The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-06-01
LETTER FROM ILLINOIS.


of Tumwater, W. T., in which place
and vicinity resided some time previ-
Gus to September, 1876 (and from which
place you may possibly recollect reeeiv-
Jog several letters relative to the 'equal
rights" movement and other kindred
subjects of needed reform, aud their ap-
pearance in the columns of the NEW
NORTHWEST, have been alternating
during the past long and dreary winter
and cold, wet, and backward spring in
this lat presently muddy portion of the
Mississippi Valley.
But although, from the rigors of the
past cold winter, and my own poor
health, have not been able to get
around and 'talk up" the reform move
ment, have not by any means forgot
ten the NEW NORTHWEST, the glorious
cause it advocates, or its enterprising
managers and their self-denyiDg labors,
and, at present, poorly-requited toll.
Indeed, in public, as well as private cir
cles, often refer with just pride to
the senior editors labors as lecturer on
the Pacific Coast, as we'll as her long
and tedious trip to the Centennial and
return, with its heavy burden of lee
lures, literary labors and cares.
1t is hard for those who fully realize
the scarcity and need of efficient work
ers at this time, to feel that they are in
90 70 Iah
financial weakness, or other embarrass-
ments. may be little over Jealous,
but still cannot help thinking that there
occurs not often in human affairs time
and opportunity, in which talent,
money, and earnest, faithful endeavor
would insure happier rewards than the
present. And how men, and women
too, of abundant "worldly MEANS" who
accept theoretically, as many such do,
the philosophy and truth of the Woman
Suffrage idea, do really so little in prdc-
ticaL advocacy, when they could with
out self injury do much more, and feel
all the better for the effort, is more than
1 can solve. 1 see from the Ballot Boz,
published at Toledo, Ohio, that Michi-
igan has entered her 10000 protests
against the old semi-barbarous regime;
has made a telling step toward the
''front" in civilization.
All honor to Michigan, and every
State that does likewise. From
the same paper 1 also learn that the
Sixteenth Amendment is gathering
hosts of friends in the northern portion
of the Western States, especially. We
are little slower down here to wake uI
in the morning, but we will try to gel
up in time to come to late breakfast
if no other. There is really more
apathy than opposition in this part oi
our State, but lectures and Sixteenth
Amendment petitions are being brought
into service by friends of the cause here
and we think that by the next session o
Congress we will be able to give pretty
fair account of ourselves from this dis
trict.
For my own part, 1 have a clear anC
abiding faith in the ultimate success o.
the cause demanding the constitutional
acknowledgment and affirmation o
woman's right to the ballot. The ur.
gent necessity of to-day, the demands o
progress, the witness of the living spiri
of truth, all the individual and com
bined interests of our common human
ity imperatively demand the recogni
tion of that right, expressed not alone
in the suppliant voice of modest peti
tion-thOugh that will assert its unac
kDowledged prerogative-but also, il
the more manly and womanly resist
ance to effete customs through appeal!
to the reason and common sense of those
whom 1--WE, the people," entrust will
the conception, framing, and passage o
just LGlOs. Save one, L have seen my
three-score years, but still expect-nt
accidents occurring-to see the great
ponderous wheel of our nations princi
pal misfortunes-the liquor traffic-re
versed in its death-dealing revolution!
by a new and healthy momentum
which woman's added voice and vot,
alone can give. That such will be th,
case 1 do most assuredly know, as
know by natures immutable laws tha
the solar heat and light will, on eacL
successive day, be given to our planet
For such glorious consummation worE
and faint not; and in such joyous hop,
and strengthened faith 1 rest the caus
of a redeemed and enlightened hu
manity.
And that the NEW NORTHWEST, ant
every journal conducted by women fo
woman's elevation, as we'll as mans
may increase in extended circulation
and material support, their editors forti
fed by the good wishes and kind word
of a temperance loving, intelligent, ant
moral people, until the inspiring demon
of discord, gurgling from ten thousan,
poisonous streams, shall cease to temp
men to infamous deeds, give war, fam
inc, and pestilence letters of marque t
privateers on the "high seas" of hu
|, manity, fill prisons and alms-house
with criminals and paupers, home
with all that makes life on this eartl
wretched, brothels with the torn ant
SuIIiad shrads of a once bpautifnl hu