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Devoted to the Interests of Humanity.
Independent In Politics and Religion.
Alive to all Live Issues, and Thoroughly
OFFICE Con. Fnoh-r A Washington Stbeets I
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ADVERTISEMENTS Inserted on Reasonable
VOLTOIE "V.
IPOXtTLAJVD, OREGON, FKIDAY, JUNK , 1870.
NUMBER 40.
Terms.
communications.
MADGE MORRISON,
The Molalla Maid and Matron.
Br Mrs. A.J. DUNIWAY,
AUTHOR OP "JUDITH REID," "ELLEN DOWD,"
"ASIIE AND HENRY LEE," "THE HAPPY
HOME," "ONE WOMAN'S SPHERE,"
"etc., ETC, ETC
Entered, according to Act of Congress.ln the
year lS75,by Mrs. A.J. Dunlway, in the office of 1
the Librarian of Congress at Washington City. I
CHAPTER XXV
Summer, with her bounteous fruitage
of all things necessary for human sub
sistence, had taken her departure, leav
ing autumn, benignant and balmy, In
undisputed possession of the golden bar-
vest that smiled in the sunlight upon
the brown bosom of mother earth,
whils husbandmen were occupied in re
moving crops to market by the slow
teaming process yet in vogue In many
rural regions,
Mrs. Andrews was well-nigh crazed
and wholly stupefied by the burdens of
her life. The advent of Sara Perkins
had resulted advantageously, Inasmuch
as it had enabled the grandmother of
Jason Andrews' children to secure for
herself a little home very humble and
unpretentious, but sufficient for her
present needs, and quite superior to Mrs.
Andrews' own; and Jason, being, for a
wonder, disposed to be affable, had al-
lowed her the custody of his four
younger sons and daughters, thereby
leaving the apathetic mother of Madge
Morrison with a comparatively small
family, and much reducing her daily
toil.
But it seemed that misfortunes beset
Mrs. Andrews upon every hand. Her
daughter Alice, who had been for sev
eral years a wife and mother, returned
to the maternal home widowed and al
most destitute, with three children de
pendent upon her for support, and no
means at herdlspos&l until letters of ad
ministration should be properly filed
and otherwise acted upon according to
the Jaws of men who claim to be the
supporters of women, so the drunkard's
wife's respite was brief and unreal.
"Hasn't Madge gone back to her bus-
band yet?" asked Alice, as soon as she
could so far forget her own sorrows as to
pause to consider those of her sister.
".No," was the apathetic reply. "She
don't seem to consider her bargain bind'
ing in any sense."
"I am sure," said Alice, "that if I
made a bad bargain, I'd stick the closer
to it.
"And that's your advice to me, is it,
Alice?"
"Yes," interrupted Jason Andrews,
who had not forgotten his old habit of
coming in upon the household when
least expected, in the hope to overhear
something not intended for his ears
"That's what I'm alius tell in' Nance
She rides a high hoss sometimes, an'
swears she won't stan' this nor that,
'but she alius comes round about fodder
time."
Mrs. Andrews turned away with
ill-concealed shudder of loathing.
"Tbar's no tellln' wuat's went o'
Madge," continued the step-father, "but
I s'pose of course she's come to some
bad end. When a woman forsakes her
rightful master thar's mighty little
show for her to come to any good. I
want to know what ye propose to do for
a livin', Alice? Ye surely don't expect
to git yer grub offe' me 1"
Alice, poor child-woman as she was,
overcome by recent bereavement, and
-weak and ill from long watching beside
her sick husband and helpless little
ones, of whom the youngest was an in
fant of three months, looked up with an
expression of anguish that was pitiable.
"I don't see where I could come If not
to my mother," she said, through her
tears. "There'll be something left of
the estate alter the law has gone
through it, maybe, and then I'll see
what I can do. But I must have some
place to stay, and you wouldn't dare to
object to my staying here if my mother
were not your wife."
"I'd have rjo right to object if she
wasn't my wife, of course."
"But what right have you to object
now?" cried Mrs. Andrews. "I had
more property before I married you
than I now have. I paid my way in
the world while a widow, and with less
effort, and fur less suffering, than I have
endured since I was married to you. I
-earn as much as I used to, and I fail to
see by what code of ethics you judge
me-when you treat me as a pauper."
