The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-09-30
GENERAL GARFIELD's POSITION.

AS it is now positively stated that General Gar
field did not declare himself opposed to Woman
Suffrage, it becomes necessary to again refer to
his views on the question. When Belva a. Lock-
wood desired to reach the highest bar in the
United States, he voted for the bill to allow
women to practice before the Supreme Court
During the last Congress, he voted in Committee
for a Committee on the Rights of Women and
without his vote the matter could not have been
reported to the House.
Judging Mr. Garfield by his official actions,
the Suffragists naturally claimed him as a FREUD.
When he received the Republican nomination for
President they decided to ask positive statement
Of his views, and accordingly Miss Anthony
called on him for that purpose. Standing on the
party's platform, he simply declined to declare
himself advocate of Woman Suffrage, or to
make any promises, Just as he declined to make
similar statements or pledges to ProhibtiOnists,
though his temperance history and public record
on that question is one which would have justi-
fed any statement he might have chosen to make.
He did not, was reported by Democrats,
snnaunce his opposition to freedom for woman.
Etse Washington Republican, speaking of the cir
eUated report that the Republican nominee is a
bitter opponent Of the woman movement, says
General Garfield has never made a speech, given
public utteTance, nor east vote against Woman
Suffrage" but that he is in the position of rev.
erent inquiry outlined by him in his address at
the Spencerian Business College in 1869. 1t would
seem that he has had time enough to come to
some conclusion, and we are glad to find farther
on in the Repu5Iican's article, that he is Elm
elined to favor the full and fair consideration of
Woman Suffrage "because it is a question Of the
rights OF citizens"
General Garfield acted the part of a politician
when he refused to declare himself on the
woman question. His party had declined to say
anything upon the subject and his personal views
could clash with nothing in the platform. An ex-
preston for or against the movement was what
the women asked and what they had a right to
have His silence does not gain him cordial
support from Woman Suffrage journals. How
ever his reticence, in view of his record and that
oC his party is worthy of more respect than the
summing attempt Of Hancock to stretch "a free
vote and a full ballot" over the Woman Suffrage
question, though saying he could not Commit
himself" and admitting that according to the
doctrines of his party, the President could not
IIeddle with the question of voting in the States"
If the Democratic Congress cannot and will not
dC anything for women, Democratic President,
Woman Suffragist should he be, could not and
would not be Of any assistance TO them. Women
must work to be recognized as National citizens
They must labor for amendment recognizing
them a. persons" They must strive for such
recognition as the negro received. They must be
declared voters by the Nations Legislature. They
cannot succeed while the Government is controlled
5y men who Will do nothing for them but force
diem to besiege thirty-nine State and eleven Ter
ritorial Legislatures rather than one Congress.
They will be duly thankful to any State which
may deal justly by all its citizens bet they will
be aware that all women cannot be recognized
until they are National citizens They must have
the help Of the party which considers the United
States a Nation and believes in the right of Con-
gress to define National voters That party is
headed by Garfield If his party does its duty to
women he may be trusted to sanction its action.
Hon. John Mimic made grand argument in
5he House on the 'Insane billr last Monday in
which he eulogized the women who conduct the
Orphans Home, proving them models Of econ
omy, fair dealing and financial sense; the infer
ence being that a woman ought to be elected Su-
perintendent Of the Asylum for the Insane.