The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-02-02
CALIFORNIA LETTER.

CALIFORNIA LETTER.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
There is quite a commotion in our
house in consequence of the NEW
NORTHWEST failing to put in an ap-
pearance for two weeks past. You see
it's not just the thing to work our feel
ings up to the highest pitch of interest
in the well being of "Edna and John"
and then leave them to cool off by de-
grees in suspense. The last we heard of
that worthy couple, they were just en-
tering upon little episode of a thrill
ing character, such as to break the mo-
notony of steady going married life.
1 had forgotten, but wife, who has
been mourning the loss of her paper, as
she calls it, tells me that "Edna," the
better half of this unfortunate family,
with "Aunt judy" were being driven
off in an OK wagon at fearful rate over
rocks and mounds on the wild desert
plains by the lawful husband of the
former, who seemed to be goaded to des-
peration by startling discovery made
the night previous; and then "Ednan
was not in such health as to make such
a ride desirable, as the story had inti-
mated a recent increase in their family,
as well as other complications of an in
harmonious married life. Noweg wife is
not so much concerned about,the oxen
q n oh. fe nE Il
unhappy pair. Did they reach any
place worth mentioning, or are the
oxen still travelling toward the setting
sun? ? Are they living together yet in
misery, or did they apply to the law for
legal separation
The above questions answered in a
satisfactory manner will bring peace
again with its healing balm to our trou-
bled household.
But now, without any jesting, see if
wife's name is off the list. If SO, put it
on again, and when the subscription is
up, don't stop the paper, but send the
bill, as she prizes the New NORTHWEST
as the best exponent of woman's natu-
raj and proper rights. So you see she is
another of those strong g-minded women
who want to vote and thus break over
those time-honored lines with which
both church and state have circum-
scribed her sphere. Yes, she is one of
those women who are watching, hoping
and waiting for that incoming Eden of
justice when an intelligent woman shall
be of as much Importance in the ewes of
the law as an American born Chinaman
or negro.
A sad farce is this "free government
of ours; free and open to foreign Cath
olic elements that poison and spread
their virus through all the channels of
legislation and thus undermine our free
institutions, desecrating the memories
of our fathers who died to achieve the
first insstallment of partial liberty, and
not woman in all the land allowed to
raise her voice or cast vote to preserve
political and religious freedom.
We have hope for woman's redemp-
tion in the great law of evolution,
rather than from a sense of Justice in
the selfish and ignorant. The law of
necessity rights all great wrongs; only
be patient, like the Israelites of old, and
see the glory of God. All advance and
true progress in the world has been the
result Of this great law of necessity:
from the incipiency of our race physi-
cal, mental, and moral growth has de-
pended upon this law.
AS with individual so with national
life. Men are not good and just so much
from love of truth and justice as from
the same law of necessity over all and
behind all which impels the race for
ward as gravitation and affinity stirs
and aggregates the atoms composing the
crust of this earth. So the government
of men and nations is subject to this
great law.
Our government did not abolish
slavery simply because it was an iDjuss
tice to the slave. But its blighting
curse made emancipation a necessity.
Slavery contained within its own body
the seeds of its own death. So, also,
woman slavery carries within its own
bosom the ranking and corroding poi
son that will make her enfranchisement
a necessity to this government; and
such a elimination as this is liable to
occur at any time, as we are in the
midst of a political and social maelstrom
drawing nearer each year to the usher
ing in of new dispensation.
For tru h shall conquer at the last,
As round and round we run,
And ever the right comes uppermost,
And ever is Justice DONE"
The world moves, and especially this
part Of it. San Jose is all astir and at a !