The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-13
G5e }te'a 1:ort5west.
Is, 1879.
EAMBY-PAMBY.

Occasionally an editor who has evil
IDENTIFY been in somnolent state regard
ing the progress Of events starts sud
denly from his Rip Van Winkle slum-
Der and attempts TO galvanize with a
sickly show of life, theories upon the
woman question that have been an
swered aud silenced so long ago that
their faintest echo is lost to the most at
tentive ear. The Standard, on Wednes-
day of last week, took one Of these
sudden spells, and totally unmindful Of
the progress of events, or totally OBJ
livious TO them, went through column
of namby-pamby which it is almost an
insult to the intelligence Of the general
reader to notice We will, however,
give few specimens Of this antiquated
logic a. just to let our readers see how
dead a man may be and still live. The
article closes with these words:
Man does not expect woman 10 do military
duty, nor does he expect her TO vote. II she
axe the sweets .s) OF suffrage, she must also
take the gall.
OF course it is in vain to tell such
fossil that women were not born for
the specific purpose Of doing what men
''expecu" them to do; equally vain to
cite him to the fact that thousands OF
men who, for physical reasons, are not
called upon to do military duty, vote
unchallenged, aud that wOman's part
in bearing and rearing soldiers is the
far greater part Of the battle.
It is true her sphere is, and properly SO, too,
in tlre domestic clrcle-the nearest and dearest
place on earth.
Women of large and comprehensive
minds, intelligent judgment and COM
mendable energy insist that they them
selves are the only proper judges as to
their own sphere, aud proudly assert in
thousands Of instances that "these
things also can they do and not leave
the other undOne.n
Woman sustains position OF influence and
power, while silent and unobtrusive, thai IS
felt in every department Of civil government.
II this "silent and unobtrusive influ-
ence" (Which, by the way, everybody
who has pulled political wires as the
Standard editor has done, knows TO be
a MYTH is what is the matter with
"every department Of the civil govern
ment," every one will allow that
woman should be permitted to speak
out at once, that the nation may know
what she is doing and not blame the
men for the frauds aud intrigues that
prevail Wonder il this editor will
turn States evidence aud reveal the
name Of the woman whose "silent aud
unobtrusive influence" prompted GER
tain sworn statements which have
caused him much disquiet?
She Possesses a sweet charm, sacred and
holy, that Families all our social and polit.
ical system. Woman to-day is respected and
loved. The gallant man al all times is evei
ready to bear his bosom in her defense.
At last we have a elincher. sweet.
ened wind, !" but clincher nevertheless
profound, sentimental, pathetic, de-
clarative, and above all, original
Not one Of Us ever heard anything like
it until now. True, some may have haC
a suspicion of the "bear'' in the bosom
Of some of these gallant fellows, but th'
sentiment; the "secret charm sacreC
and holy" the assertion that "womaI
is respected and loved" these startle III
with their originality. And then they
are so conclusive when urged agains
woman's political equality. In the fac,
Of the obstacles that women must mee
in the great battle Of life; in the fac,
Of the great underlying principle Of jus
tice that is the foundation stone OF al
political rights, it is a flattery TO desig
nate such spasmodic eructations Of folly
even as namby- -pamby.