The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-06-22


inc that the fate of the country de-
pended upon the rejection of this re-
port. The report asked very little. 1t
simply as ked that future Legislatures
should have the opportunity to deter
mine it. WOman-sufffage was COM
ing question. Wherever it had been
tried it had brought out nothing but
praise. He did not think it wise to
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 find
il wise to try the experiment. 1t
should be allowed to do so without
the necessity of passing it by ma
| jority in one session, and again by
two thirds majority in the succeeding
one. 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 a 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 future Legislature to deal |
with the question, it opened door in |
the Constitution for its consIdera-
ton, and showed that we We're 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-
commendation in that form. He
favored a more limited provision, and
offered the following: 1.-The Legisla-
ture may extend the franchise to
women who possess the qualifications
required of voters for Senators" Some
of the objections urged by Delegate
Kalua had great weight. Hawaiians
spoke from a knowledge Of their own
people which others did not possess.
lie agreed with him that it would un-
questionably be n disaster to this
country to pass the amendment in the
form recommended by the committee.
The question would arise at every SEES
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 1
ment in this country to give women
the suffrage now. The majority of
were opposed to it. They did
not want to assume this additional
burden and obligation unless it was {
necessary.
Vice President Wilder said the COM q
nittee would be willing to accent the {
amendment proposed by Minister {
Smith.
Delegate Baldwin feared that some
PERSONS did not realize the complica-
ions of the situation-changing a
into a republic. At the I
present. moment the majority of the
arge and ignorant electorate was op-
'osed to the Republic. Would it be
wise to double up this large and ig-
Iorant vote ? To put in the Constitu-
ion measure which would do that d?
t would be one of the most dangerous n
Kings which we could do. We hoped
D reconcile the mass of the native s
to this movement, and
his would be the greatest hindrance V
D this purpose. He had read in the .,
aper that Vice President Wilder had q
Did the ladies that they had his SYM
athy, but not his judgment. The u
eport seemed to indicate that they =,
ad captured his Judgment also. Wo- r
len had more important sphere of II
lt1uence than men had already. He Vi
id not think women should engage n.
any occupation which they could +
OF carry through. Those who made M
lie laws should be able to carry them
trough. Did women want to be SOL al
ers and policemen :? The whole
onstitution was an experiment. W
ithout cOmplicating it with any fur
Ter experiments. How could we n
now now that woman suffrage would
good thing six or eight years
-hSC 1c uli llOL ldVOT IeSlSldtInR hl
Nv for the future. y
Delegate Iosepa held that if women til
ere allowed to vote, children and
lnors should vote also. Politics in w
is country were red-hot now, and n.
adopt this amendment would be
IMPLY adding fuel to the flame. be
Delegate Kaubane favored the ma -.
rity report. The gentlemen who di
ere opposed to this all seemed to kl
very much afraid of the ladies.
so, if they were afraid it would yC
wise not to do anything to aggra- FL
tie them. He did not favor extend ~
g the franchise to women now, but pl
ought the Legislature might pro-
riy do so in future.
councillor Brown held that the re- VI
arks made showed that the amend y
ent proposed far too radical a Va
ange. The question from now on
uid De SO agitated, by both sexes, III
at ii could be brought nm i'm fntnra av