The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-01-16
HISTORICAL.

now being published in the National
Citizen, We find that about 1886, a time
prior to the existence Of many who are
now working earnestly in the cause,
Judge Hurlbert, of New York, leading
member Of the bar, wrote a vigorous
work on Human Rights, ," in which he
advocated political freedom for women,
and equal property rights for married
women. II was work that attracted
the attention Of many legal minds
| throughout that State. Judge Hurlbert,
with a lawyers prejudice, first prepared
paper against the rights Of woman,
and upon looking over il, he felt him
self capable Of refuting every argument
employed, which he at once proceeded
10 do, the result being the work first
mentioned. After reciting the names
Of women prominent in the arduous
work of those early times, many Of
which have since become household
words in hundreds Of homes where lib
erty is cherished, the following il re-
corded Of Abby Kelly: "This lady was
the most untiring and the most perse-
cuted of all the women who labored
throughout the anti-slavery struggle.
/ She travelled up and down alike in win
ter's cold and summers heat, with
scOrn, ridicule, violence, and mObs ae-
compauying her, suffering all kinds OF
prosecutions, still speaking whenever
and wherever she gained an audience;
in the open air, in school-house, barn,
depot, church, or public hall, on week
day or Sunday, as she found oppor-
tuuity. For listening to her, especially
on Sunday, many men and women were
expelled from their churches"
Ministers, as rule, have been ex-
tremely slow TO advocate the doctrines
OF equal rights, and it is always a source
OF pleasure TO record an honorable and
courageous exception. Such an one We
find mentioned in this history: ain the
State Of New York, in 1915, Rev.
Samuel J. May preached a sermon upon
the rights and conditions Of woman, in
which he sustained their right to take
part in political life, saying women
need not expect to have their wrongs
fully redressed until they have voice
aud hand in the enactment and ad-
ministrstion of the laws"
From the newspaper department Of
this chronicle, We Gull from many inter-
esting notices the following: "Pene-
lope Russell printed The Censor in Bos-
ton, Mass, in l771. She set her own
type, and was such a ready compositor
as to set up her editorials without writ
/ ten copy, while working at her case.
/ The most tragical and interesting
events were thus recorded by her"
"The free Enquirer, edited in New
York by Francis Wright in 1928, was
the first periodical established in the
United States for the purpose Of fearless
and unbiased inquiry on all subjects.
It had already been published two
years under the name Of The Ne5g HGr-
nlony Gazette, for which Mrs. Wright
had written many leading editorials
and in which she published serially
a few days in Athens"
The few brief extracts given will suf
fee to show those who display their lach
; Of information on the subject by speak
ing Of the movement for the recognition
Of equal rights as mushroom growtl
planted by few women who are at wa
with nature and fostered by their dis
content, that a few historical facts ar,
Of more real worth than is all the un
supported information they are able t
voice. The truth is that none but thos
whose ignorance Of the matter reu
ders them objects Of pity rather thar
fit subjects for indignation, peddle th
libels upon the movement and tn
workers therein that but a few year
ago were met on every hand. Histor.
is not made; IL is merely compiled, ant
ready and efficient chroniclers are no
wanting who find their greatest pieasur
in setting the public mind right upo
the inception, growth and progress q
the Woman Suffrage movement, an
/, the public work Of the women Of Amer
/, lea extending over an entire century.