The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, May 05, 1876, Page 2, Image 2

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    FRIDAY MAY 5, 1.876.
NOTICE.
Agents will please take notice that It Is a
preat tax upon us to pay express charges upon
small sums, anil they will confer a great favor
by remitting to us through money orders or
registered letter.
"HIS ONLY PATJLT."
Scarcely a week passes but our eyes
are greeted by the above words tacked
on to a tale of suffering, or closing the
recital of a wasted life ended mercifully
by a premature death. "His only
fault," but it kept his family for years
in abject poverty; caused the tears of
care to "fret channels in the cheeks" of
his wife; drove the rosy bloom of child
hood from the faces of his children, and
established in its stead the nervous pal
lor of fear; brought the resolves and as
pirations of bis young manhood under
groveling subjection to his appetite,
and llnally obliterated them; consigned
the gray hairs of his mother to the
grave, and laid the hopes of his father
low. "His only fault," but Itself the
progenitor of cruelty and sorrow and
want and woe to all who loved him.
. Only a few days ago we heard it re
marked concerning si man who, for a
decade, has lain in a, drunkard's grave
beneath the soil of an adjacent county,
that "he was the best one of the family,
if he had only let liquor alone."
If. Ah ! but that little word, with its
subsequent sentence, tells why his chil
dren have, during all the years of their
boyhood, been deprived' of their right
ful heritage a father's love aud left
to run like colts about the waste, while
their mother, broken In health and
spirit, has toiled now at the wash-tub,
now at the needle, and now over the
cook-stove for their maintenance. But
we need not go even to an adjoining
county for examples of what this
"only fault" cau do. Hearken to a re
cital taken from one of tho daily papers
of our city a few days since. After re
hearsing aa a matter of news tho fact
that a woman had attempted to drown
herself by jumping into the river at Al
bina, her rescue by the captain of tho
ferry-boat, who fortunately, or un
fortunately, happened to be near, her
conveyance to the city jail by the po
lice, her chilled, despairing and des
perate condition, and her plea to return
home, the recital concludes with these
words:
We are Informed that on Iwi Sunday
evening, Sullivan, the husband ofthc woman,
got drunk and whipped her shamefully, and
that they had family trouble again yesterday,
when khe left home, and, running down to the
river, leaped In. The people live In Alblna,
and the husband and father is a blacksmith by
trade. Ho is said to be a very Industrious
man, his only fault being a love lor strong
drink.
Thousands of women suffer through
lives devoid of every blessing not only
the untold agonies of body and mind
that no pen can portray, but bear, in
addition to these, the taunt which al
most universally assails a drunkard's
wife "she does not make his home
pleasant." How, in the name of char
ity aud common sense, can a woman
render pleasant a home where this
"oujy fault" Is pampered and indulged
by her husband, and pitied and con
doned by his friends? It is easy
enough to theorize, but when a woman
attempts to reduce these theories to
practice with only poverty and aj
drunken husband for aids, she finds it
a different matter. We have seen it
tried often enough to be convinced that
loving kindness, patience, and forgive
ness, though a heavenly trio, are, in
nine cases out of ten, powerless to erad
icate, or even, in many instances, to
reuder endurable "his only fault."
THE EEPTJBLIOAN CONVENTION.
The Republican State Convention,
which met in this city on Wednesday,
made the following nominations : For
Congress, Hon. Richard Williams, of
Multnomah county; for Presidential
Electors, W. H. Odell, of Lane, Dr. J.
W. Watts, of Yamhill, and J. C. Cart
wright, of Wasco county. J. OTolman
was elected delegate to the National
Convention from the First Judicial Dis
trict, B. C. Van Houtcii from the Sec
ond, J. H. Foster from tho Third, J. B.
David from the Fourth, and H. K. Hines
from the Fifth. H. W. Scott and J. B.
Montgomery were uominated for dele
gates at large, and upon the first Ballot
being taken, the first named gentleman
received 92 aud the second 22 votes.
This election was, upon motion, made
unanimous.
The Convention, adopted a resolution
declaring their choice of Blaine for
President. After short speeches by sev
eral of the candidates and others, the
Convention adjourned with three rous
ing cheers for the ticket.
LINN COUNTY W. S. ASSOCIATION.
The Linn County W. S. Association
met at the house of Mrs. L. M. Putnam
April 15th and elected the following of
ficers for the ensuing year: President,
David D. Gray; Vice-President, Mrs.
James Foster; Treasurer, Dr. Crawford;
Recording Secretary, Mrs. D. L. E. Lu
per; Corresponding Sem'lary.. Mrs. L.
