The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-06-22

Vice President Wilder moved the
adoption of the majority report. He
admired the eEoquence of the gentle
man from Maui, but could not agree
with his views. He seemed to imag-
Inc that the fate of the country de-
pended upon the rejection OF this re-
port The report asked very little. Ii
-imply az ked that future Legislatures
should have the opportunity TO deter
mine it. Woman-suffFage was COM
ing question. Wherever il had been
tried it had brought out nothing but
praise. He did not think il wise 20
grant female suffrage at this time.
There were too many complications.
But future Legislature, with more
light on the subject than Was pos
sessed by the Convention, might lind
IL wise to try the experiment. 1t
should be allowed to 90 so without
the necessity of passing it by u ma
Jority In Que session, and again by
two-thirds majority in the succeeding
Que. The Convention did not possess
any monopoly on all the wisdom in
sight.
Minister Damon rose to second the
motion of Vice President Wilder, and
he considered it an honor to do so. 1t
was rare opportunity. 1t was a
move in the interest of progress and
civilization, and showed that we were
In touch with the world. The matter
of suffrage for women was q mere
matter of detail. The rights of women
were being recognized and the move
ment could not be stopped by this
Convention or by anyone. If the
member from Maui would open his
ears, he would hear the demand not
merely in Honolulu but all over the
world. This report merely gave the
chance to a future Legislature TO deal.
with the question, it opened door in
the Constitution for its consIdera-
ton, and showed that we were ready
to grant the right when the time
came.
Minister Smith wished to hear the
recommendation of the majority read
again.
The Secretary read it.
Minister Smith did not favor re-
COMMUNICATION in that form. He
favored more limited provision, and
offered the following: 1.-The Legisla-
ture may extend the franchise to
women who possess the quaIific atoms
required of voters for Senator'S Some
of the objections urged by Delegate
Kalua had great weight. Hawaiians
spoke from knowledge of their own
people which others did not possess.
lie agreed with him that it would un-
questionably be a disaster to this
country to pass the amendment In the
form recommended by the committee.
The question would arise at every ses-
sion of the Legislature. The enemies
of the annexation movement would
all rush into it. He thought the talk
about the emancipation OF women was
nonsense. Women ruled the world
now. General suffrage would degrade
them Unless women were willing to
work in the primaries and do the work
which was so irksome to the best kind
OF men, the franchise would simply
be boomerang to women. 1t would
not be in the interest of good govern
ment IN this country to give women
the suffrage now. The majority of
women were opposed to 1T. They did
not want to assume this additional
burden and obligation unless it was
necessary.
Vice President Wilder said the COM
mittee would be willing to accept the
amendment proposed by Minister
Smith.
Delegate Baldwin feared that some
persons did not realize the complica-
lions of the situation-changing
monarchy into a republic. t the
present moment the majority of the
large and ignorant electorate was OPP
posed TO the Republic. Would it be
wise TO double up this large and ig-
noranU vote? TO put in the Constitu-
ton measure which would do that
Tt would be one of the most dangerous
things which we could do. We hoped
to reconcile the mass of the native
Hawaiians to this movement, aud
this would be the greatest hindraDce
to this purpose. He bad reasi in the
ii. h, n
told the ladies that they had his SYM
pathy, but not his Judgment. The
report seemed to Indicate that they
had captured his judgment also. Wo-
men bad q more important sphere OF
influence than men had already. He
did not think women should engage
i'm aoy occu cation which they could
not carry through. Those who made
the laws should be able TO carry them
through Did women want To be sol
diers and policemen The whole
Constitution was an experiment
without OFFICIATING it with any fur
Their experiments How could we
know now that woman suffrage would
be a good thing six or eight years
hence? He did not favor legislating
now for thu future.
Delegate Iosepa held that If women
were allowed TO vote, children ana
minors should vote also. Politics IN
this country were red hot now, and
| To adopt this amendment would be
simply adding fuel TO the flame.
| Delegate Kauhane favored the nj
| jorIty report. The gentlemen who
were opposed to this all seemed 10
! be very much afraid of the ladies.
| If so, If they were afraid it would
| be wise not to do anything to aggra-
/ waite them. He did not favor extend
| ing the franchise to women now, tut
| thought the Legislature might pro-
/ perry do so in future.
| Councillor Brown held that the re-
! marks mad. showed that the amend
| ment proposed far too radical
/! change Inc question from now on
| could De so agitated, by both sexes,
4 A.rr l,f n FIN Al