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About The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887 | View Entire Issue (May 26, 1876)
j m m tX 'ft 1 rtyr FRIDAY MAY 20, 1876. XOTICE. Agents -will please take notice that it is a great tax upon us to pay express charges upon mall sums, and they will confer a great favor bv remitting to us through money orders or cgistered letters. "THE AMAZONS AGAIN." Under this bead the New York Graphic thus discourses relative to the recent Convention of Woman Suffra gists in that city: The women are coming next week. And ihey will-take Wednesday and Thursday to tell why they ought to vote, and what cruel ty rants men are for kecpingthe ballot-boxes and offices all to themselues. In looking over the list of speakers, we miss the names of some of the old-time advocates of what may almost be considered "a lost cause," but Miss Anthony's name is conspicuous still. She is too cour ageous and tenacious of her .rights to put In a disappearance on such an occasion. But Misses Braith, whose cows have made so much noise at Glastonbury, Connecticut, will recite their wrongs; and Sarah J. Spencer will tell what monsters men are; and Mrs. Dr. Lozler will doubtless demonstrate woman's superior ity to man on physiological principles; and Mrs. Oiympla Urown may show the Incompat ibility of matrimony with the ministry; and Mrs. Wcstbrook may lift the audience into a region of poetry and romance from which it will be brought back to hard facts by Mrs. Gage and Mrs. Blake. Doubtless the occasion will be Interesting; the women always are so. But it is hard to lose sightofthe fact that while women are steadily gaining ground in educa tion, Indnstry, society, administrative posi tions, and moral influence, the signs of their enfranchisement as steadily diminish. The experiment of universal male suffrage has not proved sufficiently successful to encourage an extension or the privilege, and there Is hardly a question that the majority of our people would reduce the numberof voters rather than give the ballot to a whole sex as yet unused to political responsibilities. And it would be well tortlie women who agitate so persistently for the ballot to consider whether there are not other and more effectual ways of Improving the status and Increasing the usefulness and Influence of their sex. It is seldom indeed that attempted or assumed opposition makes so many strong points in favor of womau's en franchisement in so short a space and in such a pleasant manner as is wit nessed in the above extract. Time was and not so long since either when editors of otherwise respectable journals would descend to the lowest form of abuse and the vilest of innuendoes upon those women who dared to brave the disgusting storm of vituperation and as sert their'right to citizenship in a free country wherein they were free-born. "Courageous and tenacious of her rights" Miss Anthony has ever been, and her ere-while bitterest opponents are compelled to respect her therefor. It is no wonder that men try to conceal the shame they needs must feel at the repeated outrage of taxation without representation which has been imposed upon the venerable Smith sisters, of Glastonbury, behind the noise made by the cows of these defrauded women, as they were taken from the pastures of tlrelr rightful possessors to satisfy the unjust demands of the tax-gatherer. True, the protest of these dumb auimals was much more eloquent than are the words of those who seek to raise a laugh to cover their confusion by referring to it; but that is neither here nor there; the laugh must be raised, else people might bo so shockingly Indiscreet as to listen to a "recital of wrougs" at which even dumb creatures cry out. It is gratifying to observe that after the most ingenious attempt to bring ridicule upon the women whose names are mentioned in the above ext ract, that candor compels the writer to admit their intellectual ability, their versatil ity, and their power to render the "oc casion interesting." Can it be possible, after the admission which persistent demonstrations have compelled from man, that "women are steadily gaining ground in education, industry, society, administrative posi tions, and moral influence," that any one can expect bis words to be believed when he further says that "the signs of woman's enfranchisement steadily diminish" Does any one for a moment belisve that history will reverse the re cital of all times past, and" spread upon Its future pages records of a people steadily advaucing in social, moral, and educational power, yet compelled to continue political serfs, controlled by the rabble of a nation, held amenable to laws which, in many instances, bear with gross Injustice upon their personal rights and property interests? And would it not be as well for men who ar rogate to themselves superiority because of their sex, to consider the political problems of the country which affect women and men alike, from