M. Putnam; Executive Committee,
Mrs. M. E. Crawford, Mrs. C. L. Flinn,
Mr. A. Pierce, Mrs. L. A. Partou, Mis.
A. Johnson. The meetings of the As-i-ciation
will be held hereafter on the
second Monday evening of each month
at 7:30 o'clock. The next will convene
at the house of Mrs. L. A. Parton.
Mr. Gladstone once said, in referring
to those lnws where the interests of men
and women are opposed: "It is im
possible not to see that the law does
much less than justice to women, and
that women suffer great hardships
through tbiB injustice, and that any
man who can devise a plan by which
this Injustice shall beset right, must be
considered a great benefactor."
DEI7EN TOTHE WALL,
A lady of Chicago, Mrs. Langley, re
cently made a tour of the medical in
stitutions of that city, to find out why
women were not received in them as
students. Many aud various as were
tho excuses given, they were uniformly
of so trivial a character as to show to
what extremes our brethren are reduced
to keep up the semblance of their su
premacy. A professor at one college admitted
that they had refused twenty-five wom
en already, aud had lost seveuteen men
students thereby. Another declared
that they had no room for women, and
looked the confusion he could not utter,
when pointed to the paragraph in the
college circular, which states that "the
lecture rooms, laboratoryand dissecting
rooms are all ample." Yet another
another prominent physician said, as an
excuse for such refusal : "Well, I tell
you, medical students are a set of row
dies; they would hiss aud whoop, and
the lady students could not endure it."
To this rather astouuding declaration,
Mrs. Langley replied : "And are such
the men you send out, year after year,
with tlie recommendation of this insti
tution as persons worthy to be received
into our families, entrusted with the
lives of our dear ones, aud admitted to
the bedsides of women under the most
trying circumstances?"
This was, of course, a poser for the
learned advocate of the exclusive rights
of men to monopolize the medical learn
ing of the world. It is, indeed, an easy
task to drive to the wall those who ar
gue that women, though connected with
men in every department -of life, are to
be kept in ignorance of manyof its most
vital problems, because of their sex.
And in view of the fact -that the treat
ment of the manifold diseases that af
flict woman only are of a nature to de
mand treatment from women them
selves, tho cry of indelicacy raised by
those who oppose the medical education
of woman is far-fetched, irrelevant, and
impertinent. If there is any disgrace
connected with the matter which we
deny it surely lies not more in the
scientific pursuit of knowledge together
than in the relations of physician aud
patient which 'men and women hold so
frequently toward each other.
True modesty will not put on the sim
per and blush of assumed ignorance
either at the couch of pain or in the lecture-room
of a medical institution, but
will deal with the necessities imposed
by suffering and disease always with
quiet, respectful consideration and at
tention. SAEGENT ONJTHE CHINESE.
Senator Sargent made a speecli in
the United States Senate on tbeChineso
question ou the 29th, setting forth the
evils that had already resulted aud do
pictiug the greater evils that would re
sult to the people of the Pacific Coast,
and especially to those of California,
unless the present treaty with China
were modified. Ho quoted the testi
mony of Rev. Otis Gibson, missionary
of the Methodist Church for ten years
in China and for ten years past iu San
Francisco, to the effect that the number
of Chinese on the Pacific Coast is 130,
000; of this number 100,000 are in Cali
fornia, 30,000 being in San Francisco
alone, and said that in all this number
there were not 100 families. After an
exhaustive review of the evils that the
presence of such large numbers of these
people eutatl upon a community, the
Senator concluded with an earnest ap
peal to the Government to take some
steps to stay the sorrowful scourge.
This is going to work in a proper
manner, aud one which will probably
.prove effective. Mob violence and in
flammatory speech can do no good while
our nation is under solemn treaty stipu
lations to treat this class of immigrants
in the same way that those from other
foreign nations are treated. The matter
having been brought before Congress in
the most forcible light, it now only re
mains for that august body to prepare a
speedy, legal, and just remedy for the
evils of which complaint is made.
When the Lafayette Courier pockets
the insult which Bradshaw offered to
the women of Yamhill county in the
last Legislature, or so completely winks
at it as to declare that this old fossil
"served that county with honor and
credit" therein, we are forced to the re
luctant conclusion that some men either
haven't the seuse to know when their
wives, mothers, and sisters are insulted,
or the courage and manliness to resent
it. Not content with misrepresenting
one-half of the people of that-county in
tfie legislature of 1874, he grossly ma
ligned them, as the editor quoted well
knows, yet, when the party lash de
scends, he cringes and drops iuto the
ranks, bestowing fulsome laudation
where well-merited rebuke is demanded.
