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About The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1873)
FRIDAY AUGUST 1, lb73. END OF VOLUME TWO. Tills issue closes the Second Volume of the New Northwest. Looking back over our editorial career of two short years, bright visions or the kindly eyes that have so often greeted these pages flit before us. In imagination -we can hear the words of kindly encour agement that have gone forth upon the si lent wings of the air, to be gathered up and repeated, again and again, until our tired spirit has been strengthened anew for the labors of the hour by the invisible influence that they bring around us. We can see the silent tear of sympathy as it steals down the cheek of some woman in a lonely farm house, who, by these pages, has been brought in contact with the busy world; and we can hear the joking raillery of jo vial, good-natured husbands, as they pretend to be afraid their wives will be "polled" by the gospel of Human Rights. Again, we hear the bitter denuncia tions of narrow-minded enemies and the silly misrepresentations of foolish and wicked men. "We hear our motives maligned, our Integrity assailed, and our name used as a target for the ribald jokes of bacliannals, or the idle twad dle of self-conceited simpletons, we hear true-hearted, able gentlemen, complimenting the ability and energy that characterize the paper, and hear men, .not so able, saying, as they have often said, "Pity she wasn't a man!" To those who have been in any way benefited by our ministrations, we make our bow and say, "Sustain us." To those who sustained us for a time, but had no interest in our work save to buildup their own personal pet preju dices at the expense of the great princi ple of Human Rights, we say, "You went out from us because you were not of us." To husbands who joko their wives about usurping their "rights," we say, "Joke on, and renew your subscrip tions." To our enemies, we say, "You know not what you do." .To friends, everywhere, who wish us well, and we know that they are legion, we say, "We need your financial aid. You are tardy, the most of you, in send ing us money. Our bills must be met. We cannot attend to our finances as promptly as we would like, because our duties are so many. Many of you know that you onre us. "We dislike to dun on, but we must have money." In the future, as in the past, we shall make this paper a journal for the peo ple. It knows no politics, no party, no religion, and no creed. When political parties favor woman's enfranchisement, we shall favor them, whether Democrat or Republican. When they fail, we shall scourge them. So witli Churches, temperance societies and courts. The one vital need of the Nation is the rec ognition of Human Rights. To secure this is our aim, and we shall not scruple to use all honorable means to accom plish it. Politicians have sometimes tried to use u, and when we have used them instead, as we always do, they have been terribly shocked at our tur pitude. We now give all such fair warning. In the Third Volume of the New Northwest, we shall aim, as in the past, to use all the influence that can be brought to bear as a battering ram against the strongholds of sexual suffrage. Tf anybody dislikes this course, it is because they love the prin ciple of Human Ivights much less than we do. We pursue this course because it is the only way to win. When Gen erals McCIellan and Hooker pursued a half way policy to quench theRcbellion, they only gave it strength. When General Grant went "on to Richmond" regardless of the advice of the timid or treacherous, he conquered. This we shall do in this great moral battle. Rut to all our friends we say, you must aid v us. A general cannot carry on a cam paign without supplies. We will gladh give place to any one who will shoulder our responsibility and leave us free to go out into the highways and hedges and compel the people to come into the rolii or equal rights. Let tue man or woman who can do this work with more dixputch than wc come to the front and take our place, and we will resign with pleasure, and do all we can to aid them. Rut wc cannot resign the post till it is tilled by another. Aid us, friends. Put shoulder to the wheel. If everybody who sees this article, and who feels that they ought to do It, would send us three dollars as a subscription for Volume rMaJiiJthemper would float of itself. lends. 5U0UiiflAijISriU XKiiAUltUltl. 