The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-04
THEY MAY CHANGE THEIR FRONT.

State are fearful that women will be solled when
they enter politics and continually advise them
, keep within the 'ch ~med circle of home," that
~ may command the nspect, love and support
ol the men who claim 20 be too filthy" to asso-
/ ciate with them in tine political pool" Some as
sert that women who "w sh to take any part or
parcel in politics are objects of disgust to all
men, and that ''no lady ants to vote" others
declare that only chad women" would vote or
+ take any interest in public affairs; while yet
otber say that any woman who would venture to
mix with men In any political movement would
he degraded O. the level # her masculine asso-
cia,e-"
Keeping be.e Ioorous assertions in view, it
was vitl o'a~l th.t Va oticed some ladies in
last ThHrsdsr e, 'rve Democratic procession
winch, uy the way, was very large and enthusias-
tic, considering the condition of the streets The
next day we carefully looked at the Democratic
papers, to see how severely they would denounce
the bold appearance, in torchlight procession of
a number of young ladies; but, look closely as
we could it was impossible to find statement to
the effect that any woman tout of her sphere"
or that the girls were the ''bad women" from the
tabooed streets; neither could we find the asser-
tion that the "charmed circle" had been flattened
into an ellipse, with foc so unaterably fixed that
men and women could never dwell together in
harmony. But we did find eulogies of Miss Zeiber,
who represented Columbia in the ''Ship of State"
and do not doubt that the newspaper men have
increased respect for her because she has mind
of her own; we found complimentary mention of
Miss Knott, who, on a "snOw-white horse"
headed the East Portland division we found
laudations of the wife of member of a band be-
cause she accompanied her husband on foot
through the muddy "filthy' streets; we found
praises of Mrs. COnroy, who ''personated the Cod
dess of Liberty in the Portland Club ranks" we
found flattering notices of some North Portland
young ladies, who, in red, white and blue, APP
peared on the porch Of neatly Illuminated
house and responded to three cheers by proposing
three times three for Hancock, English and vic
tory" We found graceful recognition Of the good
sense" of the Democratic wife of a stalwart Re
publican, who lighted up her house during her
husbands absence.
Reading all these praises of the independence Of
women in having and expressing opinions on the
political situation, on the point of asking
our Democratic brethren, Don't you think these
women should have the power to give their opin-
ions force and effect" when our eyes met these
words in the Standard of Friday morning: ''The
handsome young ladies who greeted the Demo-
cratic stalwarts last evening were enough to con-
vince of their right TO vote" The English is
rather crude but there is no doubt that it COM
mits the S01dcld to the principle of Woman
Suffrage However, that paper is considerably i'm
advance of some of its confreres and no doubt will
be reprimanded by such able sheets as the Jack
sonville Times and the Pendleton Etsf Oreg0nian
for sanctioning doctrines that will enable the
women of the country to 'ruin everything" We
await with anxiety the assaults of these patrons
of advanced journalism upon the characters of the
ladies mentioned. No doubt they will be dis
gusted,u and assert that '.no ladies' were in the
procession. However, they may change their
front and applaud the women for it is noticeable
that people who rail the loudest against the APP
pearance of women in public work are generally
tie most fulsome in their praises when woman
champions their hobbies or endorses their deep
seated and oftentmes bigoted opinions
On Monday evening, as three married gentle
men were walking down First street, their con
versation turned upon the Woman Suffrage reso-
luton, when each informed the others that he had
asked his wife's wishes about voting on the ques-
ton, and each had counseled her husband to vote
for the amendment. The gentlemen then pledged
themselves that on the first election day after the
adoption of the amendment, they would meet
each with his wife, and the party go in a body to
the polls Verify the sight of "A company of noble
men and women quietly depositing their choice
for officers is pleasant scene to anticipate, and
when the day is here will more the
confusion and disorder that now occasionally
breaks forth in the vicinity Of the ballot-boxes.
The millennium will then be as near as shall
ever see it on earth, for women will vote for good
and true candidates only, and improper persons
cannot secure nomination even
Millions of women were made glad by the news
of the passage of the Woman Suffrage resolution
by the Oregon Legislature. 1t was teegraphed
throughout the Union and we are i'm receipt of
numerous complimentary letters, all of which ac-
cord mueh praise to this journal for its work in