We had intended to convince the ed
itor of the Bee that it was the dispeuser
of "bees-whacks," and uot the "wom
an's rights organ" that was temporarily
dwelling in a latitude too tropical for
comfort, but he, taking counsel of pru
dence, retires, using his fan. Inasmuch
as we had not intended to "enter into a
discussion of the Chinese question" with
him, his refusal to enter into such dis
cussion with us is somewhat prema
ture. We beg he will be composed.
We never strike after an adversary has
cried for quarter.
Mrs Dunlway was, at last accounts,
at Seattle. We have had no direct
communication from her for a week
past, but learn incidentally that she
lectured in that city on Wednesday
evening on the subject of "Temperance."
Look out for a long chapter of "Edito
ricl Correspondence" next week.
Hon. A. R. Burbank, Republican
candidate for State Senator from Yam
hill county, commands universal re
spect, and is, in every regard, the antip
odes of his opponent. The voters of
Yamhill of course intend to elect him.
A RESPITE -FEOH-BUSiN-ESS. - -Encouraged
by tho few beaming
glances that Old Sol condescended to
shed up upon the earth, we, on Thurs
day afteruoon of last week, resolved to
take a run up to the embryo "Lowell of
the Pacific," and among old scenes and
associations forget for a time the calls
for "copy" that have spoiled so manyof
our day-dreams during the past two
years.
'lhanks to the accommodations of
the express train, one is now able to
accomplish a good day's work and take
a pleasure trip on the same day; so a
very short space of time intervened be
tween our good-byes at home aud our
greetings with friends of "ye olden
time," whom we fouud in waiting to
accompany us a few miles away
iuto the deep-green country. Turn
ing toward the step that surmount
the walls of rock that stand in their
grim grandeur frowuing upon the hab
itations below, we mount them not very
briskly but iu due time find ourselves,
panting and breathless, upon the sum
mit, quite surprised to behold so much
of a city before us. Cozy dwelling
houses nestle in their white beauty
amongst great boulders gray aud licheu
growu which erewhile held either soli
tary possession or shared it witli the
squalid bark-covered hutsof the Indians.
Mounting upon one of these boulders,
we took a survey of the scene anil pon
dered over the changes that the years
had wrought since once upon n time we
had come to this romantic spot on a
most unromantic errand, i. e., to get an
aged woman who lived hard by to weave
a rag carpet which we had cut and
sewed for weeks to make ready for her
loom. Our glance toward this picture,
then toward that, was, however, speedily
cut short by the arrival of a horse sad
dled for our use, aud we became con
scious that we must delve still deeper
into the past to resurrect our long-unused
knowledge of equestriauship. If the
rag carpet remembrance had carried us
back into thelongago, theact of spring'
ing into me saddle and gallienng up
the reins once more for a "really ride"
caused us to take at least a little sip
from the fabled fountain of youth, and
we grew so gay as actually to receive a
compliment upon our youthful appear
ance from a friend as we journeyed
along.
Two days aud three nights in the
country ! Only think of it ! We could
almost hear the grass grow and see tho
buds burst, as floating out on the humid
air came the delicious scent of budding
things. The fresh south wind, albeit it
came laden with great drops that were
too real to be "misty," sang a song of
springtime in the tops of the aged firs
close by, while the piping voices of
birds impatient -to build their nests
caught up the refrain and seemed to
plead witli wayward April to bestow her
smiles.
Everything iu this part of the coun
try, as we presume it is elsewhere, is
extremely backward. The raius have
been so long-continued as to prevent
plowing and seeding to any extent, yet
the sturdy yeomanry, with a persistence
that should and doubtless will be re
warded by a bountiful harvest, plow a
few furrows now and a few then, just as
the drenching showers will allow, and
trust to Providence for a few brightdays
for seeding time.
Canemah, the beautiful Willamette
on one side, the everlasting hills with
all their load of rocks, waters, and woods
on the other, looks just as it did fifteen
years ago. Miie people who, in its
early and more prosperous days, made
themselves homes there, are too thrifty
to allow them to fall iuto decay, aud too
far-sighted to expend money in im
provements that from present appear
ances will not for a generation be worth
anything. Hence, the look of sameness
about it is varied only by the changing
seasons. There are, however, there to
be found some of the pleasantest homes,
kindest and most hospitable people,
most beautiful gardens, brightest babies,
and most industrious girls and boys iu
the State.
Oregon City, with the exception of
the improvements on the hill above the
city proper, has also an ancient look
about its streets and dwellings, al
though the unceasing click, click of the
machinery of the Woolen Mills gives to
It an appearance of life.