'Kromitime to time within the last monthiwe have been in receipt of letters from friends fn the interior, who com plain of us because we do not defend urself in the New Noktiiwkst from the attacks of the Orcgonian. At first we were impressed that these letters came from persons who, from lack of time, were not close readers-of the Orc gontan, but the inquiries continuing, our suspicions were aroused, and we found upon a close examination of the files of the Weekly that the invidious attacks upon us were published in all cases one wck, and i wme Instances two weeks before the replies were al lowed to appear, while in one instance a very important rejdy to Mrs. Brown from a lady of this city ,vas crowded out of the Weekly altogether. To slander any human lw.in s. make charges directly or by implication against that individual's reputation or conduct that are not true. This we charge the editor of the Orcgonian with doing against us; and we further charge him with maliciously postponing and otherwise withholding publication in ,the Weciily oT .such replies to his uupro- -iKuTl.TiVXri voked attacks upon us as we and others considered him in honor bound to pub lish witli the same dispatch as the at tacks. This act of our brother is wholly with out precedent in professional ethic?. It is a most reprehensible trick, of which we would not have imagined the editor of the Orcgonian guilty had it not been for the solicitous inquiries of friends, which aroused our suspicious and caused us to look over the files of his Weekly edition. The course of the Orcgonian spiked our own editorial guns, as we believed the amende honorable had been made in that journal and of course felt in courtesy bound to remain silent in our own columns touching the mat ter. None of the readers of the Weekly saw our letter that was published in the Daily in denial or the charge that -we were "an apologist" for nameless crimes, for more than a week after the charge had been made, although the letter was printed on the day following the attack in the Daily, together with an editorial announcement that tho Orcgonian had, in thus accusing us; made a "painful mistake." Now, Brother Hill, tho man who is always parading his own virtue as be ing of a quality so far superior to that of bis friends and associates, but awak ens suspicion concerning his own rec ord. We do not allcgo that you have been guilty of social sins which you arc trying hard to hide behind the clamor of your present outcry, but we do say that your conduct awakens a suspicion that your bawl of "stop thieP' means much that you imagine does not appear upon the surface. It pains us inexpres sibly to be driven to this conviction, but men and women of good sense and sound morals have just reason to doubt the immaculate purity of a man who thinks it necessary to proclaim his vir tue from day to day in the public prints while trying to injure the reputation of ladies who see fit to difler from iiim in matters of public expediency. Tho vir tue that will not proclaim itself is not considered the genuine article by good judges. If the first ebullition of our righteous indignation that found its way to paper nrter we discovered your moral turpitude in transcending ail bounds of professional ethics by attack ing us in tho Daily and Weekly Oregon- tan, and allowing a defense in the Daily only, while of course, leading us to believe that you had acted fairly all the way through, thus causing us, in professional honor, to keep silent in our own journal; we say if our first written thoughts upon making this discovery had been printed, you would have had good reason to tremble in your IkxUb. But experience ji making us wise and merciful in these as well us other mat ters, consequently, the scolding we should have given you, and winch you richly merit, resolves itself into this exhortation: Do right in the future. Atone for editorial trickery by honesty and fair dealing hereafter. Remember always that, though you may not have committed one kind of sin, it is very easy to prove, as above, that you have committed others for which the Great Judge of all the eartli will not hold you gull tles. Remember to judge not, that ye be not judged, and witli what meas ure ye mete it shall it bo measured to you again. We don't want to quarrel with you. You have many good qualities of mind and heart, which, iiad you so badly treated us a year ago, we should in wrath have lost sight of. And now, as we in all kindness lay our journalistic hand upon your editorial head, let us say to you most earnestly, drop the l'liarisaicai cant witli wuicli you aro disgracing the Orcgonian. Say to Sen ator Mitchell: "You havesinned and we arc sorry, but do right In the future; repent, forsake, restore, as far as In you licth, and we will stand by and aid you As we believe that no man tins beyond the reach of God's abouuding mercy, wc will put your case in His hands. Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall man be more true than ills Maker?" Say to him: "You arc yet young. You arc brilliant, intellectual tftid talented. Now prove yourself able to rise from the ashes of a misdirected life, and upon the altar of mined repu tation erect a reparation which shall be immortal." Do this, O brother, and you will live to see your name honored in the land. Continue your present course and you sliall fall by the way. Public sentiment, though rash at first, and sure to be exacting, always reacts iu favor of tho persecuted, even if tho one so persecuted be badly to blame. It will do so in tho caso of Senator Mitchell. Mark the prophecy. It grieves us almost as badly to find iu you a de signing intriguer against us, as it grieved and astonished us to find that Mr. Mitchell's early record was bad. But we say to you as we say to him, do right in tho future. Atone for the sins of the last by a noble restitution and the people will honor you a a man, who, having acted dishonestly and treacherously by a member of the dis franchised class of his profession, had magnanimity enough to confess his sin, and as far as possible atone for it. Now, brother, if you accept the above article as nu "apology" for or "pallia tion" of your double dealing, don't, we beg you, make the "painful mistake" of printing your blunder. Justas wo predicted, O'Meara lias "re tired" from the Portland Bulletin. His temporary connection with that journal after its change or ownership, proved an incubus which the new firm could not endure. The Bulletin, free from this in cumbrance, will prove a grand ally of public justice. Success to it. Our sprightly contemporary of the New IoimiWKsTiiay we are n malicious Ilnr, but a irue gentleman nevertheless. Oregonian. What a whopper! We look for the Oregonian to call ua an affiliator with drunkonness. uext, . JOHN B.GODGH AND J. H. MITCHELL. As all the venom of lewd-minded pol iticians lias, probably, by this time, ex pended itself in denunciation of our former exhortation to Senator Mitchell; and as the few women who became frightened because we asked him to be come the champion of woman's enfran chisement, and because of their alarm, accused us of affiliation with crime, which Is only another name for crlme-j-huge itself as all these have, wo hope, by ! this lime cot rid of the film of prejudice! that blinded them, wo now renew our charge and exhortation. JohnB. Cough became a victim to the curse of intemperance. Wherever his namo was known it was spoken in loathing and scorn. Mothers taught their daughters to shun him, and news papers loaded him with vilest epithets. But in spile of his fall, in spite of the fact that pious women elevated lhe,ir noses, and temperance men, who may have Imbibed more whisky than he, only IU consequences upon their physi cal nature were not so apparent (.there fore they were very righteous), passed by on the other side at his approach; in splto of the abuse of the press and the clamor or tho people, John B. Gough arose in the majesty or his noble Intel lect, himself a monument of the evils of intemperance, and witli the eloquence of a Clay, tho logic or a Webster, tho bravery or a Baker, tho wisdom or a Lincoln and the bad personal example ot n Gough, appeared before the cohorts of intemperance and became tho cham pion of total abstinence. From the bachanual orgies or the worst sinks or inebriety, he stepped forth upon the platform or temperance and shook the world with his wisdom and pathos. Never would there have been such a re former had It not been for his fall. Never could he have so effectually ap pealed to the throbbing heart of the breathless multitude, as they shed tears over his misfortunes, if his tragedy had not been real. So with Senator Mitchell. In spite ot the general clamor or the press, and tho occasional fright or indig nation of some well-meaning but misguided woman; in spite or his fall, his humiliation and sorrow, wc say to him: "Behold tho result of the subjuga tion or woman! It has entailed untold suffering upon both sexes. You can become the same champion for Human Rights in your misfortune that John B. Gough is ami has been for temperance. Now is your golden opportunity. Im prove it, we pray you. Let the remark able forensic talents that you possess be used hereafter iu the Senate, at the bar, or wherever you can be heard, In de nunciation or all'Iawsand usages that lead women to merge their womanhood into the sole protection of men who are so often weak and cruel. Women need, as badly or worse than men, the equal protection of the laws. The inequality or the sexes works untold hardships upon both men and women. You have suffered. You still sufler, but you can see the remedy for this accursed stale of class legislation which places women so often in the power of men, and men so often iu the powcrof their own weakness. The great mass or womanhood will welcome you to do this work. Fear not tho outcry of the dissenting few. The crushed and bleedintr victims of man's inhumanity to women every where cry out to you, who have sinned and suffered, to use the potent influence that you possess as Senator, and the full magic of the mighty eloquence you wield as orator, to elevate the politi cal status of woman, that the social and financial may be free to adjust them selves. Fear not the nibble who would hiss you down. Again wc say that man's extremity is God's opportunity. If you fail iu this wc shall ackuowlenge