"Highly! tightyf I haven't heard
sich yaup since Madge run away !" said
Jason, angrily. "See here, ole woman,"
he continued. "If it makes ye so darned
obstreperous as this to have yer Morri-
son brats comln' round, I'll drive the
whole batch of 'em out o' doors !"
"I didn't mean anything, Jason!"
pleaded the wife, In alarm.
"Ye'd better takeltback !" exultantly
exclaimed her legal protector. "I want
ye to know that I'll have no women
lordin' It over me!"
Mrs. Andrews rocked to and fro upon
her chair, soothing her nervous babe, as
it clung in Its tender helplessness to her
acblng breast, while itsobbed as though
grieved beyond endurance.
"Why don't ye talk, woman?" ex-
claimed her excited lord.
"I have nothing to say," was the apa-
thetlc reply.
"Coward are ye?
Well, ye'd better'
be! I'm goln' off to have another swig
at my cask. I'd never drink In the
world if I had a wife that honored me.
Women'Il have a heap to answer for In
the next world !"
"Thank God !" sighed the wife, as he
departed. "I always rejoice when he
gets dead drunk, for then, and then only,
do I have a little peace."
"But, mother," said Alice, "do you
think Jason will really forbid my stay-
jng jjere tji something else can be done
with or for me ?"
'God only
knows I" replied her
"How I do wish Madge
mother, sadly.
would come !"
Scarcely had Mrs. Andrews spoken
the words before a stage-coacb halted
before ' the door, and Madge herself,
looking pale, jaded, old, and careworn,
alighted from its clumsy depths and
walked hesitatingly toward the little
old brown cabin, attired in the identical
shabby dress over which her mother
had sighed three months before because
of its worn and dilapidated condition.
Alice and her mother were for a mo
ment almost stupefied with surprise,
but recovering themselves, they ad
vanced to meet her, while Sam and
Harry, who were just returning from
the fields, set up an exultant shout of
welcome.
"Thar comes that Bassy jade," said
Andrews, to himself, as he peeped from
a crack in the loft of the barn while be
paused to take breath over bis deep po-
tation. "I see that I'm to be eat out o'
house and home!"
It was well for the family's peace that
the head was stupefied till the subordi
nates could have opportunity to talk up
their own affairs. The mother and
daughters had much to tell each other.
and tuejr deep and earne9t conversation
awakened only the warmest sympathy
for weary, suffering, heart-sick Madge.
I couldn't remain away longer,
mother. My wages were fair, and it
would Have been well could I have
longer concealed my sex. But alas,
alas, there's little show for a woman
when thrown upon her own resources In
this world. I have come to you, dear
mother, in sorrow and humiliation; but
I sorrow not as those who have no hope.
Depend upon it, there Is a Power higher
than we, who will overrule all things
for our ultimate good. There is a new
power, a new impetus inspired within
me which will not allow me to yield to
discouragements. From the first mo
ment that I fully realized my situation
I seemed transformed. I have carefully
hoarded my wages, and I am not desti
tute. Thanks to the simple manner of
my bringing up, I need but little, and
that little is in ray trunk in the yard.
I am going to stay with you, and see if
we cannot all together manage to make
life less burdensome. Surely we have
sometiiing to live for, and we ought not
to be left in darkness, as -to what that
something is. With the little means
at my disposal I will buy lumber, and
Jason and I will build an addition to
this old cabin. Thanks to the wool in
the barn and the muslin and calico in
my trunk, wecau make some extra beds
and comfortables, and we'll fix up and
live nicely."
'But you're not able to build houses
now," said her mother, sadly.
"Don't fool yourself!" said Madge.
I never felt so strong and well in-my
life."
"Then your looks belie you," respond
ed Alice.
'If women would obey the laws of
nature they'd outgrow the worst and
weakest forms of physical suffering,
Madge replied. "I look old and thin
and careworn because I've had so much
mental agony to endure. If I knew I'd
never see or hear of George Hanson
again, I'd be happy as the day. Howdo
Sara and Mrs. Perkins get on? And
where do they live ?"
Explanations were speedily given
which brought up the subject of the
Morrison arrest and imprisonment.