an intel lectual, rather than from a physiologi cal stand-point? And if they have an idea that it is pleasant, remunerative, or expedient to work in political bond age, let them tell us how they would preserve the present political influence, power, and status of their sex, to say nothing of improving itber or all. of them, if they should suddenly be de prived of the privileges of the frauchise. EQUAL EIGHTS AND MATEIMONY. The sentiment that there Is a position, a sphere for woman outside of matri mony, is gaining popularity and doing much to redeem and elevate marriage, since it tends to the prevention of many of those uncongenial and unjustitiuble unions, which have been directly and indirectly the result of woman's une qual position. Thousands of wives have passed a life-time void of happiness to themselves or others, when, if they had been taught when young to believe no sin greater than unjustifiable marriage, and to regard upright self-dependence preferable to marriage with sordid mo tives, would doubtless have been a ben efit instead of a curse to the race. When woman once stands on a plane equal with man, wise and happy matrimonial relations will be tho rule not the ex ception, as now. A STEP INADVANOE. The dispatches inform us that a reso lution has been ottered at the General Conference of the M. E. Church, now in session in Baltimore, to the effect that women be declared eligible to the office of leader, steward, exhorter, and local preacher. Whatever disposition that honorable body may make of the reso lution at this time, it is evident to all that sooner or later the powerof women will be felt in the church to an extent that will compel a recognition of their rights, whether, pompous bishops and bigoted clergy like It or not. In justice to the Methodist Church, however, it should be said that women have long been allowed more of a place in its active work than is accorded to them in almost any other church. We can remember a quarter of a century ago, when our mother, patient, devout, and toiling Christian that she was, would deny herself the much-coveted privilege of attending the morning ser mon, that something nice migbt be cooked and waiting to be devoured by the bevy of ministers whose arrival on each Sabbath converted our paternal home into a Sunday restaurant, with meals from 12 till 3 o'clock. And these godly men, supposing, peihaps, that if this hand-maiden of the Lord wished to know anything, she could "ask her hus band at home," seemed to think this self-denying labor on her part was as necessary to the salvation of mankind, as was an implicit belief in the brim stone doctrines which they so loudly proclaimed from the village pulpit. "Six days slialt thou labor and do all thy workV could not by any possibility, even in the most creed-bound days, be made broad enough to cover the servile condition in which tho "mothers in Israel" found themselves. We won der whether it never occurred to them that the curse, "In the Bweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread," had by some strange mischance been added to their own, as they lifted the steaming viands from the glowing stove and wiped the perspiration from their fore heads, and bade their soft-banded, cool beaded masters "eat and be filled." We imagine that had a good angel whispered the purport of the resolution referred to above in the ear of one of them as, weary and worn with manual labor, she donned her spare dress and prepared to attend the evening service, she would have been no less amazed than delighted at the prospect de lighted not for herself, but for the little daughters that were growing up around her, destined, so far as she could see, to follow in her weary footsteps. It would, indeed, ill become a church that has been blessed with the untiring labors of Mrs. Van Cott to ignore the claims which such as she have upon it for recognition of the work so valiantly performed in the Master's vineyard, aud all friends of equal rights must rejoice if the resolution in question is adopted by the Conference. ' "NEITHER D0LLSN0B DUMMIES.' It is quite refreshing to find a man occasionally who is disgusted with the current clap-trap about the extravagant desires and tastes of American women, and who is manly enough to state plain facts in their defense. The infrequency of such an occurrence tempts us to pub lish the following from thePuget Sound Express: Opinlonsdiffer as to what is"themoa serious social national question of the age." Some think it Is "temperance;" some think it is "la- bor reform;" others think it is something else; but one of our Eastern exchanges believes It to be "matrimony on $1,000 a year." That is a se rious question and no mistake, but we do not think this inquiry of an Eastern contemporary very difficult to answer: "Where can honest, competent, and even cultivated poor men get wives that will occupy their positions and cir cumstances, and be happy In them until hon est toll and