Year: 1870

The question of woman suffrage is prominent
topic of discussion and must be fairly met A
resolution upon this subject has been introduced
into Congress and will probably be fully debated
and the matter squarely placed before the public.
We propose at this time to show our hand We
are not now in favor of female suffrage, but in
relation to this, as upon all other questions are
open to conviction. We yield to none in defer
ance to the sex. We demand that woman be
recognized as the equal of men socially. We say
that all laws and usages based upon the old
common law theory that the husband and wife
were one, and that the husband was that one,
are relics of barbarous age and should 0e OBJ
liberated. In one particular we think women


need protection Whenever female performs


labor OF any kind she should receive the same


wages man would be paid for doing the same


work. This cannot be remedied by legislation,


but must be controlled by public opinion. In
an enlightened age like this nothing is more
sure than that they will receive justice on this
score. If not, we are in favor of any legislation
which Will reach the case. But when the ballot
for women generally is asked we cannot concur


1t may be said that women pay taxes and are
not allowed representation. This can have no
force except SO far as it relates to spnisters, OF
proverbially uncertain age. So far as they are
concerned we are willing they should vote.
Not many who would accept the ballot would
ever marry. Outside of the class mentioned we
believe that the less said about woman suffrage
the better. Without going into an extended ar
gument, we are willing to admit that their votes
would be cast generally for temperate, model
family men, who refrained from drink and were
regularly home at reasonable hours If women
voted and sat on our grand and trial juries there
would be less immortality and intemperance
They woul1 sae that law having this effect were
enacted and enforced If they exercised any infG-
ence whatever. This is all that can be said on
that side. Take se recent example in Laramie,
Wyoming Territory, as practical exemplifca-
tion. How was it with the families of the mar
ried women who were ogt as jurors five days
and four nights Who did the cooking? Who
did the washing Who looked after the babies
Whenever we are shown that if political neeess-
ity should call the wife away to vote or set on
juries that 1t is the duty Of the husband to re.
main at home and do the house work, we will
vote with Mesdames Stanton and Stone, but not
till then. In this event, no young man s educa-
tion will be complete without he is thoroughly
versed ia all things relating to housew ferry,
aud no doubt every prominent institution of learn
ing will have department Of instruction In that
branch. We, in any event, would favor the
leaving the decision of the question to the la
dies them selves. Our opinion, is that leave it
to married women whose situation naturally
teachs them to reason correctly upon this point,
they would sensibly say that it is better for us
10 attend to our household affairs and trust the
-est tkour husbands. And they would be right.


AT u Republican State convention of Oregon,
1eoerN Joel Palmer was nominated for Gov