that we havo altogether misjudged you. But you will not fall. Your own wrecked life and the pale ghosts or days departed urge you on. Never, except in the case of John B. Gough, did such opportunity present itself for inan to rise above the ashes ofiuincd reputation and reinstate himseirby seir-reuunciatlou and public restitution. Your private duties rest between yourself and God. Faithfully perform them as well ns the public ob ligation which Providenco has laid at your feet, and all the gates of hell shall not prevail against you." "WE DEMUE. ToTmagine that a new course of political pol icy, change In the law, or measures of any klml brought about through the action of Gov ernment, will materially Improve the condi tion of tiic people or provide them with re source, Ua mistake that none ought to com mit. Hall depends at Inst on Individual exer tion nnd intelligent effort, iierscvcrance, fru gality and sobriety. AVhcn we look outside of the., for assistance ire shall look iu vain. BullcUu. Right here we tako square Issue witli our brother man. Everything hinges upon proper Government. It was not "a mistake," when .to "materially Im prove the condition or the people or pro vide them with resources," tho people set themselves to work to abolish King George's Government and make sucli "changes in the laws" as they needed to secure freedom and independence. The material condition of tens of thousands would be speedily improved by a "change in the laws" that would pro vide them a spot or ground for a home, which should beunder all circumstances exempt from execution for debt. "All" does ioi "depend, at last, on individual exertion" and so forth; for many or the most energetic and intelligent men we know have been ruined by the failure or others which Involved themselves. Many or the most "frugal and sober" women of our acquaintance are kept in poverty and toil through all their days because or an imperative need or "changes .in the laws, brought about through the action or the Government," that will secure lo them the benefit of what they earn. If we cannot look to the Government for such "assistance" except we "look in vain," Government Itself Is a failure a costlyuxuryhat enriches tho few and impoverishes, the many. AN O'EE TRUE TALE. The other day as we sat writing in onr cozy parlor, with the grateful breezes fanning the curtains through the half open shutters, and playing upon our forehead in a cool, delicious way that served to augment the glare of sunshine on the street, makiug au agreeable con trast between without and within, a modest-looking little woman with a basket upon her arm, appeared uiwin the portico, and peeping in through the partly open door, said timidly, Would you like some blackberries, ma'am ?" Tiiis question had been asked a dozen times within the hour by white men, Chinamen and boys, and blackberries had becomcadrug in our kitchen; so we said "no," as usual, and were going on with our work, when something in the tired little womau's face arrested our attention, and wo invited her in. Dropping herself wearily upon a chair, she said timidly: "I've five miles to walk to get home, ma'am, and my husband's sick and the five children." "What is the matter?" "My husband has the erysipelas, and the children the ague," still looking down in a timid' way that wou our sym pathy at once. "You don't look strong enough to be trudging through town with black berries, poor child. Why don't you ap ply to the authorities for relief?" "I belong without the county limits, ma'am. We got along well enough till my husband got sick, and now its very hard." "What is your dependence for a live lihood?" "Nothing, ma'am. Mrs. Atkinson has helped me, or I suppose we should have starved; but she can't do all, and as I live out of the county the author! lies won't do anything." "But try the Ladies' Relief Society They have funds on hand, and will re lieve any worthy applicant." "Mrs. Atkinson tried forme, ma'am, but failed to get anything because my family's out or tho city limits." "Do you belong to the Church ?" "Yes, ma'am; the Catholic Church; but Father Fierens, to whom I told my story, says tho Church is too poor to help us." "He looks fat and sleek enough him self," we said, involuntarily. "Yes, yes," was the despairing com ment, "but the priests must be red if the mothers starve." "Why not go to Hillsboro, the county seat or your county, and apply for relief to the authorities there?" "Because, ma'am, I can't leave my family over night to walk tho distance, and I've no money to pay my fare." "Come with me to the ticket office. I know the President or the railroad. He is a charitable gentleman, and I'm sure will give you a pass." The little woman covered her poor, wearied race witli her blackberry stained hand, partly concealed iu her tattered shawl, and wept tears of silent grati tude. Together we went, past tho crowds of curjous lookers-on, to the Central Railroad