The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-03
A VOICE FROM SAN JOSE.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
Taking up fragment Of an old ArgO-
naut recently, noticed the gleeful ex-
preston of the editor upon some defeat
of woman's enfranchisement, 1--WE are
glad the humbug is dying out" Upon
thoughtful review of the two years
since the discovery was made, it is evil
dent the humJug Is dying Outg We
have constant proof Of our leading
minds abandoning this absurd folly
Vain pretension To think Of imPrOv-
ing upon the wisdom Of the TOdds, the
Websters, the Edwardes of the pastl
Let the ten lady county superintend-
ents Of public instruction in Illinois,
the three in California, four in Kansas,
and those in all other States, resign the
places usurped to their more needy,
harder worked and better qualified
brothers. Il is well that presuming
woman is not the arbiter Of her own
destiny. Let the ArgonaH and kindred
spirits attend the brakes, or she will
rush to mad destruction.
Everybody regretted long ago that the
sehool-room door was left ajar; for,
pushing il wide open, she entered boldly
and sent thousands OF worthy young
men to the farm and to the Workshop.
The effect upon our schools will always
be felt. Throwing away the rod, the
emblem Of justice under the old regime,
she has introduced a ruinous expense
No longer the hewn desk speaks of boy
ish ingenuity; no longer exist the one
paneled door and other evidences of
physical strength; no longer the puny
master is reminded Of his place by bis
athletic boys. Let the ArgonaW note
the mischief.
And now woman knocks at the door
Of our higher institutions. Allowed a
voice in the church, she has ascended
the pulpit stairs; she detracts from the
dignity OF the courtroom; she demands
to be heard from the rostrum; she even
glldes into the sick-room, place that,
above all others, should be free from in
trusion; and, with her brazen assurance,
she jostles the editor in his chair-as
though the ArgOndut were not.
But not in the professions alone
has she interfered. AS an inventor she
claims rivalry. In affairs Of the State,
at the counter and in the workshop has
this intruder essayed to enter, and even
in the fine arts she claims more than a
passing notice. Our hope lies in the
reasonable, cool. headed, all-wise ArgO-
naut. Let Kansas, Massachusetts, and
the other States and Territories, with
their prepOsterous ideas OF justice and
the inevitable, remember that the stone
of Sisyphus ever rolls back again.
Louisiana too reminds us how very near
its death gasp is this wild scheme. Let
US chant a requiem!
Had California imbibed the senti-
ments of its enlightened weekly, the
new Constitution would not have been
disgraeed by the following:
No person shall, on account Of sex, be dis
qualified from entering upon any business,
vocation OF profession.
But this only allows the privilege Of
doing that for which they are qualified,
aud we all know how much that is.
Yes, we have daily evidence that the
humbug is dying out. Let the Arg0-
ndW be ready with the obituary.
Dying as dies the sunset hour,
a self-reviving thing OF power;''
Dying as dies the refuent wave,
Powerless the coming tide 20 save.
MEMO.
San Jose, Cal, June II, 1879.