"What nonsense to accuse him of
murder!" said Madge. "I can testify
that I saw George Hanson several days-
yes, two weeks after Jason overheard
that threat he tells about. The man
ought at once to be set at liberty."
"But the Grand Jury found a true
bill, daughter. He was regularly com
mitted to prison after due preliminary
examination, and there is no alterna-
tive but to wait till the next regular
meeting of the District Court."
"Well, I'll visit mm In prison, any
bow," said Madge, "and I'll do all lean
to relieve the monotony of the outrage
he's enduring. Sara Perkins knows, as
well as I, that George was alive and
well long after Jason Andrews last saw
him. I'll try the effect of habeas
corpus."
"What
do you know about law.
child?"
"I know euough to besure that a writ
may be served in some legal way to res
cue any one from false imprisonment
"Very well," replied her mother.
"Test the matter and do what you can,
I'm sure I'd do auything in my power
to aid Mr. Morrison. But my best
wouldn't be much, for Jason's so fool
ishlv jealous of the gentleman that
would not dare to say anything In his
favor, no matter what I knew."
"Catch me being so much afraid of
any son of woman that I would not dare
to do what was right!" said Madze.
The next morning found her upbe-
times, figuring away ather bill for lum
ber, and ordering everybody, Jason In-
eluded, with the old active, administra
tive ability.
"Where's that whisky?" she asked
Jason, after breakfast, as the poor
drunkard was wending his way to the
barn In quest of his dram.
"D'ye want a swig ?" he answered,
nnocently.
"Yes, a big one."
"It's In the loft."
Madge looked In the direction Indi
cated by the trembling victim's nervous
digit, aud hurrying away, proceeded to
demolish the cask with an ax, thus
raising a perfume among the hay that
spoiled a ton at least, for cattle are so
far superior to men that they will not
eat or drink spoiled food.
"Now, Jason," said Madge, as she de
scended the ladder, ax in hand, "I've
made up my mind to submit to no more
foolishness on my mother's premises.
Three mouths ago I was a child. I am
womau now, and I intend to see that
you walk straight hereafter, or die try
ing."
Jason hung bis head. He was feeling
bad from the effects of his night's pota
tions, and was in that weakly, trem
bling state induced by prostration,
which is so often, under less favorable
circumstances, the baue of the victim of
strong drink.
"You'd never be a Solomon under any
circumstances," continued Madge, "for
nature didn't make much of a success
on you to begin with, but there's more
manhood about you than you imagine,
and I propose to see that you have a
chance to prove it Do you remember
the first time I saw you? Have you
forgotten the pale, sick wife who went
down to her grave, dying for the want
of the love you forgot to bestow upon
her? Do you remember how you and
toiled side by side to make this home,
such as it is? and how happy we
lived till you got a legal claim on the
body and will of my mother?"
"Yes, Madge; I remember all."
"Well, Jason, you haven't got mother
to deal with now, but me. I Iptend to
see that you respect yourself and your
family. Not another drop of liquor
shall you bring to this ranche. If you
will be a man once more, I'll be your
friend. If you go on debasing yourself,
I'll see that you lose wife and children
and home. Now, mark what I say,
You shall have two days to sober up.
Then you'll help me to build an addi
tion to the house, and we'll all get along
together first rate."
"Well, Madge, I'll pledge my word "
"There! there! no pledges! You'll
break them if you make them. I know
you'll succeed, for you shall. Now, you
must help me to extricate Mr. Morrison
from his difficulty. You must go with
me to the Court-house. I must see the
proper officers and make legal applica-
tion for a writ of habeas corpus. The
man isn't guilty. The very idea is ab
surd."
"I didn't say he was guilty," pleaded
Jason."
"Then who did?"
"The Grand Jury."
"Upon your testimony."
"How do you know?"
"I feel it in my bones."
But Jason Andrews was not able to
go to the new village that day, nor the
next. It was a little cruel for Madge to
cut bis long-indulged potations off so
suddenly, but she was firm and unfilnch
ing, and held her patient well in hand
The very devil possesses Madge,1
said Harry.
"Then he's a grand, good devil, aud I
wish he'd make a business of possessing
folks," retorted Sam.
