The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-19
EARROW-G GAUGE IDEAS.

one OF the greatest wonders Of this
age Of progress Is that there still exist
men and women who think to compel
other men and women Of at least equal
intelligence to filter their ideas through
the narrow-gauge pulp that scarcely
serves themselves the purpose Of
brain. Yet, wonderful as it is, such
persons do exist, aud in numbers not in
considerable. We remember once in
the long ago Of taking the boat at Ore
gon City for Albany, accompanied by
our flock Of little folks. Il was in the
year succeeding the assassination Of
Lincoln when the ''my policy" Of An
drew Johnson was provoking the ire Of
Republicans at large, and causing their
in Congress to over
whelm his yetoes by the more than
needful two-thirds majorities. We were
foolish enough or enthusiastic enough
in those days to be an ardent partisan,
albeit a disfranchised citizen, but upon
this last we had not then spent much
thought or course governmental meas
ures were discussed in the cabin as our
boat crept slowly over the summer
shoals of the Willamette, and equally,
Of course, having our opinion, we ex-
pressed it in common with others.
Among our number was a lady with
a fretful yearling in her arms, and a
saucy three-year-old scampering about.
"Come here.n "Sit down" "Tll whip
your "See what you have done" came
in sharp and quick tones, at short inter
walls, as the inefficient woman tugged at
this child and lugged at that TO the an
noyanee Of all about her
Partly out Of pity for her, and partly
from compassion for her fellow-trayel-
ers and hapless children, we essayed to
help her, and after season succeeded in
putting the unruly three-year-old to
sleep. As we returned to the chair we
had vacated to place the child in bed,
we heard the mother say, as il in an
swer TO a lady who sat near:
ST have no patience with women
who talk politics. They had better at
tend to their children"
"But," we interposed, Suppose they
take care Of their children, too?'
''They can't do it," she answered, her
face flushing angrily.
"Who being the Judge ?' we asked.
"Well, I know that I have all I can
do to take care Of my children and look
after my house." was the rejoinder
"But if others have more than your
executive ability, and can not only take
care Of their own, post themselves on
political matters, but assist you oeca-
sionally, have you any right 10 measure
their capacity by your own, and confne
them to your limits >" asked a gentle
voiced friend who sat near.
No reply was given, and the unruly
child soon awaking, the mothers time
was given to the mal-administration Of
family government, the chief agent in
which was an occasional sharp slap,
meant to be a cOercive, but proving only
an exasperating measure.
All women know that &c is not un-
common to meet these inefficient wom-
en-, who, not content with their own ig-
noble failure in life work, seek to meas
ure all women by their own standard,
and narrow them theoretically to the
same unsatisfying results. 1t is ia
women Of this class whom men point
when they say, "Women do not want tc
vote.n Now, we undertake to say that
women such as these are not represents
tive women. How, indeed, can they be
when they have not an idea upon any
question that engages the attention oi
intellectual womanhood? Attempt tC
argue any question with them, and a:
soon as their stock Of insufficient plati'
tudes is exhausted, which is very soor
indeed, they grow angry and misrepre'
sent everything a fair-minded opponent
says. They are not the tidy house
keepers nor good wives and mothers o.
the world, as a general rule; in fact, are
representative women in nothing ex.
cept when they represent narrowness
If men only understood what an insult
to intelligent women is this constant
quoting Of women who have sail tho
rights they want" or deserve, we haC
almost said, they would surely nevei
again be guilty of the declaration tha
when women want the ballot, and {
majority OF them ask for it, they will b'
/ willing to extend it.