The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-14
CENTENNIAL PROTEST OF THE
WOMEN OF WASHINGTON TERRI
TORY,

WOMEN OF WASHINGTON TERRI
TORY.
One hundred years ago our nation
was struggling against the tyranny of
England. One oppression after another
had been brought to bear upon the COL
onies until forbearance had ceased to be
a virtue. The people had arisen in
their might, (Which was small and
feeble compared with that of the mother
country, and demanded that their
rights should be respected. Their de-
mand was met by force of arms. This
determined them to assert their inde-
pendence, and form a government of
their own. But that not only England,
but the whole world might know for
what cause they rebelled and sought
their freedom, that famous document,
that cornerstone of our government,
the Declaration of Independence, was
drawn up, signed, and ratified by the
colonies. In this declaration they spec
flied their grievances, and gave their
reasons for rebelling against the British
crown. In it they declared that true
doctrine of the equality of natural
rights, and averred that, to secure these
rights, and to protect each individual
in the exercise of them, governments
are instituted. They also averred this
fundamental and all important prin-
ciple-one that cannot with safety be
disregarded by any nation-that "the
just Po,OerS Of q government are deriUed
from the consent of the governed"
Among the grievances which they con-
sidered of sufficient Importance to JUS
tify resort to arms to redress was, that
the king had imposed taxes on them
without their consent, and had, in
many instances, refused them trial by
jury. These were considered by our
forefathers to be sore grievances, not to
be submitted to; and so they were. To
be obliged to pay taxes to support a
government in which they could have
no voice, and to have to submit to an
arbitrary trial without jury of their
peers, were acts of tyranny not to be
tolerated.
This, as we have said, was one
hundred years ago. God blessed the
cause of freedom. We became nation.
Our government was established on
these glorious principles: Equality OF
natural rights" ian equal voice in the
government, or political and judicial
rights" and that "powers not delegated
are retained by the individual"
How have these principles been carried
out in the administration of our gov
ernment? Let every man bow his head
with shame. In the triumph of victory
and the flush of his own glory, he has
forgotten that his wife, mother, sister
and daughter helped to bring victory tC
our standard; that they had, with
that intrepid and indomitable courage
and endurance common to women in
emergencies, borne their part in the
prolonged struggle; that they were
equally with their brothers, possessed
of the same natural rights; that only by
delegated power, or by usurpation
could these rights be invaded; that, in
forming the government, they became
citizens, and were entitled to all the
rights, privileges, and immunities Of
citizenship; that the powers not dele.
gated are retained by the individual
and that, unless they gave them a voice
In the government by allowing them tc
vote, in order that they might delegate
that power, that they (the mem had hi
right to govern them at all; that all
legislative enactments and judicial pro-
ceedings relative to, and in the case OF
women, were but the usurpation ot
might over right-the very things that
caused the rebellion against England
All this, We say, our forefathers forgot
Perhaps so; and for one hundred years
their sons have not remembered it
although, throughout the century 8
suppressed murmur has been gradually
growing louder, until, in this Centen.
MAI ) SdlJ IL hdS luCIcdScu W all 6dE0eSl
protest against the longer usurpation OF
power of the one citizen over another
on account of sex. The women Of
Washington Territory esteem it an
honor and a privilege that an oppor.
tunity is afforded them of joining with
their sisters throughout this nation in 8
protest against being compelled to sub.
nit to laws which they have no voice
in framing; against being compelled tc
pay taxes to support government in
which they are not allowed representa-.
tion; against being tried in courts o.
justice, and by juries composed entirely
of men. In short, protest against
this government allowing men to legis.
late for women ain all cases whatso.
ever" MARY OLNEY BROWN,
President w. T. w. S. A.