Never, since the old days when Madge
bad been Inspired by the necessities
that had be9et them in the wilderness
when none but she could be relied upon
in great emergencies, had she so risen to
meet the difficulties that beset her way,
Her mother and Alice watched and
waited upon her plans with feelings
akin to awe. The boys obeyed her be
hests without a question, and the work
went on like magic.
As soon as Madge could leave Jason
alone with the family, for he raved fear
fully for several days if she were not in
sight to quell him, she visited Mr. Mor
rison as she had designed, and assured
him that be would be released, and that
right speedily.
"Alas, poor child," he said, in reply
'I regret to say that I do not join in
your enthusiasm. You will fail for
want of properly accredited witnesses.'
But Madge was not so easily baffled
Repairing to the home of Mrs. Perkins
aud Sara, who were overjoyed at meet
ing her, while the latter was surprised
when informed that she and "Tommy,
the waiter boy," were one and the same'
person, she unfolded the plan, already
known to Jason Andrews, for the legal
liberation of ber friend.
But, alas for the vanity of woman
expectations, the coveted writ was not
procurable. One of the witnesses, or
one who had essayed to be such, was
the wife of the missing man, and her
evidence could not be accepted as test!
mony concerning his whereabouts; and
the other was the wronged mother of
bis Illegitimate child, and therefore in
capable, according to the legal codes
made by fathers of such children, of
telling the truth concerning anything
save only said child's paternity and her
own degradation.
Madge returned to her humble home
with ber soul oppressed by a weight of
overpowering sorrow, indignation, and
shame.
"Men call this a free country !" she
exclaimed, vehemently. "What mock
ery, injustice, and fraud !"
To be continued.
Then and Bow.
Mr. George William Curtis lectured
n New York recently and viewed the
advance made in the position of women.
The following is a report of his conclud
ing remarks:
Mr. Curtis then humorously described
the discussions that were carried on in
Dean Swift's time as to whether it
would be prudent to marry a woman
who bail good natural sense, some taste,
and was able to read understanding!-
the literature or tbe day. it was said
that there, were radical objections
against an Intelligent wife; that the
natural levity of women needed a bal
last of ignorance and stupidity. And
such was the tenderness of the sex that
the women consented tq remain Ignor
ant that they might be equal to tbeir
husbands. This was slow to change.
Not more than sixty years ago Sidney
Smith spoke of the disparity between
the knowledge or men and women, ana
intimated women should cultivate
household duties to the exclusion of
other acquirements. "That it is an in
sulting idea of woman," said the lec
turer, "which makes her happy when
ber husband brings her home a brace
let and screaming when a mouse hops
across the floor. She Is not the fine lady
of the fashion-plates, but Hebe, ioyous
with health and pouring nectar, fitly
married to Hercules, strongest of the
gods. Is the Portia Shakspeare has
drawn beautiful because a wise young
judge, less truly feminine than Juliet
whispering her love from a balcony l"
Mr. Curtis sketched the great caution
with which the Pilgrims and early set
tlers of New England dealt out a little
education to their girls, and in a strain
of the keenest irony told how Boston,
trembling for the bulwarks or freedom,
opened a high school for girls, and stood
aghast at the immense attendance upon
it and the eager acceptance of Its privi
leges. The notion that the education
and usefulness of women should be con
fined to home, simply because men had
an idea that that was her "sphere," was
ridiculed and disposed of by argument
and copious illustration. "Yesterday
is gone and to-day has come. The i ret
ted slave of the Greek household, and
the Idle toy and doll of the age of Ches
terfield, has given place to a better idea;
and we go forward with God's help to
tind the true woman In the Iree Amen
can homes."
A case that puzzled a London magis
trate was that of a woman who had as
sailed her husband with an axe. It he
sent her to prison, the husband would
have to hire somebody to care for ber
children while she was incarcerated.
If be fined ber, the husband would have
to pay the sum. If he put her under
bonds to Keep tne peace, the husband
would be responsible, she was dis-
charged with an admonition. Sun.
It will be observed that the magis-
trate was very tender of the penalties
that would fall on the husband in this
case. As the English law gives the
man the right to all his wife's earn
ings, the hardship does not seem so
great. Would it not serve the cause of
ustice better to have each individual
responsible for his or her own crimes
and punishments, and also each indi
vidual entitled to his or her own prop
erty and earnings ?
