The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-09-22
REASON VS.. TRADITION.
NUMBER ONE.
BY MRS. h. L. NJ CORD.

The subjugation OF woman is relic
of the dark periods in the worlds his
tory, and had its origin in the religious
superstition of the times. The eating
of the fabled apple, and the consequent
punishment and supposed Divine decree
which followed, have long proved an
effective antidote to quell any aspiring
emotion in Ewes daughters that might
tend to an equal fellowship with her
brothers.
So much has been said in times past
about the great disparity between the
natural endowments of men and women
that the idea prevails with many to-
day that woman was created subject
and inferior; that man is born for
achievement, for enterprise, for emolu-
ment, for purpose, while woman-un-
fortunate that she isis ushered in,
kind of secondary consideration, an
after-thought, answering the purpose
barbarians decreed-a mere instrument
of procreation, without even a right of
opportunity to prove her slumbering
genius. Results have shown, thus far
in the worlds history, that these at
tempts to subdue her individuality,
that all efforts sanctioned by ancient
and modern bigotry and custom, have
so far proved a failure. Barriers can
not be built between, for there is no di-
viding line between the sexes. As men
and women they cannot be considered
apart. They belong to one another as
alternate links in the chain of destiny,
different phases of nationality. Each
is, and ever will be, in this grand chain
of links, ff so permitted to express it,,
inferior, equal and superior to the other,
as the gradual development of the race
unfolds. One naturally presupposes and
comprehends the other. So, flesh and
blood, nerves and brain, belong to one
another, and whatever affects one, af-
fects both. When he wrongs her, he
strikes himself, though not always con-
scious of the fact. While mother ma
ture is ever near and dear to her, she is
also kind of stepmother to man, and
any injustice done her is entailed upon
the race. An irrepressible instinct mu-
tually binds their interests as one; and
although barbarism has descended to
man as an unlawful heritage and is hard
to quench, owing to a long force of
habit and education, yet, by the aid of
civilization, he is gradually overcoming
the idea of his superiority. Each gen.
Grafton is making them better friends,
and their adherence is superior to social
and political earthquakes. Continuity
is their estate, and is as eternal as the
universe: Very many are as yet una
ware Of the rapidity of the worlds
movements, or that humanity, from its
innate necessities, is trying to elevate
its standard in continually applying
new tests, both in the mental and phys
ical world. The idea of quantity is be-
coming less, and quality is receiving
attention. Advanced people acknowl-
edge that health and intelligence are
far preferable in limited number OF
offspring for promoting the welfare OF
the rising generation, than an army OF
dull, detected, puny children, who,
through parental ignorance are cast
upon life's sea to suffer out an existence.
1t is a cheering sign that parents are
coming to hold themselves responsible
for progeny, instead of thrusting theiI
personalities upon Providence. All this
is a grand result of the slow though
steady triumph of woman and the grad.
ual furtherance of her cause.
1t is said that the mills of the god:
grind slowly, but they "grind exceeding
small" Looking backward, through the
ages of ancient and medieval times, a.
the doubly-enslaved condition of wom
en-, when the laws, through the bigotry
of fanatical priests and the force of nigh
over right-laws and customs which
made her a simple Article of traffic ant
a slave to their lusts-it is not at al
surprising that the march from socia
and political serfdom has been slow ant
painful. From light received from re
motest history, the world has alway
been unjust in its dealings with women
One would naturally suppose that th
old Hebrew law-giver, Moses, who wa
so indebted to the untiring efforts of hi
mother and sister for the preservation
of his life, as also to the motherly car
bestowed upon him by the king
daughter, that he would, when he be
came ruler in Israel, be just to wome
in the administration of his laws. Bu
was it SO? By authority we are tol
that woman had no power to obligat
herself by oath, by vote, or otherwise
her husband or her father must in a
cases act for her; in brief, "every vow
and every binding oath to afflict th
soul, her husband may establish, or he
husband may make void" Under th
Mosaic law, husband could repudiat
his wife for the slightest cause; sh
constituted part of the estate and n
verted to the heirs the same as proI
erty. Moses looked upon her as onl
an instrument of procreation. Unde
his laws polygamy prevailed to a grea
er extent than in all Oriental Asia. I
his expedition against the Midiauite
he directed from the immense nun