The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-11
A PLEA FOR PIONEER WOMEN.

1t is somewhat amusing to hear and read the
boasting statements about the early settlement OF
| Oregon made by intelligent speakers and writer's
who invariably claim that the march of civiiza-
ton on this coast was led by some Rocky Noun
tain or Hudson Bay Company hunter. They do
not mention the fact that the path across the
Rocky Mountains was proved to be practicable for
Immigrants by the perseverance and faith of
Christian women, two Of whom, Mrs. Narcissa
Whitman and Mrs. Eliza Spalding, Of New York.
traversed it in 1886; followed in '3S by Mrs. Mary
Augusta Gray, of the same State, Mrs Myra Fair
bank Eells of Massachusetts, Mrs. Mary Richard
son Walker, of Maine and Mrs. Sarah Smith, OF
Connecticut; in 80 by Mrs. Munger of New York,
and Mrs Griffin, of Massachusetts; in 40 by Mrs.
Clark, Mrs. Lttlejohn and Mrs. A. +. Smith.
These noble women are now generally ignored, as
II they did not help to pioneer the way and had
no influence in establishing in the wilderness the
civilization Of which Oregon is so proud The
men alone are extolled 10y the pioneer orators that
have been chosen to narrate the importance Of the
work of the early settlement Of the State, while
the fact remains without the shadow of a doubt,
confirmed by the experience of twenty-five previ-
Gus years, that advancement was made until
after the arrival, in 1896, Of Mrs. Whitman and
Mrs. Spaldng, who brought wagon, cows, inn
plements 10 inaugurate farming, and books and
charts to commence school, and in the succeed
ing four years by the coming of nine other women,
also bringing domestic animals, implements for
the development Of the country, and school books
and Bibles, and all being qualified TO teach any
branch in the common schools of their native
States. Thus there were eleven intelligent Chris
tian American women who came TO Oregon across
the plains before the first attempt was made to
settle tie country by an overland immigration
two of them a. early the mountain trapper who
was exhibited in this city last June by the orator
of the Pioneers ''as the first American settler who
had in the year 1896 come within twelve miles Of
the place Of meeting Wedo not wish to detract
at all from the praise which il due 90 pioneer men,
but we do desire that the women who braved
equal dangers and endured equal harlships should
be equally honored with their brothers IL is
time that men should quit claiming all the glory
OF settling this country and share il with their
sisters. II either class is deserving of higher rec
ognition than the other it is the women for with
out them no civilization worthy the name could
have been attained. Those named above made
the Journey Of 300 miles on horseback. across the
plains and Rocky Mountains, when they were at
all times liable to he captured by the numerous
wild and savage hordes Of Indians roaming over
the country which they traver-ed, and, as proved
i'm subsequent years not safe i'm later times even
for more numerous trains of wagons and with
armed men. We have not mentioned the young
women who ventured upon the ocean voyage Of
seventeen thousand miles, for the reason that they
were provided with the accommodations "a ship
usually affords, and endured only the discomfort-
incident to a long sea voyage.
Looking back through the years that hgve rap
idly sped, and coming over the privations and
sutierings Of the women who reached this land i'm
the days Of its savagery, and thinking of the easy
travels Of men who have come i'm the past twenty
years, we cannot refrain from crying out against
the bold injustice that denies these women the
right Of voice in making the laws for their
adopted State and naming the executors, and yet
permits men who did nothing To reclaim the coun-
try to set themselves up to define the political
status Of these and all other women. How unjust
il is for men, who arrived after the hills and val
leys were made to blossom a rose, to claim the
right to debar from the suffrage the toing faith
full women who have spent their lives i'm making
our land garden spot of the world Who has the
bold eflrontery to say that the venerable pioneer
women should have no voice i'm the affairs of their
loved State? And who can admit the political
rights Of these revered women without admitting
the rights OF all women?