office, where the Pres ident, Mr. Gaston, in response to oiir explanation of the case, gave. the poor, suffering child of toil and poverty the needed pass, which she received iu a shrinking, modest way, far more wel come to the courteous President than ostentatious thanks. Finally, she asked "ir her baby could go with her on the same pass to Hills boro." "Certainly," was tho President's kind reply, and wc came back again together, as wc went, With kindly eyes greeting us inquiringly, and the little woman, wilh her head bowed, taking note or nothing save the iss she was uncon- J sclonsly caressing iu her soiled, toil- worn lingers. Reloading herself with her remaining stock of berries, she trudged wearily on in the broiling sun shine. O, men, how great Is the mistake you make when you imagine that you aro women's sole protectors, and lliey have no need to protect themselves! Many of you are kind and grand and noble, doing your whole duty by your own wives, but your legislation fails to protect thoso women whoso husbands have not your ability or disposition to protect the suffering creatures who have no representatives of their own sex to assist you lo make such Iaw3 and regu lations as shall place every poor, down trodden woman who is "bringing fortli children iu sorrow" above the addi tional curse or man who was told to "cat bread in the sweat or his race." O, men and brethren, could you once realize the weakness and agony or wom an totally unprovided for in these try ing conditions, you woiild be ashamed ot your boasted "protection." Y'ou have done what you could iu the way or legislation to relieve the needy and suffering; but women, with your power to enact laws, could do vastly more to aid you in these malUrs than you can do without their help. It is a crying shame to our civilization that a woman should ever be compelled, In tho weak ness and .fullering attendant upon ma ternity, lo loll like a beast or burden. Yet thousands and tens of thousands do thus toil and drudge, not only for them selves but thoso who are dependent upon them, with starvation looking them and their loved ones iu the face, in spite of nil the efforts they can make to avert it. Wc do not say that woman's aid in public affairs would remedy all these Ills, but we do believe and kuow that nonebnt women are capable or realizing women's needs. We did not start risht. Oregonian. That's one time you told the truth. Miles M. Miller Is again "doing" the locals on the Salem Statesman. The Good Templars or Coos(Bay have a new splendid cabinet organ.. . THE TERMINUS PEVEB. The great expectations or the thous ands who have rushed to the newly-ap- pomieu lerminus ot the Northern Pa cific Railroad at Tacoma will surely end in disappointment. Wo do not believe that the speculators who planned the enterprise will act iu good faith with the people. Thousands of liersons in this crcat Northwest aro land beggars, and will continue such as long as they shall live. The mania of large possessions is upon them, anu like the dog in tho manger, not content with what they can use for themselves, they spread their titles over tho most desirable portions or the earth, counting their acres and city lots by thousauds, while the poorer class, with an equal moral right with them to a home, are deprived or opportunity to secure even an acre or their own to till for rood. a.et uie lauu-owning mania increase at the present ratio for the next quarter century, and a great landed oligarchy. backed and sustained by the Govern ment, will hold the liberties of tho on tire people In Its grasp. It now owns all tho railroads and will then own all the lands, and these oucc yielded whol ly to financial corporations, the com mon people will all become as thous ands now are, nothing- more nor less than serfs. Of course the excited multitude who rush to the new terminus aro doomed to disappointment. Land rings will make money. Whisky-sellers, gambling hells and proprietors of low houses of amuse ment will thrive. Some merchants and hotel-keepers will realize largo profits upon the necessaries of life, but no last ing good will accrue to tho poor man who hurries lo the place iu the revered expectation ot securing speedy riches. Let Kahuna, that diro calamity to scores of ioor folks, rise in the ghost of its blighted exjieetations and confront the people with its skeleton houses, blackening iu sun and storm. LetDu lulli with its blasted hopes rise up be fore them, and let them stay where they are or go where laud is cheap. There is nothing at Tacoma to- support a large inllux of immigration. The agricultu ral advantages are next to none. The lumbering and coaling interests aro in the hands of ring", and there they will remain. To the ioor man we say, get five or ten acres of land from some large owner who lias sense enough to sell It, and who will give you a fair opportunity to make payment as you may be able. Build an humble abode, raise fruits, poultry, vegetables