The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-09-08
LET Us REASON TOGETHER.

Workers in the cause of woman's en-
franchisement are often derisively
taunted with holding the belief that the
ballot for woman will be an universal
panacea for all political and social ills
that now degrade and corrupt humanity.
While this may be true with regard to
some visionary theorists who base their
belief upon "angelic superiority"
grounds, the large mass of men and
women who advocate the extension of
suffrage, do so, not because they believe
a grand political and social revolution
will at once be inaugurated by woman's
vote, but merely because, as a measure
of justice, it should prevail. 1t is al
ways best, when a fact cannot be denied,
to admit it frankly and fairly, and as
there is absolutely no proof that women
possess angelic attributes, but ample
proof that they, like men, are very hu-
man, it is worse than useless to base
their claims to the ballot upon other
than human prerogatives. Plain deal
ing is always the best, and when deal
ing with facts, is indispensable to sue
cess. Not to deny or withhold fact
that is considered in some sense damag-
ing to a cause which is dear to every la
borer in the great field of equal rights
may take considerable fortitude, but it
is always the best and surest policy.
No one can deny that there is, always
has been, and probably always will be,
intriguing women, low-minded women,
selfish women, and false women. These
exist independently ofany political priv
ileges, and these will neither make them
better or worse. No one believes that such
persons will be benefited or elevated by
success, yet all must concede that to de-
prive the masses of women who would,
in the main, vote right, of the privileges
of the franchise because all women are
not possessed of judgment and honesty
is as unjust as like treatment of men
would be.
Again, if it were fact easily prova-
bic that women are, in The finer quail
ties that adorn and beautify humanity,
superior to men, we should not wish to
urge it in advocacy of woman's enfran-
chisment, for it would by proving too
much defeat its object 1t would at
once appear plain that persons of an
gelic attributes were lily fitted to legis-
late for those who claim to be nothing
more than human beings.
TUhov, =.
according equal political privileges to
women because it is just and right; who
believes that the ballot-box needs
women to reform it and women need
the ballot-box to educate and elevate
them, we know that the foundation oi
his belief is upon the solid rock of truth
and that every days experience will cor
roborate and strengthen it. But when
one advocates the extension of suffrage
with sentimental remarks based on the
"angelic superiority" grounds, we know
that the first arrogant, ignorant, ol
selfish woman with whom he holds con.
verse will have the power to annihiIate
his belief in equal rights, and render
him as unreasoning in his opposition as
he was before in his advocacy of Woman
Suffrage.
Frederick Douglass stated the only
theory upon which a popular form o
government can properly rest when ht
said: 1--WE can, in the long run, trus
all the knowledge of the community tc
take care of all the ignorance of the
community, and all its virtue to take
care Of all its vice." If we hold to thi.
faith it is not necessary to prove tha
women are superior to men; only thai
on the whole they are possessed of the
same human attributes that men are
are quite as well fitted in the aggregate
to vote as men are, and that they neet
the ballot for self-protection and self-re
spect just the same that men do.