thoughtful endeavor have raised them higher?" Right here on Puget Sound, ngnt here in Washington Territory, "honest, competent, and even cultivated poormen"can get wives, tbelr peers In every particular, who Will do their lull share of "honest toll and thoughtful endeavor" to raise them higher. Thousands of that kind have been found, and thousands more can be found If sought dili gently and in a manly way. American women are neither the dolls nor the dummies that some men think them to be. AN0THEEVI0T0EY. We notice in an exchange the an nouncement that the California Medical Society on the 20th ultimo agreed by a unanimous vote to admit women to full membership. Thus, one step at a time, arethecourageouaaud persistent women of the-Jaud advancing in the highway of justice toward the citadel of equal rights. And though the gates of the castle be triple guarded by arrogance, Ignorance, and prejudice, yet will these grim wardens in due time be forced to yield the keys to tolerance and justice, and as the massy bolts and bars, wrought iu the forge of tyranny, and strength ened by the weight of ages, fly back at the bidding of the new wardens, women will enter their rightful heritage as co- laborers in the work of humanity with their brethren. The next step in ad vance will be the opening of the legal profession to those women of California who have tho desire, opportunity, aud ability to engage in its labors and share its emoluments. Let the good work go on. Dr. Dillon, of the Pacific Christian Advocate, "though differing with us widely in his religious views," as he has an undoubted right to do, is yet so tolerant in his opinions and so kindly iu the expression of them as to com maud the respect both of bis readers and ours. In proof of this, witness the following, taken from the last issue of the journal over which he presides with such ability and dignity: "While on Puget Sound we met Mrs. A. J. Dunlway, who exhibits a zeal and persever ance in the prosecution of her self-imposed mission, worthy of all emulation. She lectures, sells her books, visits, canvasses for subscrib ers to her paper, In every place she comes to. Although differing widely from her In religious views, we rejoice at the temporal prosperity which her genius and toll have enabled her to achieve. Let the lords of creation take a lesson. EDIT0EIAL 00EEESP0NDEN0E. Dear Readers op the New "Northwest: Once more the mutations of an itiner ant missionary's labors bring us to "home, sweet home," and, as we sit in tlte brilliant glow of the morning sun shine and pause from tbecontemplation of the scenes of gladness around us, all hallowed as they are by the merry hum of laughter and conversation that wells up from tho happy hearts of our loved aud cherished ones, we resume our jot tings of yet unchronicled journeyings, relying wholly upon a memory dimmed by recent illness for details which should have been penned whilo yet fresh, and full of the vigor which the inspiration of the moment never fails to create. But 'tis useless to moralize or apologize. What is past is past, "what is writ is writ," and much of what has not been chronicled has followed the old thief Procrastination down the steeps of Time, to be recalled to memory nevermore. On the steamer "North Pacific," go ing over from Seattle to Port Townsend, we met Rev. Dr. Dillon, of the Pacific Christian Advocate, who was taking a run over to Victoria for his health. Conversation with him and a few other friends concerning theology, nature, politics, literature, etc., etc., beguiled much of the time from dawn to 0 a. m., which would otherwise have been left as a trackless waste upon our imagination. The morning was too raw and cold for out-door observations, though we did once in a while brave the chilly atmos phere while gazing for a moment at the Olympic range, aud from that iuto the green waters, of the Whulge, as the good steamer lashed them iuto spray. This, aud a glance at the blue-green forests that everywhere abounded would suffice us, and back we would go to the great coal-stove in the steamer's cabin, shivering like an ague fit possessed us, Port Townseud is a quiet, romantic aud dreamy place, like Natchez on, and Natchez under the hill, being separated in its interests by a precipitous bluff, which it is an average day's journey to climb and descend. The place was once the seat of a very thriving trade, but its terminus bubble burst when New Tacpma rose to the surface, and now, like Steilacoom, Port Townsend is decidedly quiet. Here is a Port of Entry, where Hon. Henry Webster and our genial friend, Col. L. H. Briggs and his estimable lady, may be found at headquarters under the hill, while the residence of the former gen tleman is on the hill; and at botli places we enjoyed a feast of reason and flow of soul which can never be forgotten. If you want to have good cheer and see happy families, go among Woman Suffragists. If you want to seek a spot from which you can get a desirable