.Here is the otoer side of the picture.
A California man beat his wife, was
fined $10, and then sold hersilk dress to
pay tor the line. This Is the average
practical result of a so-called "justice'
to wives who appeal to it for protection
against brutal husbands. Fine and im
prisonment for him mean hunger and
starvation to ber and ber cbildren.
Widow Van Cott. now preaching over
in .Brooklyn, la at last obtaining some
success among the sinners there. Her
daily meetings are crowded, and ber
altar Is besieged by penitents. Hue is
accomplishing what the other female
revivalist railed in, and the scenes which
were enacted in the towns up the river
are repeated in Brooklyn. It Is evident
that, next to Brother Moody, widow
Van Uott is the most powerful revival
ist in tne neid. Her language is more
polished than Mr. Moody's; her reason
ing is more orderly, and ber illustrations
are more pointed. Mer earnestness can
not be surpassed, and she seems deter
mined to compel people to come in
Widow Van Cott, while preaching in
all the places around New York, has
Bent out or the citv itself, home or her
admirers are now trying to get her over
here, to take up the work which Brother
Moody left unfinished. Let ber come
among us and do all the good she can.
jsew xork Sun.
High-Toned. They were trimming
the church with evergreens, and after a
couple of hours' hard work, the young
ladles felt hungry, not being used to
such arduous labor. One lady ex
claimed:
"I am so hungry ! I wish I had
dish of pork aud beans, mum."
"Pork and beans i" exclaimed another
young lady; "why, I wish I had some
sourkrout."
The first lady looked holy horrors, and
when the other bad passed out or tb
church, the pork aud beans girl said
"Oh, my! the ideal Sourkrout! did
you ever hear anything so vulgar ?"
And that girl went borne to dine on
codfish and potatoes. Rochester Ex
press.
Did any man at his death ever regret
bis conflicts with himself, his victories
over appetite, bis scorn or impure pleas
ures, or his suffering for righteousness
sake? Did any man ever mourn that
he had impoverished himseir by integ
rity? Are these the recollections
which narrow the soul and darken and
appal the last hour? To whom is th
last hour most serene and full of hope
Is it not to him who, amidst perils and
allurements, uas denied himseir ana la
bored for humanity and freedom 7
The envelope makers and printers as
8ert that the Government loses $700,000
a year in the manufacture of postal
cards, to say nothing of the cost of car
rying them as mail matter, and tbey
claim that if the Government would
now abolish stamped envelopes, wrap
pers, and postal cards, it would save
THE CONSTITUTIONAL EIGHT OP
W0HENJT0 VOTE.
READ BEFORE THE YAMHILL COUNTY WOMAN
SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION MAY 17, 1S76, BY MRS.
A9 M. MARTIN.
Gentlemen and Ladies: You have
heard argument after argument In
favor of Woman Suffrage, and from
almost every stand-point, but, not
to my knowledge, from the position
taken above,' namely, their constitu
tional right to vote.
We have the Fourteenth Amendment
to the Constitution of the United States
aying: "All persons born or natural
ized in the United States, and subject to
the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of
the United States, and of the State
wherein they reside. No State shall
make or enforce any law which shall
bridge the privileges or immunities
of citizens of the United States." Are
not all these women citizens of the
United States? Are we not amenable
to the laws of this State aud the United
States? Suppose we were to commit
murder or theft, or any other crime
that men commit, would not the sheriff
arrest us just as soon as he would any
man ? He would come, make his best
bdw, and say: "Madam, I am sorry to
trouble you, but you have violated the
law, and it is my duty to arrest you."
And, if we were to violate the revenue
laws of the United States by going over
to Victoria and trying to smuggle a
silk dress, or any other article of ap
parel that we should take a fancy to, we
would be served like the lady who un
dertook to bring a silk dress pattern
from Victoria, aud wore it for a bustle,
but one end of the silk slipped from its
fastening bo that it came below .-her
dress, and was seen by the revenue
officer; and it was taken from her just
the same as though she had been a
man. Now, if we are citizens, and
amenable to the laws which govern
this State and nation, how can the
udges of eiectious, 'law-makers, and
others say we cannot vote because we
are women ?