Most of the boats upon the upper river
have been laid by to await the return of
the busy season, and as a consequence
many men are out of employment
They feel, however, that it will be for a
brief season, and cheerfully devote
themselves to the task of making their
gardens and cultivating the acquaint
ance of their families. This last seems
to be a pleasing state of affairs to all
concerned. Steamboat men are liable
to be like editors in one respect. The
chances are that they will wake up
some fine morning to find themselves
verging on toward middle life, or per
haps nearing its outermost border, their
homes filled with young ladies and gen
tleraen with whom they have scarcely
more than the honor of a speaking ac
quaintance.
Recollections of certain columns
waiting to be filled caused us to start up
early ou Monday morning and prepare
for a return home, and eight o'clock
found us, bearing a beautiful boquet
from the garden aud conservatory of
Mrs. .h. B. Fellows, weuding our way,
in company with a dear friend, toward
the depot to catch the morning express
train for tho metropolis. We enjoyed
on our way down the additional pleas
ure of a call at the office of the Oregon
City Enterprise, where, although rather
early for editors to be out, wo found
T a 1 T-V . 1 .
Drouierxtement ousy upon nis next pa
per and cheerful as to its future pros
pects. A brief homeward ride, and we
were standing in our office, pulling vig
orously at our gloves, looking in dismay
at the huge pile of mail that had ao
cumulateddurlng our absence, answer
ing a dozen questions at once, and feebly
wondering what we should do first.
"IS IT EIGHT?"
We think it possible for some church
men and Christian ministers to learn
an occasional lesson of justice from infi
dels, iu some cases at least. AVe were
brought to this conclusion while glanc
ing over the columns of the Investigator
a few days since, and noting the justice
and truth ofome of the editor's con
clusions upon the subject of woman's
enfranchisement, aud comparing the
same with the bigoted "Vashti-has-lost-
her-vail" utterances of Rev. De Witt
Talmadge, and other noted divines. A
correspondent of the paper mentioned,
after speaking, iu terms of warmest
comraendatiou concerning a lecture re
cently given in Charlestown, Mass., by
Miss Susan II. Wlxon, while admit
ting the logic aud force of the lady's ar
gument in favor of the ballot for
woman, is in doubt whether it would
be better to allow her the privilege, be
cause women in general are the chief
supporters of religion, aud are, in his
estimation, "guided as much by minis
ters as ships are by rudders." This is,
of course, putting the matter in its
most unfavorable light before the editor
mentioned, but, while be seems to par
tially agree with the correspondent rel
ative to the assertion that the vote of
woman would strengthen, the power of
the clergy, the native sense of justice in
his composition is stroug enough to
overcome prejudice, aud make him
come out in this wise:
With regard to the objection against Woman
Suffrage, namely, that the ' majority of the
women would vote on the wrong side, there
may be some force to It, but perhaps not quite
as much as our Charlestown friend Imagines.
Then, again and here Is the whole question In
a nut-shell U woman lias a right to the bal
lot, she should have it. Our correspondent ad
mlts that she has this right, and so there Is
nothing more to be said. There Is only one
question to lie asked In any proposed Innova
tlon-Is It right? And If It is, It deserves to
succeed, nor should doubts prevent the main
tennuee of Its claims. If we never undertake
any project until all obstacles to' success are
removed, not much will ever be accomplished
A SENSIBLE00N0LTJSI0N.
We would ask those of our opponents
who are so fond of impeaching the mod
esty of women who believe in and are
not afraid to contend for equal rights,
why it is that the women of France are
so far behind those of England and the
United States in this demand ? Surely
no one is so far ignorant of the social
life and customs of that country as to
claim that modesty holds its women si
lent regarding any matter, political or
otherwise. Hear what one of their own
countrymen, Charles Bigot, says in
book recently published, entitled, "The
Influential Classes."
"To bo sure, women are not yet in possession
of political rights. But will that day never
come ? Ablo men, like John Stuart Mill, have
already come near bringing It about through
their efforts. In England there Is a stron;
movement in this direct Ion; In the United
States still stronger. The time seems not so
very remote when women may sit In legisla
tive bodies. Women in France are less zeal
ous In demanding political rights. Is it from
modesty alone? One may aoubt It, for one
rarely llnds them silent when politics are
talked around them; they have their opinions
clear and passionate enough " " Theydonot
vote, but they intlucnce voting Woman
knows under what circumstances man Is weak
and yields. Our land and ourtlmearo very far
from those times and lands where Christ could
say to his mother, 'Woman, what have I to do
with thee?' or the young Telcmachus sent
Tenelope back to the woman's apartments and
bade her not meddle with man's affairs."
