The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-04-24

interest to those who are interested
IN woman suffrage:
Would it not be an act of wise states
manship, for the coming Constitution
al Convention TO establish female suf-
frage with high property qualifica-
ton attached to it?
There is a special need of intelligent
voters in these Islands, and If this
class can be increased by the addition
of women, under a property qualifica-
ton, it will materially strengthen the
basis of good government.
It is idle to consider, at the present
time, the arguments pro and con, re-
garding female suffrage. Every in
teiiigent person knows, or ought TO
know them by this time.
The movement for the emanci patton
of women, regarding both her proper
ty and her political rights, though
slow is continuous. Every argument
urged against giving her property
rights has been utterly refuted by ex-
perience Regarding political rights,
the experience of several OF the Am
erican States, indicates clearly that
female suffrage improves political
affairs.
1t is well understood, in the Older
States, that the cause OF female suf-
frape has not advanced rapidly owing
To two causes. The first is the opposi-
ton Of the machine politicians. who
find that they have quite enough TO
do while keeping men in line in the
working of political machinery, and,
naturally, they hesitate TO undertake
the additional job Of keeping an I'M
known factor, the woman's vote on
the same lines.
The absurdity of the situation is
apparent and confessed. Educated
women, many of them graduates Of
the best schools, are excluded from
the ballot, while the Irish bog-trot-
teri and the ignorant and grossly
superstitious negro has the franchise.
The second cause is the apathy of
women themselves, on the subject.
The analysis of this apathy need not
be stated here at large. 1t is largely
due to the "superstitions'' which
have stood in the pathway of woman's
progress is past times. We live main
" ON the lines of our traditions and
habits and not on our reason. Little
as the average man knows practical
IL about the world in which he lives,
the average woman knows still less
because she has been deprived OF OPP
portunity. The remarkable successes
of American and English women, IN
the great universities has settled for
4 ever the question of woman's brain
! power, and the cynical men who said
she was the "weaker vessel" are now
taking to the woods. Any close OBJ
server knows that in the cities OF the
United States, and here in Honolulu,
the general culture OF women Is con-
siderably higher than that of the men,
among the so-called educated classes.
The reason of this is, the enforced con-
finement of men to business in the
sharp struggle for existence, and the
increasing leisure afforded to women
by the accumulation of wealth. This
culture has not yet. however, mate
rallied in a practical sense OF things;
it is rapidly doing, so. It's working on
social reforms, and rather refraInS from
tackling complex political problems.
The trial of female suffrage in the
State of Wyoming, is watched with
deep interest in America. This trial
has been in progress for twenty years,
and has proved TO be more than salts
factory. In 1882, Governor Hoyt of
that State, said, after twelve years of
experience with it, ave have better
laws, better officers, better institu-
tons, better morals, and higher
social condition in general No one
of the practical evils, such as a loss of
native delicacy and disturbance Of
home relations has followed-''
Governor Hale of the same State
gives the same opinion. The judges
highly commend the conduct Of
women in the jury box. One of the
most successful newspapers published
in that State is edited by two young
women who set up the type them
selves, and are consulted by men be-
cause of their shrewd insight into po
htical matters.
Colorado by majority vote of fifty
thousand, has established female suf-
frage and so has Kansas. In England
and in many of the Eastern States,
women are allowed to vote on school
questions.
It may be urged that the establish
ment of this suffrage is an iunova-
ton; that we have quite enough
problems on our hands without try
ing this one. It should be regarded
as an innovation required by our
necessities. We should increase the
intelligent vote as largely as possible.
An avowed selfish policy demands it.
Our conditions demand it. But the
franchise should be granted only to
women who have certain amount of
real and personal property. Many
intelligent women would, by this
qualification, be excluded from vot-
ing. 1t would be their misfortune
arising out of the necessities OF the
case. Universal female suffrage here,
would work disaster.
We must always deal with the con-
ditions here as we fiud them. Ii we
can increase the Intelligent vote in
favor Of good government by esta5-
fishing this suffrage, let us do it. If
we cannot, then let US not establish It.
The women who said, a few months
ago, TO their husbands and sons, while
the Corwiu was in port, "return with
vour shields or on them," may be
we'll trusted with the franchise.