The Constitution of the United States
makes no such distinction. I am
aware that the Constitution of Ore
gon says "free white male," but, as
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments to the Constitution of the United
States were adopted, they took the word
'white" out of our Constitution, and
every negro male can go to the polls
and vote, and you dare not say him
nay. Why don't they take out the
word "male" as well? Why is this
terra "male" used in the Constitution ?
It was not by accident. If so, it would
not be used so frequently. It was be
cause every man among them knew,
when tinkering up a Constitution, that
if he did not insert this word "male,"
women would vote. They bad the
right, and there had to be a constitu
tional barrier to prevent their exercise of
it. The thing which we have to do is
either to strike out this word "male,
or convince our law-makers, our judges
of eiectious, and the rest of the world
that it is already expunged, which I
think is easier. It makes no difference
in how many constitutions it is found
nor in bow many state constitutions
it has been incorporated, for a single
provision in the Constitution of the
United States is of that poteucy to cor
rect them all.
But we would like to talk about ou
citizenship a little more. We under
stand that when the people or the legis
lature speak by constitution or law, and
use ordinary language, that tbey mean
what they say, and nobody can say
that they do not mean that, or that
tbey mean something else. There is
nobody who will for a moment argue
against the plain, obvious meaning of
words. When such are used, it is the
end of argument and of construction
The great object to be achieved, so far
as women are concerned, is to bring
them into the possession of the rights o
citizenship. A "person" is oue thing,
and a naturalized citizen is something
more. He or she is the creature of a pollt-
cal compact, having therlghts, the prlvl
leges, and the franchises of that partic
ular political association, whatever that
may be. Now we use the term "cit
izen," and apply it to a person in pos
session of certain political rights an
privileges. Let us, in this light, read
the first clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment, and see what it does say
"All persons" (not all male persons, nor
all white persous), but "AH persons
born or naturalized in the United
States, or subject to the jurisdictio
thereof, are citizens of the United
States, and the State wherein they re
side." They are citizens, that Is, "per
sons" are citizens, and our opponents
will have to prove that women are not
"persons" before they can lawfully pre
vent them from voting.
Let us see, further, what the framers
of this Amendment meant: "No State
shall make or enforce any law which
shall abridge the privileges or immuni
ties of citizens of the United States.
Is there auy doubt now as to what "cit
izen" means?
He or she, or both, are persons in pos
session of, and have, by express decla
ration, all the privileges and immuni
ties of citizens. "But," says one,
"minors would be citizens according to
that, and would have the privilege of
going to the ballot-box the first thing,
They seem to forget that all power Is
Inherent in the people, and it is per
fectly proper for this "all power" to
declare at whatage, and under wbatcir
cumstances the citizen should vote, so
that the rule applies uniformly, and ex
cludes none. One-half of the people
were excluded, and this article removes
that exclusion, and that is all. Women
are not only citizens, but the Amend
ment says that "no State shall pass or
enforce any law that shall 'abridge the
privileges and immunities of this citi
zenship." These terms, "privileges
and immunities," are not now used for
the first time in the American Constitu
tion. They are old acquaintances of
ours, and have done service a great
while. They occur In this same Con
stitution, as will be seen by referriug to
the second Section of Article 4. If this
Amendment does not confer nor guar
antee the exercise of the elective fran
chise, then at infinite pains have we
dug among the foundations of our won
derful structure, and have deposited
there as one of them an utter sham,
full of the emptiness of nothing. But,
to sweep all doubts aside, we have the
further words of the Constitution as
contained in the Fifteenth Amendment.
Now, what does this Amendment say ?
To make assurauce doubly sure, it says
'The rights of tbe citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied nor
abridged by the United States or any
state, on account of race, color, or pre
vious condition of servitude." But
some one will say that does not apply
to women, as they have never been in
servitude. The one that would make
such an assertion certainly does not
know that, according to the common
law, (and that is in force unless there Is
pecial statute to the contrary), that
woman's person and property are
under tbe absolute control of ber bus
band, and be can dispose of ber prop
erty at pleasure, determine wliere she
shall live, etc. If that is not servi
tude, I fail to comprehend what would
constitute servitude. I cannot com
ment further on this point, as there is
another upon which I wish to say a few
words.