PE0SPE0TS P0E PAEMEES.
The extreme backwardness of the
spring, together with early aud contin
ued rains in the fall, cause the farmers
throughout the valley to regard the
season's giain prospects as rather dis
couraging. As crops have never j,et
failed iu Oregon, however, we feel that
the harvest will prove the fears of many
groundless. The Farmer, alluding to
the matter, says:
There Is rather a discouraging outlook for
those farmers who live on llat prairie land, as
in most Instances they have sown little or no
grain, and In many cases their fields are not
yet plowed. The hill farmers have had a most
successful season, and their grain looks un
commonly well. Those who occupy the higher
locations have also made a fair show, but
those first alluded to have, in some Instances,
not yet turned a furrow, and In others, even
the summer fallow was not sowed early, and
could not be put In later, aud may have to be
replanted.
There Is some discouragement felt over tho
grain prospect, both by disappointed farmers
and expectant business men; but there Is no
particular ground fornlarm.as Oregon seasons
are very accommodating, and seldom fall of
securing good returns. On flat lands, wheat
can be sown wlthalinostcertatnty through the
greater part of Jlay, and, In case farmers fall
to put in all their land, they can rest assured
that the remainder can be summer fallowed
without loss other than deferring the returns
to another season.
Speaking of the recent annual re
union of the Sorosis Club of New York
City, the New York Era says:
The annual dinner of Sorosis was given on
Monday last at Delmonico's, about -one
hundred and fifty ladles being present. As wo
glanced over that large dining-room and saw
those tables filled with women, among them
many who have won for themselves promi
nent places In literature, art, and the pro
fessions, wo could not but think that the day
of the complete enfranchisement of the sex
was not Tar distant. On the walls above them
hung many flags, the emblems or the old days
when man alone ruled the world, and force
wrested its trophies from the death and horror
of the battle-field. But the active, living pres
ence in the room was woman, fair and gentle,
yet witty and cultured, typical ol that future
when the prizes shall be won In intellectual
contests, 'and the rule of the world shall be
Justice.
G. W. Bethers, of Corvallis, who,
with his wife,started some two weeks
since to visit friends in Ohio and see
sights at the Ceutennlal, writes that
they arrived in safety at San Francisco
on the 24th ult., well, with the ex
ception of some lingering effects of sea
slckuess, and that they expected to
leave for the East on the 23th.
The Republicaus of Lake county have
placed Captain O. C. Applegate on their
ticket for Representative to the next
Legislature. Should such gentlemen as
he compose a majority in that body at
its next session, the enfranchisement of
tho women of the State Is assured.
LETTEE IBOM SALEM.
To tiie Editor op the New Northwest:
Memories of past favors at your
hands embolden me to ask again for
space in your journal, first, for the fol
lowing "blood drawn from a porpoise,"
which I clipped from the Salem Slates-
man, and signed by one "Seth," and
second, for a few comments.
It would seem that the daughters of Eve, In
our day, would sympathize and sustain each
other in this, their day of need, when our sex
are trampling them under foot, depriving
them of their "rights," and letting thousands
of them live In single-blessedness all their
days. But, on the contrary, the dear creatures
go after each other sometimes with a "vim."
They dress more to spite each other than
to please us. And, let but one fair creature
turn aside from the path of virtue, and her own
sex are down on. her, and show her less mercy
than we do. It Is too often the case that, when
a woman falls fiom virtue and a fair name,
her sex pursues her, and never tires until she
Is utterly beyond hope.
It Is said that whenever blood Is drawn from
a porpoise, however little the amount, every
other porpoise will pursue the wounded one
till Its life Is taken. Our dear ladles, who are
contending sb strongly for their "rights," find
more opposition from their sex than from us.
But the strong-minded ones will yet outride
the storm, and land their craft safe in the har
bor of freedom.
And now I desire to address a few
words to "Seth" in a friendly, but plain
manner.
Do you say that woman is less mer
ciful than mau ? To say this is one
thing, and to prove it is another. True,
there are women who, because of their
education, and watchful of their own
social position, slight or pass by an
erring sister, but in most cases it is be
cause of these things, and not that
woman is less merciful. Pause a mo
ment, I beseech you, and ask yourself
how men treat the unfortunate of both
sexes. What, pray you, is the burden
of the news that flashes across the con
tinent, aud fills the columns of our
newspapers ? What the subject of flip
pant aud often unjust editorial com
ment, when the- brother overtaken in
misfortune or crime happens to hold po
litical views opposite to your own?
