The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-09-22
WHAT WOMEN's RIGHTS ARE"

WHAT MUMhH . A1Gulo Ahhs
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
Under the above caption the p. c. Id
Uocate of August II, 1876, contains an
article purporting to be the words of DR..
Todd as against Woman Suffrage. The
doctor is very kind in exempting women
from the hardships which men must
endure. He would not have them be-
come surgeons, dentists, nor sailors. He
would exempt them from the business
of the boot-black, hod-carrier, soap
boiler, tanner, grave-digger, and under
taker, the logger or wood-chopper, the
soldier, etc. And he would not have
them ego to the Arctic Ocean for SEALS"
nor spend their time in trying up
whales. This would sound very fine but
for the use he makes of some other
words such as made, must, compelled,
etc. "She ought not to be made to
butcher, bleed calves, knock down oxen,
stick swine, and slaughter cattle"
'She ought not to be compelled to be a
barber, ETC."
What inference must follow from his
premises First. If she votes she will
thereby lose her freedom. Second.
That her brothers, fathers, and husbands
will all unite in tyranniziug over her
and compelling her to do their work.
Third. That as the case now stands she
does just what they allow and can have
no choice of her own.
If this is true how is it that men
can vote and not lose their liberty
Men vote and are free to choose their
calling. IT woman votes she must go
"to Congress" And 'if she goes to
Congress, she must also go to the heavy
Idrudgery of the earth" This is assum-
ing that she is a slave, and does but the
will of her lord or husband, and that al
lowing her the ballot would not free
her, but only increase her toll and bur-
den, while man, her lord and master,
can 90 to the Arctic Ocean, go any,
where, and DO anything he pleases or
stay at home. Voting does not increase
his burdens.
So much for the kindness and sympa-
thy. If u woman steps out of her
sphere, which he assumes she must do
in voting, ''the heavy drudgery of the
earth" is to be forced upon her. Well,
l have better opinion of DR.. Todd than
to think that he would thus Oppress a
woman simply because the ballot is al
lowed to her. But again the doctor as
) sumes that in voting she must step out
of her sphere and demand to be and dc
+, what men do" And in his kindness to
the geutler sex he would exempt hel
from certain things" But his kindness
e is of such cast that in order for her tC
e be exempt she must not vote. Tht
: thought had not entered his mind tha
she could be exempt from certain
U things, and many more than he has
u mentioned, and yet cast the ballot. A;
o to the "heavy drudgery Of the earth,
# there is no danger of her demanding s
jot more than society and grim neces
IS sity will impose upon her.
e But he appears very Jealous les
= women should undertake to do wha
men do in the single duty of casting the
ballot, but has nothing to say of th,
thousand and one things which Coo
has imposed alike upon men and women
And their duties are so closely allie,
. that the Creator styled mans helper,
helpmeet for him.
/ The DOCTORS argument summed u
amounts to this: Men vote, therefor
D, women should not vote. Men play o.
) the organ and piano, therefore wOme
should not. Men sing and preach an
ii pray and learn music, painting, and tn
. fine arts, therefore women should not
these things. Men do everything ez
cept bear children, therefore wome
, should do nothing but that alone.
Do men perform the duties of bar
outdoor labor because they vote? Gel
Is tainly not Then why all this twaddl
III about the drudgery being consequer
upon being allowed the ballot? We liv
h. in free country. The ballot is a sym
mt bol of our liberty, and by virtue of OF
tn free institutions and the individual SOY
ereignty of our people belongs to ou
o. citizens regardless of sex. If woman
IN free, give her the ballot. If she has an
70 will regarding our civil and soci'
I'D status, let her express that will by cas-
ing the ballot.
k Brother Acton, where is all yoI
d. sound and healthy philosophy tOuchin
lie this subject? Looks rather sickly, don
en- it? You had better take your stand c
- tother side along with Brother DeVor
DIR. Dillon, Brother Stubs, and BishC
- Simpson. Yours very truly,
:. ORA e. SEMPER.
II Vancouver, W. Y.
of WHAT ONE WOMAN IS DOING.