It is said that womau does not want
the ballot. Who says she does not
waut it? Man says so, and nobody
else. Man asks the question, and an
swers it himself. I- deny that women
have declared that they don't want the
ballot. They have never been asked
whether they want it or not. Gentle
men, how do you settle a question that
is submitted for your consideration?
Do you not go to the ballot-box and
there express your wishes, and say by
your vote who shall represent you in
the legislative halls, or decide any other
question that comes before you for de
cision ? Now propound this question
of suffrage to the women, and let them
take a solemn vote on the subject,
Offer them the chance by which they
can speak tor tnemseives, ana see
whether they want it or not. Don'
refuse to let them answer, and don't as
sume to answer for them, and say you
represent them. You barely succeed in
representing yourselves. Let woman
vote, and then we can tell better
whether you have a right to represent
her or not. Men have made all institu
tions for men, and for men alone. They
have never consulted woman. They
have said that she wa3 nobody and no
where, or, if she was anywhere, she
was out of ber sphere, and must go
back to nowhere and to nobody imme
diately. Men have gravely assumed to
understand her nature and character
better than she herself has done,
pointed out her sphere and bade her
walk therein, or incur their severe dis
pleasure. In concluding this somewhat dry dis
sertation on "The Constitutional Eight
of Women to Vote, ".allow me, ladles,
to exhort you to do your duty by voting
at tbe comlug election. Go to the polls
with your husbands or fathers or broth
ers, and demand tbe right to place your
ballot along with theirs, thereby ex
pressing your individuality the same as
they do. Vote for the persons you
think will best fill the positions they
are striving for. And, gentlemen, you
who are in favor of equal rights regard-
leas of sex, show your faith by your
works, and take your wives, sisters,
mothers, and daughters with you to the
polls, and with them demand that their
right to the ballot be recognized, and,
If there are any objections to their vot
ing, help them to prosecute tbe judges
of election, and test the matter before
tbe Judiciary of the State.
Widow Van Cott. It is merely be
cause she Is a woman, and not from any
desire to retard her work or redemption,
that so many of the Brooklyn clergy
hold aloof from the Widow Van Cott.
This is her own account of the matter,
hut It merelv increases the obscurity.
If theBrooklyn clergy really believe that
she is carrying on tbe work of redemp
tion, that she is truly successful in the
business of regenerating sinners, and
that her labors are thus approved by the
Almighty, how can they withstand her
on any account wnatever i n mey nau
salil that her work was of tbe devil,
that ber religion was a sham, and that
tbe penitents around her altar were but
victims of delusion, there would be no
difficulty In seeing why they should
frown upon her. But their present po
sition is illogical. One part of It Is con
tradictory of tbe other part. It is the
dutv.of the clergy to explain their attl
tude toward Widow Van Cott's work of
redemption. New York Sun.
"Is that marble?" said a gentleman,
pointing to a bust of Kentucky's great
statesman. "No, sir; that's Clay,"
quietly replied the dealer.
Woman Suffrage in the District of Co-
lumoia.
To those who profess to believe that
Woman Suffrage is losing instead of
gaining ground, we commend the pe
rusal of the following, taken from tbe
Congressional Record of April 1st, and
ask that they will compare the treat
ment accorded to the petition here
given with that which similar petitions
received at the hands' of legislative
bodies a few years ago. It would, in
deed, ill become the representatives of a
great nation to treat with contempt a
petition of 400,000 of its citizens, and
the time is near at haud when courtesy,
though well enough in Its place, will
give place to justice. These women do
not sue for grace and favor, but they de
mand a right.
Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker. I am re
quested to present a memorial from the
women cltizeus of the United States.
asking for a form of government in the
District of Columbia which shall secure
to its women citizens the right to vote;
and I ask tbe grace and favor to have
their memorial printed in the Record.
