Do Something
The New Northwest
By Carrie F. Young
August 23, 1872

Do something! Do something to prove yourselves worthy a voice in lawmaking before you ask for further privileges. What Have you done more than we? In what way, have you distinguished yourself, sir? Have you written a book or edited acceptably a paper? Have you invented a machine or discovered a new world? Have you demonstrated a mathematical problem or solved the political muddle, that you should be permitted to say yea or nay with a ballot to--Grant or Greeley? Have you, sir, subdued ten or forty acres of forest land and made it produce wheat and potatoes?

No.

Why, then, do you insist that we shall do something? Why do you not set the example? This lounging about whisky shops and gambling-halls is dis graceful. Why don't you do something to prove yourselves worthy a voice in law-making before you rebuke us for asking the privilege of protecting ourselves? 

From the city of Portland a few weeks ago a working woman went by steamer to Lewis river, W. T. There she took a small boat, and with her own hands rowed up stream to a settlement. She found a piece of unoccupied land. Then she returned for her boys--half grown lads. With provisions and a saw and axes they returned and made a clearing--yes, with their own hands cut the giant trees, trimmed and sawed them into lengths, and made every preparation to build the cabin.

Then the mother returned for more provisions, and went to Vancouver to enter the land. Up to this hour she had been encouraged by the pioneer settlers, steamboat men and sailors, who are enthusiastic in their praise of her good sense and energy. But at the Land Office she was met with the objection that she was a married woman and could not file on a homestead! 

"You must bring your husband to do this business for you."

By the way, her husband is at work in this city. Then a promise had to be won from the officer that he would keep the claim for her, and she took the day to get the consent and the presence of her husband to do the business that she was just as well qualified to do for herself. We see and call attention to the facts:

1st. It was the plan of the mother to take a piece of land and set herself and boys at work.

2d. To save her boys from vagrancy and bad habits acquired so easily in the city.

3d. To her energy in looking up and personally making the preliminary improvements.

4th. To the loss of time and money consequent upon the delay. The husband lost a day's wages, $2; steamboat fare, $1; meals, 50 cts. equals $3.50. As much more for the wife makes $7.

5th. To the insult implied "You are a married woman, and therefore legally incapable of making a bargain."

6th. Practically a premium is offered to sunder the marital relations by divorces.

7th. A premium is offered women to raise families out side of marriage, for a widow or single woman, the head of a family, can file on and hold a homestead. Probably this woman knows little, and cares nothing for Woman Suffrage. That, sirs, does not affect the case or the right. We claim that citizenship for all will give to her and to us a legal existence. And a legal existence will enable women in thousands of instances to acquire and hold and manage property that will keep themselves and children from becoming paupers and vagrants.

We have brought this case to show you that at least one woman has done and is doing something. There are in the aggregate thousands of them with steady nerves and cool heads, sharp perceptive faculties and lively consciences, hands and tender heart, who are doing something to prove themselves worthy a place and a voice in this great Republic Every wife who plans and thinks and longs for knowledge of the true condition of her husband's affairs is capable of doing something and worthy of citizenship.

Every mother who has gone to the doors of death in giving birth to her boys is capable of suffering keenest, anguish in prospect of the fact that these children of her love will be ruined by the precepts and example of those who sell and drink whiskey. This capability of love and suffering proves their capability of exercising the voting privilege for the protection of their children.

Therefore, dear readers of the New Northwest, use your influence to give to all women the elective franchise.