The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-05-17
Chinese Will Present a Petition to
the Councils Today.
THEIR REASONS FOR CLAIMING IT.
They Saw That They Are q Much Better
Glass of Citizens Than the Japanese
-Tne Petition to be -iSned by -eversi
Hundred OF the Chinese Citizens

At this afternoons session OF the
Councils, a petition, signed by several
hundred Chinese, will be presented
asking that the Chinese be given the
voting franchise in the islands. The
ceIestials are in earnest about this
movement, and are determined to
have the privilege Of voting il it is
possible to get it.
Goo kim, the commercial agent OF
the Chinese, was seen last evening.
He was not disposed to be communi-
catiye on the subject OF the petition,
but said 1T was fact that it was to be
sent TO the Councils this afternoon.
s'There is committee taking the
paper around tonight obtaining sigma
tures,u said he; "when it is sent to
the Councils there will be several
hundred names of leading Chinese
attached to it. We could get several
thousand as we'll as several hundred,
but we think IL better to have only
the IealiDg merchants sign 1t.
"This is no new idea on our part.
Ever since there has been any talk of
a new Constitution, the Chinese have
been deterDdined that when the proper
time came they would ask that q
clause giving the Chinese the fran
cbise should be inserted. We do not
ask for it. because the Japanese do.
We consider that we are entitled to it
on more grounds than they are. There
are several hund ed naturalized Chi
nese, but not one naturaiized Japan.
csc, to. my knowledge. We often
marry native wives and settle in this
country for q lifetime, but there are
very few Cases of this kind among the
Japanese. We consider that we should
be shown much more consideration
than the Japanese, and yet If they get
the franchise, we are willing to take
on the same grounds that they do.
"In our petition, nothing is said
about the Japanese. We ask the
franchise on the grounds of which /
have spoken, claiming that there are
many Chinese here who were born in
the country or are naturalized citizens,
or who have property interests here.
We make no threats OF what we will
do In case the franchise Is not granted
and we want everything to go on in 9
Several other prominent Chinese
merchants were seen on the subject,
and all seemed to be very much in
earnest about 1t. sssI4fs9,.. 81.
ave want the franchise and we are
going to get it If possible" said one
"There is no reason why we should
not have it. The Japanese claim that
they have q right te vote here. We
claim that we have much more right
than they to the franchise. You can.
not show me Q sIng!e Japanese who is
naturalized citizen Of travail. There
are twenty Chinese here who are
property owners where there is q sim
gle JAPANESE. The Chinese mingle
more with the natives and are better
citizens Of the country In every way
than the Japanese, and II there is any
discrimination made it should be in
our favor. / believe that the Councils
will listen to us, for il Is only justice |
that we should have the right to
VOTE"
When asked what would be done in |
case the Councils absolutely refused to |
grant their request, he simply smiled
and would say nothing. -;
There is no doubt that the Chinese
are going to do their best to get the
right to vote. Tt will be remembered
that at one Of their mass meetings held
some months ago, there were open
threats made that in event of their de.
mands not being complied with,
war vessel would be sent out here to
redress their wrongs. There il evil
IDENTIFY some such Intention now, as
they seem singularly confident of the
success of their efforts.
i