The Pacific Monthly/Volume 2/Equal Rights for the Sexes
Questions of the Day
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EQUAL RIGHTS FOR THE SEXES.
The movement for the enfranchisement of women, which has attained such extensive proportions as to command the attention of the entire nation, sprang spontaneously into public notice in the Pacific Northwest, about thirty years ago. Twenty years prior to that time it had arisen in the Eastern states, where though ably managed by many of the most brilliant minds of both sexes- for over half a century, it has never made progress rapidly, as it has done on the Pacific side of the continent.
All great movements for securing the extension of freedom to any class of people have their origin in new countries. If at any time prior to the settlement of our Atlantic border any man had dared to proclaim the fundamental truths upon which this nation is founded, he would have paid the price of his temerity with his head. When first the cry went out from across the seas that "all men are created equal," it startled kings upon their thrones; and the demand of the masses for representation as a just accompaniment of taxation convulsed emperors with laughter. But that cry, born on new soil, flourished in spite of adverse circumstances, and long ere a century of American liberty had been an accepted fact among the older nations of the earth, our new empire had crossed the continent and planted its banners on the western slopes of the Rocky mountains and over beside the Pacific seas.
And yet the enfranchisement of women was not a new thought, even in the formation of the United States government. It is recorded in the archives of the famous Adams family, that on the 2d day of April, 1787, Abigail Adams, wife of one president and mother of another, went before the Continental Congress and made a plea for the recognition of equal rights for her sex. If her husband, John Adams, who as her husband, was the only man who would have dared to take the liberty, and who was secretary of that Congress, had not expunged this patriotic plea of his noble wife from the records, by a conjugal prerogative at that time deemed infallible, and thus prevented further consideration of this great fundamental question, there would now be no need of the pending state constitutional amendment in Oregon, nor would Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Idaho be enjoying the proud distinction that is theirs today of being the onlv states in the American Union in which governments may "derive their just powers from the consent of the governed."
The government, having begun wrong with the negro, and the women, was compelled to struggle along for two- thirds of a century with the negro ques- tion, which still menaces it in many ways; and it is still struggling with the woman question which will never cease to embarrass it until it has been settled in full and due conformity with the Dec- laration of Independence and Constitu- tion of the United States.
It is impossible, in the brief space at my command, to offer arguments in sup- port of my contention; and, further than to cite the opinions of a few eminent men instates where women vote, I shall not attempt it.
A letter from Boise, Idaho, received by the writer for use at the last Woman's Congress in Portland, Oiegon, signed by I. N. Sullivan, chief justice of the supreme court and his associates, J. Waldo Huston and Ralph P. Quarles, says: "None of the evils predicted of equal suffrage by its opponents have come to pass, and as a measure of justice it has gained much in popularity since its adoption by our people."
Wm. Balderston, editor of the Boise Statesman, says: "Women constitute a great reserve force, exerting itself on the right side at the ballot-box whenever important issues are to be decided."
Every governor of Wyoming since 1869 declares equal suffrage has been a benefit to the state. Women have voted in Wyoming for 30 years, and the present governor, Wm. A. Richards, says: "In my judgment the influence of women upon elections is good. In order to secure their vote at the polls it is necessary to nominate good men."
The legislature of Colorado adopted resolutions at its last assembly indorsing equal suffrage by a practically unanimous vote and cordially recommended its adoption by every state in the Union.
The Woman's Club movement in the newly-enfranchised states is considered a potent factor in creating the hearty indorsement of equal suffrage by politicians, press, pulpit and people. The leading club women of Denver, Cheyenne and Boise are all leading suffragists, although most of them were not widely known as such till a short time before the vote was taken, when, with true patriotic purpose they united in a social organization for the equal suffrage campaign, as will be done in Oregon, later on.
The public-spirited men of Oregon need no arguments in support of the pending amendment to enfranchise women. All know that equal suffrage is coming, that its advent is inevitable; and they are not disposed to allow any other state to lead our cause to victory in the dawn of the new century and leave Oregon to bring up the rear.
Ours is not a sectarian, nor is it a political question. It stands before the people on its own merits. It is the representative of nobody's fad, the exponent of nobody's ism. In each of the states where women vote the fad and the ism have alike lost footing and no longer flourish. Liberty has proved an unfailing antidote for the sentimental politics of woman, as well as men, wherever it has been given the proper scope.
"Taxation without representation is tyranny." "Women pay taxes; women should vote." These are our principles, the embodiment of our bill or rights.
POEMS OF THE PACIFIC COAST.
Spinning.
I
A spider was singing herself in glee
From a moss-covered swaying bough,
A breeze came rollicking up from the sea,
And fanned her beautiful brow.
She hung, it is true, with her pretty head down, But her brain was cool as you please, The fashion quite suited the cut of her gown, And she could look up in the trees.
II
She saw where a humming bird lighted down,
At his throat a bright ruby gleamed,
On his head was a gold and emerald crown,
And he sat on a bough and dreamed.
The spider ran up on her silver thread
And looked in the little king's face.
"If I may sit at your feet," she said,
"I'll spin you some beautiful lace." i
III The humming bird looked in her shining
eyes, And then at her nimble feet, And he said to himself, "I have found a
prize, She is useful as well as neat." "You may sit at my side, if it please you
well," Said he, "The summer time through; And since you spin on a noiseless wheel, I'll do the humming for you."
'Belle W. Cooke.