and pigs. Be con tent with your sphere. Deed the home to your wife. The people will secure a Homestead Law at the next session of our Legislature. It should have been done long ere this. In the mean time do your duty as an individual, and se cure your wife and children a home without waiting for the tardy action of the law. Let ricli men speculate. You have more important work to do. COMMISSIONER MEAGHAH. Our office was brightened one day this wit-k by a visit from tills gentle man, who has been the worst abused man iu Oregon for the past few months, to say nothing or having been shot, knifed and disfigured by tho wily red' skins, while acting under orders from the general Government in the capacity of Chairman of the Peace Commission. Mr. M. feels justly incensed at the course or the Oregon press, which al most unanimously denounced him as the instigator or the Commission, and consequently responsible for its dis astrous results. Very great injustice is often suffered by an agent of tho Gov ernment who seeks to obey orders from headquarters, and we feel that Mr. Meacham has been one or the most un fortunate of these. However, now that lie is here among us to defend himself, nobody persists in the abuse with which the whole State was rampant while- he was periling his life to perform a to him manifest obligation. He admits that the Government makes mistakes in dealing witli Indians as independent nationalities whenever they may be disposed to commit rapine and murder, but adheres strongly to the Peace Policy or the present Administration In its at tempt to civilize these people and pro vide homes for the'degenerato descend ants or Pocahontas, Sammosct and Kamiakin, and the cotemporaries of Sliacknasty Jim, Captain Jack and Mrs. Riddle. Mr. Meacham can talk llkea strcakof oiled lightning, and ir he wants to make his mark aud his fortune, let him enter the lecture field and tell tho United States What he knows about lava beds iu particular and Indian aftairs in gen eral. We are rejoiced at his con valescence, and though he is not yet strong, we have hope that he will ulti mately recover entirely from his wounds, though he will always retain sufficient signs of them to prove clearly that his escape from death was almost miraculous. Mrs. Meacham and family have gone to their home in the Blue Mountains to spend the summer vacation; and Mr. M. takes his departure again for the lava beds, where he has official matters yet under his supervision. We congratu late him upon his recovery from his double attack of while enemies and red. Our sympathies are naturally with the under man in a fight, and while the conflict lasted, he was decidedly the under man. But the opposition is over now; the press is gentle as a cooing dove, the people are reasonable and the public heart is sympathetic aud kind. All of the Wallowa Valley, lying north or the south line or Township 1, south or the base line to the Milium river, thence down said river lo the Grand Ronde river, thence up Snake river to the line above described, has heen set apart as a reservation for the Ncz Perce Indians, as recommended by the Secretary of the Interior ami the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. WILL HE ANSWER? We call special attention to an article in another column from the Portland Bulletin, headed "A Sorrowful Case."" We farther ask the reader to note the progress of equal riguts in tne last twenty years. Had such a tragedy as the Goodrich murder occurred a quarter of a century ago, not one newspaper in the land would have dared to use its in fluence in behalf of the woman who sought to avenge herself in the manner so vividly portrayed by our contempo rary. Now, we call upon our brother or the Bulletin to read that article again and then listen to us: Does man protect woman ? Is it safe for woman to rely implicitly upon man for protection? If man does not, cannot or will not protect her, does she not need individ ual legislation with which to protect herself? Would it not be far better to restore to her the equal use or inalienable rights, that she might thus legislate for her political and consequent pecuniary iudepeudence, rather than place her at the mercy or men who, when they vio late every obligation or honor and sacri fice every affection of her soul upon the altar of their selfish passions, leave her nothing in palliation of her wrongs but murder aud its awful consequences? Do two wrongs ever make ouo right? But enough. Our brother has not tried to answer our last half-dozen ques tions, although we gave him the lesson two weeks ago. Will he answer these? We shall see. TO THEJOINT. The following items from the Dallas Bepublican contain the ring of the true metal. Now let us see if our brethren have moral courage enough to face the direct issue. This dodging won't do, gentlemen. The people want to know where you stand. But here are the items: We have always been of the opinion that