view of everything in nature that is grand, romantic, and lovely, go to the residence of the Collector of Customs at Port Townsend, and, standing upon the eminence where his home is, you will see such a diversity of mountains, val leys, forests, rocks, and plains, with the great ocean bounding at their feet, as will compel you to exclaim as did Byron when he beheld Lisboa: " Oh, Christ ! It Is a goodly sight to see "What heaven hath done for this delicious land ! wnat iruits or fragrance ulusli on every tree I "What goodly prospects o'er the hills paud !" But, unlike the times aud country of which Byron sung, all this is wild and new; aud, but for the greed of the land shark, would be as free as the electric air that bathes alike the brow of Mount Baker and the base of Olympus in a nectar, fit for the inhalation of the Goddess of Liberty. "Ah, me! what hand; can pencil guide, or pen To follow half on which the eye dilates, Through views more dazzling unto mortal ken Than those whereof such things the bard relates, Who, to the awe-struck world unlocked Elysium's gates ?" As we wonder and gaze, our iniagiua- Hon all dazed by the "mixed aud mighty scene," we look in vain for toppling convents, carved crosses, rude shrines, and other evidences of Oriental superstition of which Byron sang so feelingly, and we gather the inspiration of the rare, electric air, aud iudite an apostrophe to mental freedom which respect for the illustrious poet above quoted, (to say nothing of our own modesty), prevents us from transcribing here, and thereby risking the dauger of making ourself ridiculous by con trast. Port Towusend-ou-the-hill contains a fine array of dwellings with well-kept yards and flourishing fruit trees. The same town under-the-hill is occupied by stores, saloons, hotels, and so forth, where tho men engaged in trade, sigh over hopes departed, and dream of bet ter times. This was the first place yet encountered where we failed to get large audiences; yet, it seeme.l to be nobody's fault, and we charge the whole to in ertia on general principles. The citl zens subscribed liberally to the Journal of Peace, and our four days' sojourn among them was au interval of long-to- be-remembered hospitality and pleas ure. The hotel, kept by Mr. Clapp, is a quiet, orderly place, where good food and reasonable charges kept one in working humor. But we must not longer tarry at Port Townsend, forhere comes the"NorthPa- cific," and we are bound Olympia-ward Again we meet Dr. Dillon and a number ofothercongenlal friends; agalD we chat and philosophize and speculate and poet ize and theorize, and, at a late hour, re tire to rest, assured by the steward that the steamer will tarry on the morrow at the Olympia dock to "wait for the turn of the tide," and we can indulge a coveted morning nap. Sleep so soundly that the great vessel lunges herself against the piles at the dock at 3 A. M. without disturbing us; and at G we venture forth, to meet a messenger from the hospitable borne of our good friend, Mrs. Sylvester, who takes charge of our limited supply of baggage, and we walk to our place of destination, feasting eyes and mind on the spring-time glories around us, and noting witli sat isfaction the many evidences of taste, thrift, and prosperity that abound on every hand. Our friends are already astir and expecting us, aud soon the greetings are over and we all sit down to a capital breakfast, prepared by the bands of one of the best cooks, tidiest house-keepers, deepest thinkers, finest talkers, and greatest readers on tho Pa cific Coast. Dou't tell us that intel lectual culture unfits woman for the duties of home. If you think so, visit Mrs. Sylvester and paitake of her bis cuit and coffee and other good things, and go to ber well-kept kitchen and hear her unfold Bible mysteries while broiling steak and makiug lemon pies, and you'll acknowledge yourself mis taken. The lectures were giveu on Thursday and Saturday evenings at Olympia Hall, the audieuces being large, and the leading people, as ever, genial, ap preciative, and fully imbued with the spirit of freedom. iurs. A. 11. H. Stuart, who, as Chairman of the Board of Imm! graliou, has her bands and brain well occupied by work that well sub serves Territorial interests, drove us over the suburbs of the town aud gave us many a sparkling thought, as, iu her quaint, terse way she chatted of things past, present, and prospective relative to public and private interests. On Sunday we awoke seriously ill, with a lecture appointment out for the evening which we were unable to fill. Went in the afternoon to "Swautowu," 'to the pleasant abode of good Mr. and Mrs. Dobbins, where, as we were for several days an invalid, we were com pelled to lie by, that time might have chance to repair the damages which constant mental aud physical effort had wrought iu au overburdened const itu tion. Our genial friends spared no puius to make our visit profitable and pleasant. Good nursing and plenty