What indeed but scathing comment
upon the downfall of your brethren
Surely, women could do no worse than
this. Do not mothers and sisters and
daughters, who are the innocent vie
tims iu many instances of the mistakes
and crimes of fathers, brothers, and
sons, receive more tender, loving sym
pathy from women than from men?
Christ placed all culprits about on
a par. "Let him that is without sin
cast the first stone." And hero please
to observe that this Magdalen's accusers
were all men, and all lawn then, as now,
were man-made.
It seems that women are rebels, and
possibly have been from time immemo
rial; but the progress of this age enables
them to be more prominent rebels than
in any other age. A few of these long
ago endeavored to arouse the human
race to the importance of yielding jus
tice to all, but, notwithstanding their
valiant labor, the selfishness of the
sons of father Adam still prevails, and
together with the customs of barbaric
ages, still so fetters woman that she is
uot dealt with in justice and equity
Yet these workers do not falter, but
with courage that is sublime, keep
striking at the rock of superstition and
custom and prejudice, until, in due
time, it will be demolished.
Let us see if this war Jgr equal rights
does not belong as justly to fathers as to
mothers, to brothers as to sisters. A
man never yet wronged a woman bu
that he committed a crime against the
mother who bore him and the sister
who shared his boyish pleasures. Truth
and mercy are equally beautiful aud
desirable, and, inasmuch as the tender
mercies of men toward unfortunate
women whom the treachery of man has
caused to be ranked in that sad cat
egory are cruel, it would be as well
I think, to retract the assertion that
"her own sex are down on her, and
show her less mercy than we do.
Even if this were true, men certainly
should extend mercy to women when
shame, caused by the treachery of man
overwneims them. Tlie trutn is, we
all condemn more than we can afford to
do. Brothers can illy afford to con
demn sisters, aud sisters can as illy
afford to condemn brothers; but It Is an
undeniable fact that, in all ages, man
condemns, and woman pities and
forgives.
Brothers say to their sisters, "You
must not associate with this or that
person." The sister rebels, and the
father is appealed to. He answers, "My
daughter, your brother knows best."
Who now is responsible ? Have you
ever known a husband to consent for
his wife to associate with au uufortu
nate sister? .No one can be ignorant of
the dependent position of women in
these matters bound first by com
mands laid upou them at-home, second,
by the terrible fear of society's ban, and
all the time by a shrinking from asso
ciations that cannot be pleasant. To
plead ignorance of this state of affairs is
to declare one's self a bachelor, abject
and forlorn, motherless, sisterless, eous
iuless and jilted, and that such au un
fortunate man as this should misjudge
women is perhaps not strange.
Mrs. J. A. Johns.
Salem, April 19, 1870.
The citizens of Jackson county are
too far away from the' metropolis to
join in the Fourth of July festivities
that will make merry Centennial cele
brations here, aud so propose to cele
brate on their own account. We see by
the Sentinel that extensive preparations
are being made to make the American
eagle, "historical bird," scream lustily
on that eventful anniversary.
Tho editor of UioBee, terrified at the
thought of a discussion in which he was
likely to be worsted, throws up Ms
bands and down his quill, aud declares
he "never disputes with a woman."
Since wheu, brother?
The newspapers generally believe
Blaine's defease complete.
WOMAN'S EIGHTS NO. 2.
Br BILLY BCSTEB.
Taking up the subject where I left off",
let us inquire where all this thing of
'woman's rights" will lead us. By the
common law (and allow me to say we
have adopted- the common law in this
country, and of course it must prevail
unless changed by statute) whatever
a woman earned belonged to her hus
band. Was not that right? Is it not
right now? Of course it is. What
right has a woman to her earnings?
Do not her services belong to her bus-
band ? Does not even her wearing ap
parel belong to her husband under the
circumstances? By a fiction of that
law he is supposed to allow her to use
and wear her paraphernalia, Including
ewelry, etc., whilo she lives, anil he
permits; but he has the right to, sell it
if ho chooses; he cau convey the title to
it and she cannot; then iu law It Is his,
uot hers. That Is as it should be, be
cause, as I have said before, the common
law is right. By that law, when a
woman entered into a marriage con
tract, she agreed to give to her husband
absolutely all of her personal property,
and if a child was born to them alive,
that fact gave her husband the right to
the use of all her real estate, rents, is
sues, and profits during ills me; our
statute commonly known as "Deady's
Code" changes,that for the better, and
gives the husband the wife's real estate
for life, child or no child. Now,
Is not that right? Is not the wis
dom of the common law clearly
made manifest? But you would argue
that if the husband has a right to the
wife's real estate for life by courtesy,
why should not the wife have a right to
the husband's real estate by courtesy
also? Simply, I say, because the right
of dower (which is one-third the hus
band's estate) for life is enough for her;
she's a woman; he's a man that's the
difference. Don't the husband give her
new name his name at marriage?