the advocates of woman suffrage entertained greatly exaggerated Ideas ol tliebcnt-fltstoflow irom Its being established: and IU opposers, on the other hand, were In tliehabltof viewing IU supposed evils and Inconveniences through agiaskinai niagnineu aDoutn nunuren uiam- cters; ana we nave luriner supposed mat mc large majority of Intelligent people did not re gard the question as one of very great Im portance, so Lira relates to practical results. The above Is from the "Oregonian," and the editor, although a very good lawyer, talks all round the question, and very freely gives his opinion as to how others view the question on notu sides, out ne stuuiousiy avoids giving u his own opinion ns to the correctnciJi of the principle of female suffrage. Is it right or wrong, brother 11111 7 and If wrong.- why? These arc the material questions upon which we would use nice to near you speaK. The direct way to seek the elective franchise foi woman Is to go to the State legislatures for IU They have the right. It Is lodged there, be- yonu question. 1 iiuiienn. Just so. nnd h Republican Legislature was applied to. last fall in Oregon. and absolutelr reiuseu even u uuow women 10 vote on me liquor question, or nny oilier. Did tney iiii right, Mr. "Iiulietin,"or not? Have you any tuna on inesunjeciT ir so, wnnt is 117 BEGIN WITHrOTJNDATIONS. Men never proler in the world unless they are energetic and thoroughly self-reliant. Bulletin. True, and a man cannot be "energetic and thoroughly self-reliant" unless his mother before him possessed the same qualities. Women who are dependent ciphers iu the home all the days or their lives have no idea or their own powers. Such women need opportunity for self reliauce, that they may be enabled to people the world with self-reliant men. The Idea that the fashionable wife or one or our wealthy men can endow her sons with self-reliance is absurd. Riches do not spoil hair as many rich men's sons as the people imagine. It is the inertia or the wife and mother that spoils them. "Men do not gather grapes or thorns or figs or thistles." IEEE THOUGHT LEOTUBE. Prof. B. F. Underwood, of Boston, lec tured last Sunday evening in Nonpareil Hail to a fair audience upon the subject of "Free Thought." Whatever may be said of the theory he teaches, there is no denying that he is a fine speaker, gen tlemanly in deportment, fair in argu ment and ingenuous in ethics. While Ave are personally far removed from the materialistic doctrine that lie teaches, wc are not of those who believe that truth will suffer from the most thorough investigation. Consequently we reel it to be the duty pr both press and people to prove all things and hold to that which is good. The Professor argues that the whole some laws now in existence, and which the Christian world credits wholly to the Bible, such as "thou shalt not kill, steal or commit adultery," were in vogue among the Egyptians while Moses was yet a servant, and before he had received the tablets of stono from which our remote ancestors derived the Pentateuch. He claims that the fine arts were In their greatest perfection in ancient Greece and Rome, where the Bible was not thought of, and that the subjugation or woman, is the result or muie teaching and the dogmas or priests. He cites tho hearer to the Ro man mothers, the Spartan heroines and many others In proor or his claim. and then quotes Moses in the Scripture, "Thy desire shall be to thy husband, nnd he shall rule over thee," and Paul In the commaud to women to "keep silence In the churches," and "be in subjection to their own husbands." We think the speaker did not treat the Bible rairly in tills part of his argu ment, as the periods in which its va rious parts were originally compiled were the days wheu the Christian relig ion was in Its infancy, and when any very abrupt innovation upon the cus toms and prejudices' of tho times, how ever silly and absurd they may have been, would have frightened man's rights men and women away from all possibility or receiving the faith. All reformers have had these obstacles to climb over or avoid, and early Chris tians were no exception to the general rule. Moses was a natural leader, who ruled his people through their supersti tion and. his own sagacity, aided by a high and remarkable Inspiration. Paul was a born diplomatist, and knew well the futility of underlaking lo ordain a pure Christiau worshlp'in an age when all virtuous women kept' their heads covered in company, if he should dare to do otherwise than accept the univer sal custom. The worship or Diana of the Ephesiaus was In vogue in thoso days, aud was participated in by a thous-andseml-uude wantons, and Paul, in his laudable desiro to shun "every appear ance of evil," advised the women to "keep sileuce." However much we may regret his failure to declare that this command was not intended to apply to this nineteenth century, when woman's place in public has become an acknowl edged