The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1881-02-10
INANE OBJECTIONS.

INANE OBJECTIONS.
In a recent issue of the Weston Ledder ap-
peared the following remarks, which display such
a profound knowledge of the rights and obliga-
tions of citizenship, such complete understand
inc of the power and use of the ballot, and such
deep appreciation of the attributes and virtues of
true womanhood, that they are worth reprintng
and preserving to posteriiy;
\ modest amiable and intelligent woman is truly a
queen OF % the delighted submission Of her sub
ie being roportionae the greatness Of those qualities
may he accented aS that the more nearly
possesses what generally considered distinctive maScu-
line qualities is the esteem Of and her influence
over the male sex and Woman has attained
that rdcl graphically depicted as the "queen Of social
life ana that she can further elevated in respect and
esteem is unlikely. Direct political power will detract
from some of the most charming and wholesome atrac-
tions She possesses and is more than questionable
whether their loss could be compensated 10y privi-
o OF voting II she cannot purify politics by her present
influence man, she s less likely To do D. when that
power essened boy her actively mixing in politics
To speak seriously, that etrusion is enough to
nauseate intelligent women. submission Of
subjects is phrase which provokes only sneers
in this country. Women Of breadth Of intellect
regard and respect men who uphold standard Of
equality and. justice, and not those who ludi-
crously endeavor TO stand on an imaginary and
impossible platform of assumed patrOnizug
superiority and affected submissive inferiority
II woman be a homely, honest Woodworking,
unattractve drudge, she is not, according to rules
laid down by the Lcddcr apt to be treated as
well as a butterfly of fashion because she cannot
command the delighted submission of her sub
jects." Sound reasoning would therefore find
that she has the greater need of civil and political
rights.
Women have little regard for the intellectual
capacity OF men who connect the right TO suffrage
with charming and wholesome attractions
What a sensation it would create If some member
of Congress should propose tomake the charming
and wholesome attractions Of men qualifications
or disqualitications for voters. The bold states
man who advanced the idea would be relegated
to private life and possibly 10 the Oblivion Of =
mad-house. Yet men are occasionally found who
can see, when attempting to discuss the woman
question, a relationship between personal
charms and inherent rights, and who consider
that justice is founded on wholesome attrac-
tions"
The more the Lcoder says, the worse its alleged
argument grows, and i'm the last sentence il
reaches the height Of absurdity-"f woman can
not purify politics by her present influence, she
is less likely to do it when that power is lessened
by actively mixing in politics" Where is Jack
Bunsby? He probably could declare that a class
without political rights, without a voice in the
enactment and enforcement Of laws has greater
power and influence than the sovereign citizens
and law-makers-in fact that subjects are
rulers. As the Lcodcr favors temperance, it
should see the inanity Of its statement. If they
had a chance, ninety-nine per cent of the women
of this State would vote for temperance, and,
with the aid Of temperance men, they would hold
in check the liquor traffic. But the Leadcr has
the sublime efIrontery To assert that women have
greater influence now than if they could throw
thousands of temperance ballots. The Lcddcr
should know better than this, and it insults the
intelligence OF the people Of Umatilla county by
the utterance of such puerility.