The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-11-24
FRIENDS OF EQUAL RIGHTS, OOUR-
AGE!
READ BEFORE THE YANHILL COUNTY WOMAN
SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION NOV. l5 1876, BY MRS.
NJ. ;. COOKE.

AGE
READ BEFORE THE YAMHILL COUNTY WOMAN
SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION nov. l5, 1876, BY MRS.
NJ. :. COOKE.
In coming before you this evening in
behalf of the great, glorious and just
cause in which there are so many
Jealous workers, have no new argu-
ment to offer in favor of the emaneipa-
tion of One-half of the citizens of this
our great and (so-called) free Republic
Adler pens have long since written, and
mightier tongues than my own have re-
peatedly proclaimed all the convincing
arguments that are necessary to prove
to any thinking mind the justice of the
equality of the sexes before the law and
of the demand made for universal free
dom. However, we can add cline upon
line, precept upon precept, here little
and there little" we'll knowing that
persistent and consistent agitation is
ever productive of great good, and ever
striving to remember the maxim that
''everything of great and permanent
good is of slow growth" In this we
must patiently bide our time, for we
well know that our scause is rapidly
gaining ground; even the most preju-
diced mind can but admit this signifi-
cant fact. However, knowing this to
be true, yet we are confident that a
change will have to be made in many of
our teachings before the victory, in
every respect, will be ours. 'Tis hard
to overcome early impressions. We
have been educated in the belief that
"woman was made for man and not for
herself;" wives have been told that il
they want to know anything they must
ask their husbands at home, etc.,
(though right here we would like to en-
quire, what if the husbands don't
know p, and we have been instructed in
the belief that these commands came
by authority of divine teachers, the
same being proclaimed from Thousand
pulpits every week, and read almost
daily to our children by our freside.
What other shape can we expect tC
see the minds of grown men and WON
en- assume than that in which they
have been moulded There is a littl,
improvement on the barbarous state o
!, man. In the dark ages it was consid
cred that woman was not capable o
finding out or knowing her OWE indi
uidual powers, except to perform Ger
tain kinds of labor, for which men, as
general rule, have very great antipi
thies, and also to minister to some Q
his selfish Whims. At the present time
= Notwithstanding the great advancement
We have made, and the very many i'm
munities extended to woman, still sh
is regarded by society in general a
mans interior intellectually, hence sh
=. is not qualified to take upon herself tn
= grave responsibility of helping to gov
ern herself and also man; that right
reserved for him alone, and to-day th
laws made solely by the men and fc
the men step in in all their majest
and place woman in the same categor
4 with idiots, insane persons, criminal
If and Cinnamon. Small wonder it is, il
IS deed, that so large number of wome
should so keenly feel the humiliation
to say nothing of the gross injustice (
the laws relating to the inequality
the sexes. Yet, when we reflect that {
large a number of the members of oil
late Legislature were in favor of havir
u this vital question settled in the on
u just way that such questions can be Sc
VI tied, we feel like thanking God al
l. taking renewed courage, for we are su
J. that as He is just and our cause is jus
Is we are certain, at no distant day, of II
umph.