The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-10-07
FROM 'LITTLE RHODY.D
''KEsIAH SHELTON ELABoRATEs HIS VIEWS OF
THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT.
Providence, R. L, September Is, 1sso

providence, r. l., September 10, lSsG
To EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
| have just read your recent scolding about
'unfragrant lilies,p and will enlarge upon my
views of that great question, the suffrage move
ment. do not believe in suffrage for either man
or woman with no limitation but that of a certain
age / do believe, and always have done So that,
the same conditions being complied with by each,
one should be allowed the privilege of voting that
is accorded to the other The fact of negroes being
allowed to vote without restriction is by many
considered overwhelming argument in favor Of
womans being granted a like privilege at once.
Aside from enfranchising Unregenerate rebels,
consider the full and unrestricted enfranchisement
of the negroes the greatest mistake of the ace ]
do not believe in perpetuating blunders. Neither
do l believe in following precedents, when to do
so to the possible detriment of our future well
fare; so the fact that man has for all time voted
"early and often" without educational or Gin
many States any restriction, would not to me be
an argument in favor of continuing that plan il
is never too late to improve, and there Is no time
as precious opportune to-day. | would
strict the coming voters each and all alike, and
with wise restrictions possible When the
imbecie and ignorant voters die off, let not the
coming politicians stumble dar1ly and ignoraI tly
through the very ruts left by them. "The world
moves" Let Us moves also, and not lose the treas
ures of life by our sloth.
The equal rights movement has brought to pub
lie view much heretofore unsupported "briIiancy
and wisdom" from both sexes An attempt was
made before our Legislature last Winter 10 drive
the "enterng wedge g.. that women should
be allowed to vote upon all school questions One
: of the 'wise men" sternly opposed it, as being
dangerous and liable to cause untold wOes-but he
professed loudly that he was honestly in favor OF
fgH suffrage, yet TO allow the daughters of Eve
= - a. Al
, ing 10y the sweat of their brows p a voice upon
r certain questions only would cause-would cause
n WELL after all, words failed him to depict the fu-
ture state of society under such unwise conditions
that was revealed to him. Wise seer, what was it
4 thou didst see?
1t is hoped that he has recuperated during the
Summer, and will exhibit as much brilliaucv as
- ever the coming session. Did you dream that the
small State of Rhode Island could contain such
strength of intellect Well he does live near the
?, Massachusetts line, and perhaps breathes in cul-
; ture and judgment during ourfrequent 'noFthers "
t You know when Butler gets to spouting there is
considerable thrown upon the breeze and if at that
: time our wise should be setting on the much
disputed line with face turned northward seeking
= inspiration for Winter use, he might soon be
n filed to repleton.
In Massachusetts, women have been granted the
e privilege" of voting upon the school question
r and it would be interesting to know what proper
o tion of women that have talked ''wOmen's rights
have availed themselves of the right now granted
Some say, 1--WE don't for that tid-bit,u 'We
= have no children or "Our children are now out
so we have no interest in schools What no in
e terest in schools? For shame, | say; it was well
e said that setShneSS Is the bane of the world The
# woman who has whined, ranted, or has deco
g rously pretended that she thought she was
wTOnged by the deprivation of voters privilege,
and now refuses to avail herself of the opportunity
of partial suffrage, should hide her head and
= seek some secluded spot where she may never be
heard of more. Partial suffrage is the ''enterinq
" wedge and each and every wisely-cast "wOmanis
II vote" is telling blow that strikes home and
opens the way for more and greater liberties to fol-
10 low. Every woman that has talked woman S
rights and now ignores even this partial privilege
granted in some States, does deliberately block
e the wheel of progress that she has been pretending
,e to help along. One of the most effective argU-
n ments against school suffrage for women in our
State was that although many signatures prayed
our Legislature for the right, yet in reality il
y would prove, in other States that but few cared
N for it after ALL
10 1t is inconceivable to me how a woman who
- "would talk the legs off an iron skillet when
y once started upon the subject of woman's wrongs
and woman's rights, can, when asked If she has
been "enrOlled,n assume Il look of astOnishment
Ia and make evasive or contemptuOus answer: " ]
ts pray thee have me excused for do not care "a
" vote until | can vote upon all questions" ~
III don't care who is on the School Committees
sd don't want the office, am suren 81 never cared
DO to vote, but pettioned to help those that did"
think the poll tax should be abolished I shall not
pay to vote" II am too old; couldn't vote long
m anyway ~ am young; there is time enough. ?
" And so on dd GbitUBl, dd RduseuH. Pardon, if
IL have offended any one. love sincerity, truth and
honor Yours, KESIAH SHELTON.