The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-11-03
LETTER FROM ASTORIA.
, THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:


While attending divine service at the
Congregational Church Of this place
few Sabbaths ago, it was announced by
the officiating clergyman that on the
following Thursday there would be
lecture on temperance at the same place
by Mrs. Sarah ]. Shepperd. Being a
thorough temperance individual, and
also member of the order of |. 0. u.
T., ], of course, as was natural and
right that L should, decided at ouce that
would attend.
Thursday arrived, and brought dark,
cloudy, unpleasant evening, with slight
fall of rain-in short, regular "Oregon
mist"
The lecturer appeared at the ap-
pointed hour, and after appropriate and
most excellent music by the choir and
prayer by the Baptist minister, Rev.
Mr.. Russ, the lady was introduced by
Rev. Dr. Crang, pastor of the Congrega-
tional Church.
She at once plunged into the subject
with arguments unanswerable, bringing
up comparison, incidents, and personal
experience with such a pleasing grace
as to completely rivet the attention of
all those present. Her arguments in
behalf of the cause she so earnestly ad-
vocated were plain, clear, comprehen-
sive, and decisive, clothed, as they were,
in perfect flow of most eloquent lam
guage, showing at once that ladies do
possess the ability in marked degree
to instruct and interest in most pleas
ing manner.
Right here I would state that have
been informed by reliable authority that
certain lady, and, by the way, Good
Templar, refused to go to hear the lec-
ture because the lecturer was a woman.
o, my sisters, you who "have all the
, rights you want" if you could realize of
what vital Importance this question is
: that so agitates the minds and hearts OF
, so many, you would soon cease to
f give opposition to this most important
= question, that of equality of the sexes,
l need not here repeat that the mani
= festation of such disinclination of inter.
est on the part of at least portion o.
# our sex is peculiarly embarrassing anC
: humiliating to those who see and realize
the great and pressing need of concert o
D action on the part of those with whom
they claim a sisterhood.
n The lecturer, woman of experience
e intelligence, refinement, and accom-
plishments, whose years have long sine
'I passed the meridian, fell into as great
: if not greater error, than that of he
,r less favored sister.
After exhorting her lady hearers i
&c most eloquent and pathetic terms, eve
IL moving them to tears, she addressed he
g remarks direct to the gentlemen, VIII
10 were present in considerable number
stating that in their hands alone reste
the power, that of the ballot. 81 as
not the privilege" said she; ait is fC
you alone to decide, by its use, whethe
'e the manufacture and sale of intoxicant
of shall be allowed to continue in OF
a. midst, to the great and shockingly maj
ir ifest destruction of so many noble me
y, and beautiful boys"
Ill Ah, my sister, in this, our gloriol
10 cause of temperance reform, with a
your beautiful words, pleasing manne
u and winning address, you are far, vel
- far from striking at the root of tn
giant evil, whose alluring form stall
forth by day and by night in supren
security, under the full protection of o1
government. 1 say again, and l NAL
the assertion boldly and without ment
reservation, that so long as the womt
of our country are prohibited the fir
ne use of the elective franchise land tn
iu' the time will come that they will
're empowered with it is only question
u time) just so long will there be unjust al
All partial legislation and an utter disI
IL gard of this vital and most importa
Gu question now engrossing the minds al
"U attention of so many at the present da
1 am sorry, very sorry, to see this not
. and energetic sister laboring under
VI sad mistake as she evidently is,
iu how is it possible for women to effect
III change of this character in our COVER
eu mental affairs without this right of t
7a' ballot? Is it not preferable that the
'as telligence of our land should at lei
II. iiu have and enjoy an equal privilege wi
~ that of rum? Oh, how much voting
SIG inspired by rum. My heart aches VIII
1 think of those whose lives have be
ea' more than wasted, prospects blight
@io health gone, family ties broken a
ie" scattered to the winds, and then
lns thought comes to me nost forcibly, h
i easy of accomplishment this momentC
10 question would be by beginning in
'ou right direction, that of extending
'ei ballot to the mothers and daughters
gut our land, upon whose lives the curse
'i@i drunkenness falls most heavily. L T
n.y. that the day is not far distant wi
OnS that privilege will be extended to
l"y and may the day of its dawning be b
10 tened, is the sincere desire of
uIy A. SToRIA
nee Astoria, October IS, 1876.
md