Mr. UAJSlvb. Mr. Speaker, I beg the
privilege of saying a few words in favor
of the request made by the gentleman
irom JNew York who presents this me
morial. It Is a hundred years tluiday
since Mrs. Abigail Adams, or Massa
chusetts, wrote to her husband, John
Adams, men a member of the Conti
nental Convention, entreating him to
give to womau the right to protect .the
rights of woman, and predicting a gen
eral revolution if justice was denied
them. Mrs. Adams was one of the
noblest women of that period, distin
guished by heroism and patriotism
never surpassed In any age. She -was
wife of the second, and mother of tho
sixth President of the United States,
and her beneficial influence was felt in
political, as well as in social circles. It
was perhaps the first demand for tlio
recognition of the rights of her sex
made in this country, and is one of the
Centennial incidents that should be re
membered. It came from a good quar
ter. The memorial represents 400,000
American women. They ask for an or
ganization of a government in the Dis
trict of Columbia that will recognize
their political rights. I voted some
years ago to give women the right to
vote in this District, aud, recalling the
course of its government, I think it
would have done no wrong If they had
enjoyed political rights.
Mr. KASSON. I suggest that the
memorial be printed without the
names.
Mr. COX. There are no names ap
pended except those of tbe officers of
the Association; and I hope they will
be printed with the memorial. -
Mr.HENDEE. I trust tbe gentleman
will allow this petition to be referred to
the committee of which I am a member,
the Committee for the District of
Columbia.
Mr. COX. I have no objection to that.
There being no objection, the memo
rial was referred to the Committee for
the District of Columbia, and ordered
to be printed in the Record as follows:
MEMORIAL OF WOMEN CITIZENS OF TIIIS
NATION.
To' the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives af the United Stales in Con
gress Assembled:
Whereas, the Supreme Court of the
United States has re-affirmed the de
cision of the Supreme Court of the
.District oi (joiumnia in the case
of Spencer vs. the Board of Reg
istration, and Webster vs. the
Judges of Election, and lias decided
that, by the operation or the first
section of the Fourteenth Amendment
to the Constitution of the United States,
women have been advanced with full
citizenship, and clothed with the capac
ity to become voters; and, turther, that
this first section of the Fourteenth
Amendment does not execute itself, but
requires the supervention of legislative
power in the exercise of legislative dis
cretion to give it effect; and, whereas,
the Congress or the United States is the
legislative body having exclusive juris
diction over this District of Columbia,
aud, in enfranchising the colored man
and refusing to enfranchise any woman,
white or colored, made an unjust dis
crimination against sex, and did not
give the intelligence and moral power
of the citizens of said District a fair op-,
portunity for expression at the polls;
and, whereas, Woman Suttrage is not
an experiment, but has had a fair trial
In Wyoming, where women vote,
where tbey hold office, where they have
the most orderly society of any of the
Territories, where the experiment is ap
proved by the executive officers of the
United States, by tbeir press, and by
tbe people generally, aud where it has
"rescued that Territory from' a state of
comparative lawlessness," and rendered
it "one of tbe most orderly in the
Union;" and, whereas, upon the Woman
Suffrage Amendment to Seuate bill
No. 44 of the second session of the
Forty-third Congress, votes were re
corded in favor of Woman Suffrage
by the two Senators from Florida, the
two from Indiana, the two from Michi
gan, and the two from Rhode Island,
one from California, one from Illinois,
one from Alabama, one from Arkansas,
one from Louisiana, oue from Kansas,
one from Massachusetts, one from Min
nesota, one from Nebraska, oue from
Nevada, one from Oregon, one from
South Carolina, one from Texas, and
one from Wisconsin; and, whereas, a
fair trial of equal suffrage lor men and
women in the District of Columbia,
under the immediate supervision of
Congress, would demonstrate to the
women of tbe whole country that jus
tice to women is policy to men; and,
whereas, the women citizens of the
United States are governed without
tbeir own consent, and denied trial by
a jury of their peers, are taxed without
representation, and are subject to man
ifold wrongs resulting from Unjust and
arbitrary exercise of power over an un
represented class; and, whereas, in this
Centennial year the spirt of '76 is
breathing its influenee upon the people,
melting away all prejudices and ani
mosities, and inspiring into our na
nional councils a finer sense of justice
and a clearer perception of individual
rights: therefore,
We pray your honorable body to
frame a government for tbe District of
Columbia which shall secure for its
women citizens the right to vote.
What is the center of gravity ?
letter V,
The