Is not that something? Don't he give
her children his name ? Don't he prom
ise to protect and support her? (It's
true some bad husbands don't do it, but
that is not the fault of the law; the law
intends that he should). True, there's
no law to compel him to do it, unless
some silly grocer is willing to risk a
law-suit by trusting her for absolute
necessities, mind you, nothing else, on
his account, and not many of them like
to do it; and I wouldn't, if I were they,
These measures are necessary to keep
women in subjection, so that the hus
band can have the control, the government.--
See what it would lead to if a
wife had the right directly to compel
her husband to support her. Why,
there would be no living with women
any more. They would do as they
pleased, and if a woman then happened
from any cause to marry a man she did
not like, he would no longer have the
power to compel her to subjection by
shutting off' her supplies of food and
clothing. That would not do. Can you
not see that this would tear to ruins in
a moment the work and wisdom of ages ?
that it would overthrow all the reasons
upon which tlie fraraers of the common
law based their judgment? that I
would prove those old Patriarchs to
have been wrong, and even impeach the
veracity of St. Paul ? Why, good worn
en, it would disturb our whole order of
things, and after that I would not be
surprised to hear a judge charge a jury
that a man's chastity must be consld
ered by them iu weighing his testi
mony.
Now, taking up the subject where we
drove the peg in in the first communi
cation, are we not forced into the con
elusion by reason from analogy, that as
the giving the negro the right to "free
dom" entailed upon him all the other
rights, even to being a Congressman
would not the giving of "freedom" to
woman give her similar rights and
privileges? and if it did, then what
would be the consequences? Women
would be asking to be made iuto law
yers, doctors, and politicians, and some
would be asking for office. Then, as I
said before we would be compelled to
change the whole course of educating
our girls; it would not do to give them
a superficial smattering of the arts and
sciences, and teach them a very little
French and music to be fashionable on
We would be compelled to allow them
to delve deeply into all those subjects
which would cause them to think for
themselves, for they would then be in
dividuals. What more education does
a girl need now, than to know that the
great and only object of her life is to
marry ? Why, many mothers, and fath
ers, too, must see that the girls would
inevitably have some, higher aim in life
than to marry and bear children, as it
now is. They would be self-supporting;
they would not care half so much for
dress as now; it would satisfy them in
that line if they were dressed in a neat,
clean, and tidy manner. They would
throw off nine-tenths of their gew-gaws(
quit using paints, varnish, cosmetics,
perfumes, false curls, aud all these beau
tiful things that make a woman look
lovely. They would quit striving to ex
cel in dress, and strive to excel in litera
ture and learning. Don't you see that
it wouldn't do? We would have no
cooks, (unless we employed Chinamen);
we would no longer have wives to wash,
scrub, take care of the children, sew on
buttons, and iron our shirts. Good
heavens ! it fairly make? my head swim
to think of the change the radical
change it would make in the affairs of
men.
Was not Ben Franklin's wife an ex
emplary woman ? Did not she stay at
home, practicing her husband's Poor
Richard maxims, economizing, patch
ing, darniug, and working early and
late, while the old kite-flyer went to
Europe aud etald ten or eleven years,
Minister of our Government ? Was not
that right ? It was none of his concern
that she was working late and early, up
nights with their children, doctering
them through measles, whooping cough,
scarlet fever, fits, and teething, (and she.
didn't have any of Mrs. Winslow'a
soothing syrup, either). Of courseB.en
amln enjoyed all. the comforts and
splendors of a foreign court, slept upon
elvet couches, ate fine dinners, drank:
good wine, made beautiful speeches,
and enjoyed himself generally, with gay
women. Maybe some may think that
Benjamin would notdo It. Oh.no! pos
sibly not; but then if he wouldn't, how
came his natural son, William Frank
lin, to be afterwards Governor of New
Jersey ? Perhaps he led a correct life,
perhaps. Now, don't you see that the
privileges of men must be restricted, or
women- must be kept In subjection ?
Old Ben's wife was a model woman, and
kept lip the credit of the family just as
she ought to have done. True, she was
what you call a drudge, but what Jcall
a good wife; kuew her place, kept it,
staid at home and brought up her chil
dren. It's true, none of them have ever
amounted to much, because she hadn't
time to read and improve her mind.
