The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-04

persecution. Men fired with enthusi-
asm and patriotism left their ploughs
in the furrow and their tools in the
workshops, then on to Princeton and
Bunker Hill; while their wives and
daughters took their places in the field
and shops, with willing hands, aching
heads, and throbbing hearts; bore all
arduous tolls, cares, anxieties, and bur-
dens of family and home alone. AS the
war waxed hotter and stronger came the
bloody engagement at Brandywine, and
the great loss at Monmouth; the long siege
at Boston and Philadelphia, and the sad
retreat to Valley Forge. All through
these we find the women promptly COM
ing to the rescue, holding garrisons,
acting as spies, carrying important or
ders at their own lives peril; transport
ing provisions and ammunition, nurs-
ing the sick and wounded, and perform
ing such noble deeds for the country's
cause as no other nation of women ever
did, but twas not enough.
During the many years of labor in
times of peace, woman's labor, wOman's
influence, and woman's money was
promptly given to aid in keeping up our
army and navy, supporting the COnsti-
tuition, paying the public debts, increas-
ing our territory, defending from foreign
foes, and preventing rebelions at home,
but even that was not enough. In the
late rebellion, when lowering clouds
gathered all over this land, and from
their blackened thickness poured out
| the elements of blood and carnage upon
us, sacrificing our sons, husbands, and
fathers, the very best men in the land,
causing the widows wall and orphans
cry to rend the air, and the whole land
to put on the habiliment of deep sorrow;
all this that our American principles
might be maintained and the four mill
ions of slaves be freed, what did woman
do? History of other nations called il
woman's war, and truly, never in the
history of any war in any nation has
woman done so much as then. Hosts o.
brave and fearless women rushed to the
scene of action to lend a helping hand
while the thousands at home were pre-
pairing and sending off sanitary supplies
of clothes, provisions, pillows, bandages
lint, medicines, luxuries, and delicacie:
for the sick. Women unused to toll OIL
hardships left their homes of ease anC
oOp,fo tO adr,iDiStar a do ilyy ond niubt RI 4
to the wants of the sick, wounded, ant
dying, binding up broken limbs anC
broken hearts, dropping kind words o
cheer and encouragement, writing let
ters to loved ones at home, STOPPING t.
catch the death message of the dying
preserving and returning the none!
and little keepsakes for friends.
Our selfish opponents say it is homo
enough for woman that she be permit
ted to give her time, influence, money
and property for her country's freedom
though she is not free herself. Enougl
honor for women to be the tOilini
mothers of the ruling sons. 1t is enougl
that women gather the spoils and mel
use them, needy as they are themselves
1t is enough that women prepare tn
, banquet and the men feast upon il
Honor enough, say the educators of th
, men. 1t was, according to their ideas
t rights and privileges, enough for tn
women of this government that the
) occupy very prominent supporting rela
2 tions to the government, though the
are wholly destitute of the governing re
| lations. Enough for the women to b
E the unrepreseuted taxpayers in thi
= great Centennial year while a natio
r rejoices for the resistance of the fore
] fathers to taxation without represents
D tion a century ago. Honor enough fC
S the great Smith sisters, of Glastonbury
: Connecticut, that they pay more none
e into the town treasury than anybod
4 else, and because they show resistanc,
j as the forefathers did, and as the prel
: ent fathers would were they so treated
Y must be froced to see repeated auctio
= sales of their property that is more tina
stolen from them. Surely honor enoug
i for them without the power of sayin
! how their money shall be appropriate,
|, and like honor to the State of Connect
n cut, when these women receive "a le
d ters a week and $50 newspapers in E.
o rope and America proclaiming tt
II shame of the men of Glastonbury. ]
q like manner are the women of Ne
: York honored in the erection of a ma!
q nificent marble statue of Liberty G
Il Beelloes' Island, representing freedo
= in majestic female form in a Sta
j. where not one woman is free.
d Yet notwithstanding all these wrony
i and usurpations practiced upon woma
is all the unjust laws that rob her
IS money and property, and more, of tn
ir inalienable right to self-governmel
h guaranteed to her by God and natur
is we wage no cruel war, no bloody Co
E. flict, but will persistently plead for ju
h tice and right of those who hold in the
n power our rights. Though we ha,
D. waited through one hundred years
e. cruel, yes, cruel political servitude, v
le will still wait and watch. The doors
Id justice refuse US entrance, but ST
N we will stand at the threshold al
Il =