The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-18
Is THIS JUST 2
August s, 1876.


a few days since we heard a gentle
man, while taking the negative side in
a debate on "equal rights Irrespective of
SEX" declare that the laws were framed
with the express view of benefiting
women; that, in fact, women had al
ready the best chance in everything.
4 single incident from real life con-
cerning parties who now reside in this
city will illustrate this theory and
show up this assumption in its true
light.
Some five years ago young lady, in
dustrious, neat, and frugal, married a
man whom she supposed to be sober
and industrious, and together they be-
gan life. In the course of q year a
child-a little daughter-was born to
them, but the husband had in the
meantime developed, or disclosed, an
appetite for drink, which led to serious
apprehensions for the future safety and
welfare of the little family. At times
industrious and kind, and again
drunken and cruelty abusive, he con-
tinued until the child was two years
old, when matters growing much worse,
his wife, taking the child whom he had
not, owing to his drunken orgies, seen
for several weeks, went back to her
fathers house, and, making arrange
ments for its comfort and maintenance,
left it, and returned to this city to work
for her own and little ones support.
Two years passed in this way, the
father not contributing a cent toward
the child's maintenance, part of the
time working as bar-keeper in saloons,
frequently indulging in drunken sprees,
aud again at times essaying respect
ability and reform by joining Good
Templar lodges, the mother regularly
contributing from her earnings for its
necessities and comfort. Now comes
this law, which we are told operates so
beneficially for women, protecting
them in their rights, and sheltering
them in their weakness, and, arming
the sheriff with a writ for that purpose,
sends him, upon demand of the worth
less father, to take the child from the
home wherein it was provided for by
the mother, removing it to the shelter
and care of strangers. Here, perhaps,
while his sober fit lasts, he will be able
to pay its board; but when, owing to
his excesses, be is again out of employ
ment, it will be without protection ex-
cept as its mother, hampered by cir
cumstances, and outraged in every
right and duty, can give. Notice that
this father has not, since her earliest
babyhOod, contributed one farthing
toward the support of his daughter
has never given her a moments care,
either in sickness or in health, has
been for weeks at time so befogged by
drink as to be himself helpless, while
the mother has been constantly careful,
painstaking and industrious, and ever
watchful of her daughters welfare.
Does any one suppose that he wishes
the custody of the child for any better
or more humane motive than merely to
annoy and distress the mother? Yet,
this law, this human imperfection,
framed entirely by aud for men, while
with specious pretext it claims to pro-
feet women, robs this woman, and
thousands like her, of the care and GUS
tody of little life that for weary and
anxious months she bore beneath her
heart, and, during all of its brief exist
eDce, has watched over with love as
bOundless and tender as unremitting
and thoughtful. Is this the "pro-
lection" that women need in their ma
ternal rights This the fostering care
with which women are hidden to be
content, and for which they are ex-
horted to be thankful From thous.
ands of bleeding mothers hearts in the
land a sad wall goes up and finds voice,
crying, "We protest in the name of God,
of motherhood, and of humanity against
the protection of a law whose tender
mercies are indeed cruel, and demand
of our lawmakers an equal recognition
of the rights of mothers with those oi
fathers. And if, o men and brethren,
you will not heed our protest to legis
late justly for mothers, let them, we
beseech you, legislate for themselves u
ss---------H-.--y-