The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-18
AN UNSUCCESSFUL MISSIONARY"

The most bgoted opponent q Woman Suflragis
can meet is a man who will admit that he canno
Justify his opposition Our Office was invaded las
week by an individual Of this character VIII,
thought it his EMISSION" to show errors il
advocating the political rights of women. Al
first ne declined to be seated, egotisticaly think.
my that he would convince Us with few word,
4s.d in a very short time. However, finding that
Ms declaration, AZ am opposed to Woman Suf
selgen did not unnerve Us and make Us drop oul
pencil, he pumped himself into chair, put hi,
No 10 boots on our stove took off his No hat
sucked once twice cigar that should not have
been brought into our Office and commenced 81
shall say nothing about the justice Injustice OF
WOman's right to the ballot. T."
We bluntly interrupted just there, and informed
him that we had no time to waste in listening to
al extended lecture from man who began his
remarks by admitting that he could not justify
his opinions; that we were too busy to patiently
hear what he had fore>hadowed would not be
based on right and justice.
But our instructor was not 10 BE- stopped. He
said he had studied the suffrage question for ten
years and could advance some new objections" 4"
We were slightly incredulous, but said nothing,
lad he commenced again, saying thar the "hallot
would degrade woman" would ''les-cn mans re-
Spect for her" would make her the associate Of
low politicians" would "cause her To- neglect her
duties as wife and mother" that she ''is repre-
sonted and protected now by her father, husband
OF brother;n that he had ''too much regard for
woman TO allow her to associate with men az the
polls on election -n
We interrupted "A second time. We were get
ting impatient for something new" We began
~ tiiink the NEW NORTHWEST had been pub
asaIed in vain, but we reflected that our tutor
lad only recently arrived in the State summon
tng all our patience, we took the time To reply 10
these ''new objections" which we have met and
answered until we are s-,yeary We showed him
that the ballot for woman would not degrade her,
but would elevate the standard OF political life {;
that the respect Of men for a woman Is in proper
sion to her intelligence and independence; that
woman, instead of becoming the associate of low
politicians, viii practically destroy them, defeat
ing their schemes with her pure ballot and forcing
them, from lack of i'm wirc-pulling to seek
other callings; that the natural maternal love of
woman, even were she such contemplate crea-
ture as he claimed aad inclined to forget her du-
.ies, would prevent her from neglecting her fam
Jy; that the "husband representation" doctrine
- nonsense, citing numerous instances of its mis-
ehieyous working, aHG showing him that thou
hrothers; that if men have 80 much regard" for
women, they viii be gentlemen at the polls, and
Il few want to be boorish there will be plenty
Of persons to make them behave themselves
Our "teacher'' changed his style Of attack and
Esd "the majority of women don't want to vote
and, the majority rules i'm this country, none
ought to vote" This bright individual is a Re
publican-so raDid and partisan and so deeply i'm
Sued with hatred Of a.i Democrats that he proba-
bly, should be called "Eadcal"-and we applied
the majority rule" in Couch precinct for his ben
ait, though we disagreed with him ~ TO the pro-
portion Of women who want 10 vote, giving him
good reasons fOr differing from his opinion.
Couch precinct - heavily Democratic, and, a.
the majority rules tlle Hancock men had "a right
20 prevent from voting those who did not agree
~ith them, according to your peculiar reasoning"
we said 1t suddenly iawncd on him that if but
one woman in America wants 70 vote, the re-
manning millions have right to "say her nay"
Our well-meaning ".utor' grew rambling in his
remarks, and finally concluded bv saving that i'm
the large cities an extra ballot-box would bc nee
eSsary at each polling place, as women would be-
crowded and jo7tled too much if compelled TO form
n line with mca e.i ,,at e. ev.,rrsa would be
TOO efeat We suggested .!iat, in consideration of
site taNes paid 10y women, they might Doe provided
With places TO vote
After displaying his ignorance OF the status Of
Oregon women IN regard to property. the "mis-
si0nary" departed, feeling that he was not a suc-
cess We trust he learned that he may "studv the
suffrage question for lan years. more without
coming to a logical and sensible conclusion unless
me takes right and justice into account in his de-
uberations.