And what should she want to improve
her mind for? Couldn't she work, cook,
aud raise children without much edu
cation, and without devoting her time
toreadlug? And as to study, she had
enough study about ber work, and old
Ben was her representative, so he did
the studying.
Out upon the silly sentimentality that
declares that it is not enough that
"Caesar's wife shall be above suspicion,"
but will seek to lay the restraints of
morality and decency upou Cajsar also.
More anon.
Portland, April 29, 1876.
EEOENTEYENTS.
The press compliment Sargent's
speech.
The Prince of Wales aud suite arrived
at Lisbon on the 1st inst.
The Senate confirmed Ferry as Gover
nor of Washington Territory.
Hannah Cox, one of the small band of
original abolitionists, died recently in
Pennsylvania, aged 80 years.
Specie shipments to Europe on the
29th aggregated $370,000, of which $240,-
000 was gold and the remainder silver.
Tho public debt statement shows a re
duction for April of $2,780,000. Coin
balance, $77,605,000; currency balance,
$516,000.
The Occidental Orieutal Company's
steamer "Belgic" arrived at San Fran
cisco on the 29th with an invoice of six
huudred Chinamen.
It is charged that a false roll of per
sons employed in the New Orleans cus
tom-house has been kept, whereby from
$10,000 to $20,000 have been expended to
pay nominal employes. It is also al
leged that this roll is now missing. It
is thought that investigations will create
no little excitement. -
Bets are made that Belknap will not
be punished at all. Even some Demo
crats will vote against jurisdiction.
The case has been badly damaged, ow
ing to Clymer's inconsiderate zeal to
make a cheap reputation. The grand
jury have not indicted Belknap, and
it is doubtful if they will. The Marshes
are losiugprestige with the Government.
The Trioune'sWasbington special says:
Should the Senate decide it has juris
diction in theBelknap tnatter,it is under
stood he will have no difficulty to prove,
in an action before the court on his in
dictment, that Clymer guaranteed im
munity if he resigned. Clymer denies
auy such guarantee; but he told another
member of the committeo be should
recommend Belknap's impeachment if
he was in office at noon the next day.
His remark was not officially made as
chairman, and therefore is not binding.
National Temperance Fair.
The Woman's National Christian
Temperance Union will hold a National
Temperance Fair in Philadelphia, open
ing June the 13th, the day after the In
ternational Convention, in Horticultu
ral Hall, a ceutral and commodious,
building.
The Fair will continue for two weeks,
and will be conducted on the strictest
religious principles. Raffling, chances,
grab bags, and everything else that is
objectionable, will absolutely be pro
hibited and prevented.
A daily temperance prayer meeting
will be held during the time In a neigh
boring hall, led by the distinguished
workers of the Unions at home aud
from foreign lands.
The Philadelphia Union will have
charge of the restaurant, aud conduct it
upon the European plan.
The Fair will be under the manage
ment of the Woman's National Chris
tian Temperance Union, but the States
are invited to co-operate and take charge
of their own goods, and are to have half
of the net proceeds of the same. Many
of the States need money, and this will
enable them to call ou the friends of
temperance in their several States to
contribute, and their profits will be iu
proportion to their zeal and the liberal
ity of theirpeople.
If public calls are made in the towns
and villages of each State, a large
amount of goods can be gathered to
gether in a very short time. There are
in almost every family fancy articles
that have been bought at fairs, or have
beeu made during leisure hours, which
have never been used, that our women
would gladly lay on this temperance al
tar, to help on the dear cause.
If the women of Germany, at a time
of peril from a powerful foe, had the
courage to give their costliest jewels
into the public treasury, will not the
women of America in her Centennial
year sacrifice some of their treasure to
free their sous, and husbands, and
brothers, and their country from a more
fearful foe?
The supplies of all kinds gathered up
by each State must be sent on to tho
Woman's Temperance Union, 1020 Arch
street, Philadelphia; they will be put
in charge of a judicious business com
mittee of ladies, appointed by each
State, wiio will dispose of them at the
Fair in the interest of the State.
If the women of each State will act
promptly and vigorously, there can be
no doubt of the largest success in this
enterprise.
Tens or thousands oi people wuo are
deeply interested in temperance will
visit Piuiadaipuia during inoso two
weeks, manv of them men and women
of wealth, who will be glad to show
their appreciation of tuts nouie cause,
and will give freely.
JLiet tuere be earnest worK ior ine next
two months.
Annie Wittenjiyer, President.
Frances E.Willard, Cor. Sec'y.