right, we arc disposed to give him due credit for allowing women, under the ban in which they were thenjilaced, to attend church at all. But wo find ourseir forgetting that this article was begun as a review and not intended as a criticism. The speaker argued at considerable length upon the conscientious desire or Christians to persecute disbelievers. Ho contended that the best and uot the worst men among Christians arc given to the idea ot persecution, and cited many examples to sustain his theory, ir he were a Christian and believed conscientiously that a man was entic ing souls to eternal ruin by his teach ings aud example, he would reel justi fied in stopping that man's career at all hazards that lie might thus save immor tal souls. Pesecution was the result or the old teachings or Theology. The Bi ble was a supporter or polygamy all the way through ; nowhere denounced it, except in the New Testament days among priests, who were exhorted, not commanded, to be the "husbands of one, wife." Christianity had always subju gated woman. It was rationalism and free thought that elevated her. The lecture throughout was listened to witii the most careful attention, and we saw a noted clergyman, who came in after the discourse was over hair through, taking notes in a very lively manner; so we look confidently for the other side or the question to appear soon. We learn that Mr. Underwood is soon to givo a course or lectures in Oro Fino Hail, and we hope, as every unbeliever will be sure to go aud hear him, that ministers especially will attend the en tire course, that they may be able to learn just what this Free Thought lec turer is doing. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Miss V. O., McMinville: For a second time wo have written you privately upon Hie subject. We await your further orders iu "respectrul considera tion" of your rights, the great principle of justice to all women and the best way to obtain the Imon. Let us hear from you again. Mrs. IL, Vancouver: Thanks for the letter and subscription. Your kind wonls and wishes are fully appreciated. Mrs. J. S., The Dalles : Your proposi tion is accepted, for your own accommo dation, only. We cannot afford to pay for contributions. Our own work brings us no remuneration save the prospect or woman's enfranchisement, yet we can not deny the paper to such souls ns yours as long as we can afford it. You are a fair writer, and witli energy and perseverance may succeed ; but do not expect to make money by your pen. That's more in "luck" than genius every time. We shall always be pleased lo hear from you. Wrote you a long, private letter more than two months since, wincn it seems you have not re ceived. Mrs. U.S.: The rubber gloves for pro tecting the hands in washing dishes, peeling fruit and vegetables, etc, can be obtained at S2 per pair. They are very durable and protect the hands ef fectually. A young mother: The stocking sus penders are mere strap of .-.elastic, with buttonholes in bits of domestic attached to the ends, for buttoniug to the waist bands and stockings or children. They are also excellent for adults, and should bo universally worn in lieu of the liga ture iu such constant use. . Inexperienced house-keeper: If you roll your piecrust large enough to cover tho plate without any stretching, it will not "crawl" away from the dish in bak ing. But wheu you stretch it slightly to make it fit, the pie will be shapeless, and if made of berries the juice will run over. This, wo think, is the only cause of your failure to make "pretty-looking pics." A few lumps or charcoal or a good sprinkle or cayenne pepper will prove valuable as a disinfectant when corned beef Is boiling. Sarah S.r We know of no receipt for the purpose. Ask a druggist. Mrs. J. H. F.: Your letter is received witli draft enclosed. Many thanks for cash, and many more for kind wonls. How we wish the world were hill or women like you! G. B. L.: No, we do uot:get discour aged "when men and women say all manner or evil against us misery." Truth is mighty and will prevail. We cannot help it ir some people have not sufficient brains to understand us; neither can they help the fact them selves. And we arc not to blame, either, if people think, because their own hearts are bad, ours must be. Such persons are not numerous, although they make a good deal more noise sometimes than a host of the pure in heart. Mrs. M. F., Salem: We decline to publish your letter in condemnation of our mistaken friend aud sister, Mrs. B. We have no doubt but that she regrets hercourso herself. So wo return your letter, aud If you wish to do so you can mail it to her yourself. We prefer to have nothing to do with it. Mrs.E.T.: Your letter came lastweok after we had gone to press. Don't wor ry. Read this week's paper and see if you are not avenged. Y'ou will make nothing by replying lo himi Y'ou can't extract blood from a turnip- Should be pleased to see you at' the office. fc