of rest sufficiently restored us to euable us to make a few calls on Wednesday, and a visit on Thursday at Marshal Moss- mail's, where we found good Mrs. M. up to her eyes in work of every imaginable description a help-wieei iu fact and deed to a worthy husband who fully appreciates ber. This woman does the housework, including washing aud ironing, for a family of nine, teaches wax and feather-work, does stamping, embroidery, braiding, etc., for cus tomers, and makes a speciality of visit iug cards, which she sells at very low prices, stamped to order in any- kind of type, upon tinted, plain, marbled, white, enameled, sensitive, or rep cards. Yet, with all her capability, the mas culine ignoramus who grades her door- yard for a dollar per day, and who couldn't be made to pay poll-tax or read the Constitution, is her political sover eigh, wnue sue is denied a voice in a governmeut which she is taxed to support. Brother Murphy, of the Standard, is getting along famously, as every good suffragist ought. He has bought a steam power-press, with engine and fixtures complete, and, in connection with Brother Bagley, of the Courier, is printing the Olympian, a sparkling daily, well filled with choice readables, Brother Cook is also busy with the -fccio, which he says is progressing finely. The Transcript also flourishes here, making three weekly and two daily papers iu a town scarcely large enough judged by ordinary standards to support one weekly. But the Olympians are great readers, aud they fully understand the power of printers' ink. uwing to severe illness, we were wholly unable to canvass for subscrib ers, aud were glad indeed when we were so far recovered as to be able to take stage for Teniuo, aud there take train for Kalama, at which place we went aboard the elegant steamer "Bo- uita," bound for Portland and home. A. J. D. May 23, 187C. YAMHILL COUNTY . S. A. Concerning the recent session of this organization at McMinnville, Mrs. Ann M. Mactln, Corresponding Secretary, writes: "Our meeting at McMinnville was a decided success. It was as inter esting a meeting a9 I ever attended Every one seemed to enter into the spirit of the occasion, and worked to make the meeting a success." What ever suffragists are doing in other local ities, those of Yamhill are. not asleep. We hope the "sovereigns" of that county will see to it that this portion of the citizens thereof will not be so shame fully misrepresented in the Legislature as they were at the last session. PUE0HASINGDEPABTMENT. Mrs. S. C. G.: Sent hat 22d. Mrs. G. A. H.: Sent bonnet 23d. Mrs. M. M. A.: Sent bracelets 23d. Hattie: The polonaise is again in vogue. Airs. i. M.: The plated ware you mention will cost from $33 to $40, owing to quality. Can get very nice and war ranted for $35. Miss C. A.: Can send you a pattern for the full suit for $1. Patterns of all kinds range from 30 to 50 aud 75 cents for the garment. ANSWEES TO 00EEESP0NDENTS F. M. B., Salem order attended to. Note received, and Mrs. M. F. C, Lafayette: Please let us know if the package sent per steamer "Beaver" was received by you. If so we hope for good results. Mrs. J. A. J., Salem: The article rel atlve to Abigail Adams, from the "Ed Iter's Easy Chair" in Harper's Maga sine for March, was published in the New Northwest of April 7th WOMEN IN BENEPI0IAL 0EGANI- ZATI0NS. To the Editor of the New If orth west: The question has been asked whether the attempt to build up the Order of Champions of the Bed Cross in this ju risdiction promises to be successful. We answer, that although we have not met with the success we have desired, nor the encouragement we bad a right to expect, wo are uot disappointed, nor doubtful as to the permanency of the Order here. For, since ours Is the first secret Order that has ever attempted to confer its benefits equally upon its members irrespective of sex, is itstrange that the public should regard the exper iment as a doubtful one? Especially when we remember that women gener ally have no means at their own dispo sal, we cannot wonder that people re gard them as beiug unfitted for the pro visions of a beneficial organization. Orders composed exclusively of men, lor oovious reasons, require, as a pre requisite to membership, that the candi date should have some visible means of support; but under the present state of things, few women are acknowledged to be thus fortunately-situated. Yet I am proud to say that all the Encampments of our Order are required by constitutional law to provide sick benefits alike to all their members, and siuce the Order is steadily growing and crystallizing under this regime, we feel justified in saying that the practicabil ity of t he measure has been demon strated, public opinion to the contrary notwithstanding. In this jurisdiction, some of the En campments, in consideration of the shameful inequality in meu's aud wom en's wages, have in the kindness of their hearts discrimatedin favor of their lady members both in fees and