outbursts of enthusiasm,
booming of cannon, ringing of bells, at
test the exhibitions of joy and gladness
greater than tongue can tell or pen por-
tray for one-half of the American citi-
zens who are free and independent, it
ir len n dow of Sorrouy opd daar, roOrot
with the unrepresented half, who are
not free, and who cannot truly or freely
participate in the great demonstrations !;
who, in view of such facts, in sight of,
in hearing of such unparalleled displays,
are stirred within their inmost souls to
hold such a meeting. Can any one
blame them for protesting against the
manner in which the great Centennial
celebration is being observed?
We too, IN common with men, are en-
dowed with inalienable rights to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;
but by the will and power of man we
are deprived of the privilege of exercis-
ing that right.
One hundred years ago to-day pro-
test meeting was held in Philad elphia,
a little band of fifty-six men, the repre-
sentatives of the thirteen Colonies that
formed the nucleus of the nation.
Woman has for a century continued to
endure the long train of abuses and
usurpations for the redress of which
men appealed to arms. Are we hasty
in making this assertion? Let US see
'iHe has refused to assent to laws the
most wholesome and necessary for the
public good" So have men when in
legislative bodies assembled they re,
fused to listen to or regard the petition:
of thousands of the unrepresented, tax
paying women of the land.
"He has refused to pass laws for the
accommodation of large districts of peo
pie unless they would relinquish the
right of representation, right inestima
BILE to them and formidable to tyrant
only.n In like manner do men refus
to pass laws for the accommodation o
100000 of women, denying them, be
sides, the right of representation,
right as inestimable to them and as for
midable to tyrants as in 1776.
"Has imposed taxes on US without ou
CONSENT" just the same have men i'm
posed taxes on women "without thei
consent" "Has declared himself in
vested with power to legislate for then
in all cases whatsoever" So too d
men persist in usurping the right to leg
islate for women ''in all cases whatso
ever" They deprive US of the right G
trial by jury of our peers, another I'm
bearable af1liction for men.
Nor have the women been wanting i
attentions to men. "We have froI
time to time warned them of their vi
just legislation; we have appealed
their justice and magnanimity; we hay
conjured them by the ties of our con
mon kindred; we have appealed to the
higher, nobler, and better feelings
humanity, yet they have been deaf {
the voice of justice, cOnsanguinity, al
humanity. And now, after one hundrt
years of patient endurance of all the
wrongs and grievances, for the sake
ali womankind, and for the commc
good of all mankind, with faith in IL
great Ruler of the Universe to guit
Alright our actions, we do protest again
this Centennial celebration representa-
the universal independence and freedo
of a government that has cost the ard
Gus tolls and untold sufferings and pl
vations of both men and women to c
tablish and perpetuate.
Thousands of dollars of woman
money have been lavished to prepare
this great exhibition, while she cam
participate in it ss free woman. T
negro, who has no higher claims up
this government than woman, nor al
demands of justice and right above b
own; the foreigners of all names, chars
ters, or nationalities, who, unsolicite
are waited to our shores, are made t
sovereign lawmakers of this free cou
try. The culprits, men-men did sa
rather demons in human form; t
murderers of wives and helpless inn
cents, robbers, villains, and adultere
an lov, 10, tLo 4