The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-02-22
PRoOEEDINes OP zee 0. .s.w.s.A.
FIRST DAY-AFTERNooN SESSION.

ton met at the Court-house in Albany,
February u, 1875, at ? P. NJ, the Presi-
dent, Mrs. II. A. Loughsry, in the chair
After reading minutes Of the last ses-
sion by Mrs. A. NJ. Martin, Secretary,
the President delivered the opening ad-
dress, as follows:
Officers, Members, and Friends We
hail with pleasure and encouragement
this. the fifth annual meeting of the
Oregon State Woman Suffrage Associa-
tion, which, since its organization, has
been slowly yet evidently gaining favor
with the people, and to-day is on more
respectable and influential position than
ever before, keeping pace with other
States in the forward march toward
the emancipation Of the women Of
America.
We are pleased to state that we be-
lieve the outlook for wOman's enfran-
ehisement, both in Europe and America,
was never more bright The subject
has slowly yet surely advanced, until
there has been secured for it firm
foothold in the various legislatures
aud In the United states Congress, as a
subject for consideration and debate.
The great men Of the nation are willing
to give it audience. Judges, Senators,
Representatives, and legislators are
either willing, or, by sense Of duty, are
considering the demands Of the tens OF
thousands Of women, all asking for one
and the same thing-justice before the
law.
We are forced to believe that if the
majority Of men who sit in high places,
clothed with power, were men of clean
hands and pure motives, men true to the
principles Of this government, and faith
ful in performing their duty to the
same, instead Of partisan scheming and
personal achievements, we might soon
expect redress; but knowing the facts as
we do, and seeing the effects as we must,
we fear the hour Of woman's redemption
is not yet.
If there had been such frauds and foul
practices of political parties, striving for
{ political positions for selfish ends a CEN
tury ago, as exist to-day, the Fourth OF
July of 1776 would not have been ehron-
ieled as the birthday of freedom for the
men of this nation.
Women of America, you who are now
struggling to be free, let me urge you to
hold every foothold gained. Though
we meet with defeats, let them but
strengthen our determination for greater
efforts in this great bloodless battle o
principle against prejudice, of right
against wrong, Of truth against error
battles in which we tire. but faint not
but submit to constant, persistent, pa,
tient fightings, which are fraught with
unfavorable results in many engage
ments.
In some Of the countries Of the ole
world, every man is born soldier, and
if necessary, must do active service fol
his country. So We wish that every
woman in America could feel that sh,
was born soldier, ready and willing t
do service in this great battlefield 70
Justice and liberty. "Let every one di,
using our sword, or on it," should b,
our motto. Such spirit causes our op
ponents to see that liberty is something
too sacred to be trified with, too essen
tial to our well being to be denied as
and too immortal 70 perish.
Look, il you please, at Wyoming
which has taken such bold stand il
the practical workings of universal suf
frage, and for seven years has fearlessl,
moved on, securing to her people
higher and purer state OF morals, and
true and just government, yet sur
rounded with opposition on every ham
except in feeble Utah. While he
neighbor, Colorado, last summer wa
the battlefield where the question wa
hotly contested, and defeated, WyOm
ing, undaunted and unmOved, main
tains her position, with her women en-
joying liberty aud self-government, tn
only true republic in America.
Another evidence of advance is th
repeated changes in the statute laws q
almost every State in the Union rela
tive to the property rights of women
Women are demanding the control q
their own property, and the law-maker
are little 10y little granting it. Wbe
women secure the separate use and con
troll of property, the right to proteC
that property will be inevitable, an
will as naturally come as is the justnes
Of our claims for it. In Illinois, for in
stance, which has secured to woma
such equality in the use and control q
property, it will be necessary to Civ
them the protection Of property, whic
protection is the ballot The subject q
woman's equality has passed the pOin
of reproach, and undue criticism has be
come a subject Of action, real action
The swords of action are unsheathe
and FURNISHED. Our opponents n
longer feel secure with heaping bits {
sarcasm and odium upon our advocates
but are preparing for repeated conflicts
which from time to time must surel
come.
When Patrick Henry stood up in th
House Of Burgesses aud made that Dol
and unlocked for defense for the libel
ties Of the colonies, ''Treason! ! treason J
. was shouted from the audience; but th
: cry of treason did not stay the outbur:
of freedom, nor daunt the zeal of Henr
nor the few daring friends who stood b
I him. When Senator Sargent, on th