dues. Tiiese Compauions were doubtless actu ated by the kindest motives, yet I think it a mistaken policy. We, of couse, de sire equal privileges and equal benefits with our brothers, but wish tbem only on equal terms. We wish to perform our parts fully, and each count as much as a brother in sustaining our Encamp- meuts. We know that one dollar rep resents as much of our time and labor as four times that amount does of theirs, but we also know that one dollar of our money will go no farther in sustaining the enterprises of the Order that! tbat amount of theirs, and hence submit to this hardship until the "good time coming comes," when we shall be re leased from the odious coverture and al lowed to stand before the world as indi viduals; when our right to invest our money in a way to insure ourselves against the danger of want shall be uni versally acknowledged and respected, And does not au Order founded on the eternal principles of right, and taking this advanced position before the world merit the support of all those who are laboring to lift the unjust weights from the shoulders of the women of our land? Our husbands and brothers are appro priating means to insure themselves iu organizations where we are not admit ted, for which I do not blame them; but have not we an equal right to make like provision for ourselves ? I would not urge my sisters to join us in ou great mission and work, were I not fully satisfied tbat all the pure aud good would be more than pleased with its teachings and work, and ultimately reap great benefit from the alliance with us. I do not wish to convey the impres sion that it is any part of the direct work of the Order to promote the polit- 'ical enfranchisement of women, for it is in no sense a political organization; bu 1 do assert that our laws and usages fully recognize the principle that th one sex is entitled to precisely the sam rights as the other. When we consider the full scope and character of the Order iu question, we could not expect nor desire for it a rapid growth; but we do expect and hav seen it demonstrated that it will tak a firm and permanent hold upon the af fections of those who desire the welfare of their race, and we believe tbat tb day is uot far distant when its bounda ries will encircle the civilized world. Then, brothers aud sisters, take cour age ! You who have stood up so faith fully for the Order amid the thousand obstacles we have had to encounter, de serve a nobler name than the victor in a hundred battles, for the organization you have so persistently labored to plant and sustain, will, we trust, live and pros per after your work is finished live to bless the millions yet unborn ! Celia Portland, May 22, 1870. LIBERAL CONVENTION. The Liberals aud Free Thinkers of Oregon and Washington Territory are requested to meet in Convention at Portland, Oregon, July 5, 1876, at o'clock a. m., at the rooms of the Lib eral Association, for the purpose of per fecting a general organization of the Liberals and Free Thinkers throughout the country, and for such other business as may properly come before such Con vention. It is hoped every community will strive to be represented. By order of the Liberal Asssociation of Portland, Oregon. J. B. Garrison", H. B. Nicholas, President. Secretary. The editor of the Eastern Oregon Tribune recites, in pathetic terms, the impositions practiced upon a "copper colored sister" by her lazy lord, and af ter suggesting blood-curdling punish ments, calls upon us to come up to her defense. Iuasmuch as this particular field of literature seems especially adapted to Brother Abbott's brilliant rhetorical powers, we decline to Inter fere, though we don't doubt tbat the aborigine could appreciate and under stand logic quite as well as some editors we wot of. At the meeting of Plymouth Church on the 18th, Henry C.Bowen was unan imously expelled. WOMAN'S EIGHTS-NO. 3. BY BILLY BUSTER. One more example of ray idea of a wife aud mother Mrs. Heury Clay. What a noble example for emulation! See berat home faithfully attending ber household duties, carrying ou the farm at Ashlaud, raising her children, aud inak- ng butter for the Lexington market whilst her noble husband made laws for the couutry at the Capitol, and love to the beautiful women who througed the Presidential parlors.