The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-01
TO DIR PATRONS.

TO OUR PATROAS.
On the first Friday in May, 1871, the
first issue Of the NEW NORTHWEST was /
launched upon the changing sea OF pub
lie opinion, its watchwopi Liberty, its
banner Progress, its anchor Hope. On
that never-to-be-forgotten day, in MAX
ing our first editorial bow, we said:
We have served a regular apprenticeship at /
so-called woman's work-washing, scrubbing, /
patching, darning, ironing, plain sewing, milk
ing. chuming, caring for The babies, and rails .
ing poultry. We have kept boarders, taught
school, taught music, written for the news
papers, made speeches, and carried on an ex-
tenslve millinery and dress-making business.
We can prove by the public that this work has
been well doue. And now, having reached the
age Of thirty-six, and having brought up
family OF boys 10 set type, and a daughter %
run the millinery store, We propose 10 edit and
publish a newspaper; and We intend 10 estab-
lish 10 as one OF the permanent Institutions Of
The country. We started in business with
strong preludices against what the world calls
strong-minded " women. Experience and
common sense have conquered those prelu-
dices. We see, under the existing conditions
OF society, one-half OF the women overtaxed
in the worlds drudgery while the other half
are idle, expensive and frivolous. Both Of
these conditions OF society are wrong; both
have resulted from woman's lack OF political
and consequent moral and pecuniary respon-
sibility. To prove this. and do what we can 10
elevate woman, that thereby she and her son
and brother, man, may be benefited, and
through her made better, purer and happier,
is the aim OF this publication. We ask no IA
vors of a generous publicn We shall give
value received for every dollar we obtain.
Half that we have planned 10 do we cannot
now enumerate; but we viii prove 20 you, If
You will sustain our paper, that we are not
only thoroughly in earnest, but that we know
Just what we are about.
Had we cast a bomb into the great
heart Of q slumbering earthquake, we
could not have raised greater social
commotion. The premature explosion
OF a "guDpowder plot7 in the grounds
adjacent to the Capitol would not have
caused a greater stir in politics. Strang-
ers ridiculed our project; its few friends
trembled for it, and everybody predicted
ignominious failure. For a long time
the way was dark. The remunerative
millinery business gave way to the un-
remunerative work of the platform.
We were as ignorant OF the laws that
govern newspaper enterprises as is a
native Hottentot of trigonometry, aud
We paid double and treble prices for
current expenses. Our private funds
grew less and were finally exhausted.
With aching heart we borrowed money
and went ahead, dragging after US the
heavy ball aud chain Of interest. Then
the great fire came in Portland in 1873,
depressing business and still further OBJ
scuring the financial outlook. The
daily and weekly Herald, tue NctC Era,
the daily and weekly Bulletin, and num-
erOus other papers Of lesser note, grew
old and died, but the NEW NORTHWEST
passed on and on, in spite Of its finan-
cial breakers. Then friend, who was
heavily indebted to Us, suddenly became
insolvent. Sickness invaded our house
hold and we knew not what TO do. For
a long time the shadowy wing Of the
death-aDgel brooded over the hearth
stone, and we were compelled to sus-
pend business for a season. But our
brethren Of the respectable press were
sympathetic and encouraging. We
rallied forces and began again, bot we
should never have been able to 90 on
in our mission, untrammeled by loads
OF debt too grievous to be borne, but foi
the timely assistance of Messrs. w. 5
Ladd, J. y. Dolph and L. Williams
Though we had barely more than q
speaking acquaintance with these gentle
men, they had read the NEW NORTH
WEST, and had heard some of our pub
lie speeches. and when they learned o.
the papers pecuniary straits, they came
Ike true American gentlemen, to the
rescue. We have also been courteously
assisted in many ways by other promi
nent gentlemen, among them Messrs
scott Ainsworth, Reed, Denny, Mayer
Hirschi Michel, Sprague and PIttock
We use the names of these gentlemen il
this connection without consultiupth then,
which may not be strictly courteous
but it is just. They wouldn't gran
permission for Us to thank them openI,
If we asked it, so We will not ask. The,
are reaping their reward in the succes
Of our mission, in which every true MAJ
is equally interested with every tru
woman. The enfranchisement Of womar
is no longer a subject Of ridicule. It
not even a matter Of doubt. The lead
ing minds of the nation are its ope
allies. It's advocates occupy the highe:
social and professional places. Wome
are exeelling as lawyers, doctors, artist
in every line, editors, teachers, profe'
sors, orators and preachers. The equa