The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-02-22
In the Beginning.

In the Beginning.
The ouestion is sometimes asked:
Why is IL that woman has ever been
subject TO man? What cause induced
him TO rule over herr
The reason is probably this: In the
early ages Of the world, the mind was
comparatively dormant, and physical
force bore sway. Men and women in
the savage state roamed through woods
and over mountains in companies, in
quest Of food. Sometimes these COM
panies would be separated for years.
Then having lost the memory Of Others
besides themselves, n casual meeting of
strange parties would occasion fear in
the bosoms of these wild people.
Wrangling and strife followed, and the
men being stronger and more combative
than the women, they fell upon and de-
strOyed each other, possessing them
selves of the spOils. This aroused their
cupidity, aud war became an art, in
which each tried to excel the other.
Then, becoming robbers, men built
strongholds, from which they could espy
a weaker party from afar, and sallying
out, slay him, and enrich themselves
with his substance. This was the case
in Europe in the dark ages; in the times
of the barOns and their clans. II is still
the state OF things among the Tartar aud
Arab tribes. The will of the stronger
was the only law; violence aud crime
the result.
Woman was an important item in the
list of spOils. Being endowed with the
ability to elaborate and rear human be-
ings, she had little leisure and less ip-
clination for war. She, the giver OF life
was utterly opposed TO war, the de-
stIoyer Of life, aud she shrank from il
with her whole being. When her father
and husband were cut down by hostile
/ band, she had not the same power OF
motive to resist. She knew that heT
death would not necessarily follow.
The conqueror, charmed by her beauty
promised not only her life, but that oi
I her children, and maternal love prevail
/ ing, she yielded without opposition. II
soon became "A matter OF course, that
whenever a victory occurred, the con-
queror should spare the women and
children as a part of the plunder. Then
| they naturally awaited the result away
| from the field Of battle.
But women at length became very
numerous, in comparison with theil
conquerOrs, ard il was necessary to con-
u AAANE HNDlE lnGnAAH " hNNH AhNAA IL aef
lection. They were forbidden, uDdel
pain OF death, to touch any kind o
weapon. Completely in the power o
their masters, they were subject TO {
thousand restrictions aud indiguities.
Some had their feet crippled; somt
were closely confined, or allowed TO 70
out only with their faces covered, while
they were compelled, not only to bea
children, but 10 perform ali the manua
labor and execute the most menial ser
vices for their lords and husbands.
Soon they became q source of grea
mower 10 their masters. They reare'
sons, aud he sent them TO subdue hi
enemies and increase his possessions
They reared daughters, and he sold then
to the highest bidder, or gave them a
presents to those whom he wished Z
favor or cOnciliate.
And thus woman lived on and ol
through centuries OF untold suffering
thrust back into the darkest corner to b
found, every avenue by which the ligh
might reach her carefully guarded, les
perchance she might presume to com
pare herself favOrably with man, or Sc
to learn a letter Of the alphabet.
And vet, in the midst of all this deg
radiation and misery, man must haV
been conscious of her fine moral nature
. her delicate tastes and high spiritual as
pirations. Else why should he hav
embodied Justice and Wisdom and Lib
erty and all the excellencies and grace
: of humanity in female forms? VIII
has he ever had an Isis, Minerva, an
a Madonna TO whom TO bow down i
alteration and love?
, Because the spiritual part Of his bein
, has recognized the divinity of hers, an
thus rendered to il touching and timel
3 tribute. Because his inner nature Ina
ever acknowledged woman TO be h
, equal, a sacred and beautiful part of th
race.
! Burns expresses this feeling, which
-, like a thread of gold, CLEANS in the dar
and somber woof of by-gone ages, whe
he says:
] " His prentice hand he tried on man,
And then he made the lasses, o."
Thus through all the dismal past, &C
has never left woman without a livir
? witness of her own nobility and inh
= rent power. Thus man has been con
PEELED to do homage 10 the divinity
, her nature, even while she has been d
graded by his selfishness aud sensualit
a - WOmdR's journal.