- How generous he ever was to the poor! How profuse in spending his money ! It was all neces sary to be done, for be was a politician one of nature's noblemen ! What a splendid life he must have led, know ing, eveu in bis glory and splen dor, that back there In his "Ken tucky home" one faithful, virtuous heart was toiling, economizing, wear ing Kentucky jean, cutting and making garments for his negroes and rearing his children, not even manifesting any objection to what you might term ber "drudgery life." It was sufficient for her to learn that her husband was a great man. How uoble that woman appeared when his gay dream of ambi tion was over, aud he, sick and dying, went back to Ashland to that "domes tic drudge," as you may call her, but to whom I would give the holy name of wife. Then she ministered to his wants, and comforted him. He had no other to look to, for his children were, as you might say, a degenerate race of beings, only one young Harry, killed at Buena Vista giving any promise. The rest were lunatics and gamblers. The old statesman was tilled with sor row, disappointment, and grief, but that noble wife, who had never had the ad vantages of au early education, who was never in society, who neer as pired higher Hum a helpmeet, who bad not been blessed with the companion ship of her lord during their married life, who allowed him to enjoy alone, (as she should), all the pleasures and pomp, gayety, and fashion of society, when he came back to her broken and subdued, bowed down with dissipation, and humbled in spirit, found her still ready to receive him. Examples such as these might be mul tiplled, but it is useless. They all go to show that women should be content with what they have, and not strive for things never intended for them. Now, I do not put my opposition to the right of woman to have an equal chance with man on the ground of want of in telligence. That is silly twaddle, and can only catch fools; for every oue knows that women, as a class, are just as intelligent as men when they have the same .opportunities. A school teacher will tell you that the girls in bis school are just as susceptible of receiving instructions iu the solid branches as the boys. Neither can say that a woman should not vote, be cause, if she did, she would have to work the roads, act as juryman, aud bear arms, if necessary. We all know that there are thousands of men in our community who do neither of these things, and yet, we never urge tbat as an objection to their voting, so that is no argument; but I place my objection upon the broad, and ouly grounds sus ceptible of argument SHE is A woman ! That's enough, is it not? because the act of voting would deprive her of her modesty, or corrupt her. I don't think voting could have any such effect, but it is, as I said before, because she is a woman, and for no other reason; and this reason is supported by the Bible, by St. Paul, by all the patriarchs of old, by the common law, aud by every man who has been educated up to the standard of feeliug his superiority be cause he is a man. Tbat is the long and short of it. Don't you know that a man is called "hen-pecked" if he lets his wife know anything about his busiuess? What right has she to know anything of his affairs? She must be kept in such a subordinate condition that she will not even inquire. There is another thing which I tbiuk to be of some force, aud that is that it is estimated that nine tenths of the marriages, fashionable or otherwise, that are now entered into, are engaged in by women for homes, because they have no means of self-support. Now, just give them an equal show with men, and see what it will lead to. They will be Independent and self-supporting, aud will hesitate long before entering into a marriage, unless prompted by love. They would no longer marry for convenience. See what that would lead to. Why, many men would not be able to get wives to do their cooking, scrub their houses, and wash and iron their linen. That would he terrible, and would overthrow our present system entirely. Now, in conclusion, allow me to say that we have already gone too far with this matter. Look at the trouble and expense it is now to get rid of a woman you dou't want. Look at the hundreds and thousands of dollars tbat are squan dered iu courts by men who are trying to get rid of women that they no longer like. Perhaps she has grown old and ugly, or he has struck a lead and be come rich, like the example given by Mrs. Victor in ber essay published by you a few weeks ago. Why should not her husband have bad the right to turn her off when she got old and did not suit him ? He was the man the head of the family. All the property be longed to him, and she bad no right to kick up such a rumpus because he wanted to eujoy the rest of his life. Now, you see if your doctrine was carried out, that woman would have had an equal chance and interest with him been a copartner! and see what that would lead to. That old lady was perhaps good enough in her day. She served his purpose when he needed a helpmeet, but when he became rich he could live without a helpmeet, and no doubt desired to spend the rest of his days in luxury, and be reputed to have a beautiful young wife, with an occa sional newspaper notice like "Mr. , with his beautiful and accomplished lady, arrived this morning, and stops at the Palace Hotel." Now, would not that be gratifying, and look well in print ? And why should an old woman play smash with all his fine hopes? Stop, I beseech you, aud don't advocate your pernicious doctrine any more; "for it can't be did." We propose to bold on to our rights as we