The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-05-27
Women's Rights.
:. Parten Akeram Audi"

To the Editor of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser:
Since, even in this kingdom, where popular
suffrage is not the sole basis of the state, you
have seen fit to call the attention OF your readers
to the subject of women's rights, my love OF tar
play induces me to continue the discussion. For,
although the profound and widespread interest
which this cause is attracting in the Great Re
public is frankly acknowledged, yet the animus
of the article is plainly adverse to the movement.
The political rights of women are conceded, and
the power of woman's influence in the state Is
admitted, but there is an evident hesitation about
the expediency of-being consistent and recog-
MIXING women as citizens! For, : to this COM
plexion must it come at last, - in all unbiased
minds. If, in a Republic, women are not citi-
zens, with all the rights and responsibilities of
citizens. what shall be done with them? De-
mocracy makes no provision for an intermediate
order between the rank of responsible citizens
and the class of children, imbeciles and %lunatics.
The status Of woman in a Democracy demands
definition. The ballot furnishes the only con-
sistent solution. And, in such fundamental
questions of state policy, consistency is the only
true expediency. The essential principles of a
government cannot be safely held in allegiance
until every detail of their application can be
Exempted from objection.
But how trivial, absurd or sophistical are the
points raised against the expediency Of woman
suffrage!
:. But women who vote must fght
Is the fighting test applied to men before they
are allowed to vote? Is the test muscular, as
well as masculine? Did not the women of Amer
lea do their share of service for the state, during
the civil war, in the Sanitary Commission
" But the horrid bod for women, if they %vote!"
Is the ballot SO magical that it will utterly
transform the nature and pursuits of those upon
whom it is conferred?
Again, g Fallen women will assoil the garments
Of the virtuous by possible contact at the polls
Does our present form of civilization keep women
in immaculate seclusion from fallen men, in our
public conveyances, and assemblies? Are we
living in the age Of the Harem?
And how utterly the exceptional hardships of
jury duty are dissipated by the fact that the
whole matter of selection and retention is in the
discretion of the Court and officers.
And 80 no practical objection to women suf-
frage is insuperable save to a mind lacking faith
in the principles of Democracy, and without a
proper appreciation of the true dignity of woman.
This movement is a part of the great system of
human emancipation which the ages have been
steadfastly developing. Neither the sneers and
sOphistries of selfish or sentimental men, nor the
deprecations of sho~rtsighted women can stay it.
Speed it all who love liberty and honor woman.
Waikiki, May, 1871. j. A. B.
IOur few passing remarks on the above subject
in our issue of the 9th ult., appear to have walked
up a lively and enthusiastic champion for the
rights of the fair sex. AS our correspondent
argues from the standpoint of a democracy, pure
and indivisible, the question of woman suffrage
can have no practical bearing in these Islands,
where our government is a monarchy, and where
suffrage is limited. Still, the subject is an inter-
esting one, and we willingly devote a space to its
discussion. Not only has it attracted a great deal
of interest in the Great Republic, but latterly in
England the advocates of woman suffrage have
made no little noise. In the British House of
Commons, on the Sd inst, the Bill enfranchising
women, was debated at considerable length, during
it was proposed to allow women property
holders to vote by proxy, but even that amend
ment failed, and the Bill was rejected by a
of sixty-nine. At the twenty-second
annual session of the American Medical Associa-
ton, Composed of delegates from all parts of the
States) held in San Francisco, the proposition to
allow women to enter the colleges and to practice
on the same terms as males, was on the
Ind inst, indefinitely postponed, by a vote of so
to %. Whenever the millennium arrives, the
Parliament and the American Medical
Association will probably recede from the posi-
ion they have taken, but not before. AS for
ourselves, while conceding the abstract right of
women to all of the questionable privileges that
Ire claimed for them, we are old fogy enough to
believe, with the Woman'S Journal, that the
world does not want women who are good lawyers
md bad mothers, clever physicians and unfaithful
wives, clear-headed and empty-hearted for not !
rom these shall come a complete womanhood.
Rights and responsibilities should be commen- 8
urate. Women should be logical enough and
enough to see that if they are admitted g
o equal civil rights with men, they must assume
quail civil responsibilities. If allowed to vote
nd legislate, equally with men, they must
qually bear all civil ADMINISTRATION, Jury e
ervice, military duty, the suppression of riots
nd instruction, and the defence of the land c
lgainst invasion. Behind blllots must come
'ullets: those who cast the former must be ready >.
o FIRE and receive the latter. But woman was
ever intended in her creation to take a response
lie part in public affairs. She cannot stand to o
ght, and so she is not entitled to vote. Her e
ote might lead to the making of a law which
len alone could enforce, or cause a war that
n which men alone would bleed.-ED. p. G. Al t
The LIBEL LAW IN MAssACHUsETTs.-Actions r
Or libel have been rare in Massachusetts since
ne passage of the following statute (IS55, chap.
96) I" In every prosecution, and in every civil
ction for writing or for publishing a libel, the
afendant NAV unOn the trial 0ivo in a,;do.ao