have them now, and not advance a single step in your proposition of "emancipation of women." Portland, May 19, 1876. LETTEE FE0M IOWA. To the Editor of the New Northwest: Persons who, after the lapse of a quar ter of a century, have visited places fa miliar to their youth, can imagine something of the feelings with which I looked around me on our arrival at what once my home, in Iowa. We reached here on the 4th of May, after a pleasant trip by sea and rail. After looking around me a while, I began to recognize some things, but there Is still a strange peculiarity about the country to me, and one that I never thought of before I left here, and that is, it seems so small. The people have small farms, which produce good crops of corn, which, together with pork, seems to be the staple product, so far as I have observed. The time was when an account of a trip across the continent migbt have been writtei with a prospect that some body would be interested in reading it, but siuce travel back and forth has be come so frequent it is too common a subject to write about, much less read. I will mention, however, one incident of our journey, and that was a terrific thunder storm that took place ou the night of April 29tb, as we were going up Weber Canon. The deafening peals of thunder and blinding flashes of light ning were enough to scare a Webfoot of 27 years standing out of his wits. Then the rain it rains In Oregon, but noth ing like this deluge. A land slide oc curred, which delayed our train for some time, but we finally moved on to Laramie Station, a place of about 2,500 inhabitants. It was a melancholy time for some of them, as they bad just burled eight of their citizens, who had been killed by the Indians. For the encouragement of the farmers in Oregon I will say that that is not the only country visited by late rains and unseasonable frosts, for here it is still raining, and yesterday itsnowed. There is as yet no corn planted nor gardens made, and but little plowing done. The roads are almost impassable. We will go on to Ohio in a few days, from whence I will probably write you again. G. W. B. Given, Iowa, May 5, 1S76. EE0ENTEVENTS. A fire at Green River, Wyoming, on tho 20th, destroyed about $7,000 worth of property. Daniel Drew is In a critical state of health, with small prospects of im provement. Suow fell iu Powder River Valley on Monday and Tuesday of last week to the depth of seven inches. Ben Holladay's property at his West Chester couuty (N. Y.) farm was sold at sheriff's sale on the 19th, to satisfy judg ments. Charles Francis Ada in 8 has been se lected by the Centennial Committee of New York City for orator on the Fourth of July, 187G. From 25,000 to 35,000 persons were within the Centennial Grounds on last Monday.' The paying visitors on Sat urday numbered 18,182. The Senate on the22d confirmed the nomination of Pierrepout as Minister to England, Taft as Attorney-General, and Cameron as Secretary of War. A hail-storm of great fury passed over Morristown, N. J., on the 21st. The hail-stones killed chickens and many birds ou the wing. Plate glass was shat tered as easily as common glass. Some hail-stones GJ inches in circumference were found. The funerals of the murdered consuls took place at Salonlca on the 19th with great ceremony, and in a manner satis factory to every one. Perfect order was preserved. A Paris dispatch says it is expected that the widows of the consuls will each receive two hundred thousand dollars Indemnity. Mitchell has submitted a resolution instructing the committee on commerce to inquire into the extent and condition of thesalmon fisheries on the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington Ter ritory and report a bill for the regula tion of such fisheries and protection of artificial hatching in said river; adopted. Frank M. Pixley, one of the delega tion appointed by San Francisco to urge action on the Chinese question by the Federal Government, appeared be fore the House committee on foreign af fairs, accompanied by Congress man Piper, and presented an argument on the subject. Among other things, he stated that there were 60,000 Chinese in California, of the lowest class of Coo lies, Mongolian criminals; that the ar rivals number not less than 2,000 per month, and that the State is, in fact, rapidly becoming China's Botany Bay. The sub-committee on expenditures in the Treasury Department, investigat ing the bureau of captured and aban doned property, is of the opinion tbat Bristow's course has been entirely cor rect, but in the administration of bis predecessors, Richardson and Boutwell and McCulIoch especially the latter the committee finds an inexhaustible fund of evidence of the most startling character. Thus far there Is an unex plained deficit of over $6,000,000. Sixty seven thousand dollars are charged against S. H. Kaufraun, who was at that time clerk in charge of attorney's account, and will be called upon to ex plain what he did with the money.