The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-05-18

somewhat OF surprise anu LnoIe
pleasu. that we have seen the recen
newspaper discussion Of woman's suf
frage. With reference even to thi
subject, i seems young Hawaii is no
to be behind the times. Here, too
We must all have our say on thi!
much disputed question. But here n
elsewhere, and low a. formerly, meu
and not women have brought forward
the pros aud cous- One of the chic
arguments against the suffrage o.
women is that old favOIite woman:
apathy" on the subject.
For a woman 10 take up eudgel in
favor of the suffrage Of her sex Is but
to prove tine rule OF Indifference by al
execution. At the outset, then, We
must grant while we deplOre this
"apathy of women But with firm
trust in other qualities Of woman, her
rational powers Of mind, her standard
Of morals, her common sense, we
shall hope not only to account to our
brothers for this Indifference, hut also
TO help our sisters TO overcome it. Let
Us then first examine the reasons for
wOman's apathy.
Although the human race now
breathes in nineteenth crutury at
mOSphvre, II i, alas, too cramped by
the STAYS Of custOn. centuries Old,
fully 10 realize the freedom of its
healthful air. Our most intelligent
people ridicule the superstitiOus of
heather of The present day or of
Christians OF the Middle Ages without
beginning TO realize how they them
selves are fettered by Conventional
ties as absurG. Why does not the
child born and bred in a New York
tenement house long for life on the
pralries OF the West ? Because all his
ideas and desires are made to fit in
with the kaIeideO>copIc bits of city
pictures. To deprive HIM of the
swarming population Of his wretched
home i 10 deprive him Of the right
(Or the wrong TO which he was
born. Why did not the slave cry
out sgainst his master, claiming
freedom as his God given inheri-
tsnce? Born to slavery, custom
blinded his eyes TO aught but the pro-
priety Of his remaining a slave.
Weakened by enforced dependence
and protection, he had neither power
nor desire TO claim his liberty.
Women are not only born into poll
tical subjection but are trained to look
upon il a. the one right and decent
condition for them. Education is
against rather than toward politics.
Every desire for political freedom is
checked. scOrned, condemned as un-
womanly, aud, as in young girls
physical career when outlets for
energy in climbing, running and
jumping are closed, the represst force
bursts through doors of wiggliug aud
gigg ing, 30 when the channels Of
political interest are clused, the des-
picable and glbly flowing rivers Of
pHblic 9 ssip are supplied.
But We are not always to be bound
by rules that have been. We are glad
20 believe that the world moves. Let
US join hands and move with it. Why
may not women overcome their apa-
thy in regard TO politics as they have
already overcome and are overcoming
their apathy in regard TO other work
and conditions for women? Let US
now consider the nationality and suit
ability Of having women active in
politics
In ST. Psurs bishopric, it was
deemed a shame for women to "speak
in the church," women were not suf-
fered to teach; they were to keep
and if they would learn any
thing were TO Task their husband at
home" Far be it from US TO slight
the position Of women as home keep
ers, but We observe with approval
that bishop or pastor of today relies
for the strength of his work largely
upon the women who teach in the
Sunday School, and who support free
kiniergartens, benevolent societies
and prayer, temperance and mission
meetings not by ke-piug silence and
staying at home, but by active, out
spoken participation in public work.
No one seems to be shocked at
the appointment OF women To the
Board Of Education. Hawaii Eas of
late years received two women ply
siciaus, one woman lawyer, be-
sides a large number of women
teachers, clerks. etc. All of
these emplOyments are in some
degree public, and political life neei
be no more so. We could easily i'm
agine polls for women in some quiet
room far removed from male voters
with political Cor other, mud' on
their boots. But why should women
lear more to meet the average man at
the polls than on the street, at the
fish market, or in the public street
,ar? And why in itself should it be
/ less lady-like, or better, less
act to cast vote than to
make loaf of bread, work problem,
Dr. recite at a church social, not to say
ride bicycle? 1t Is hard TO See.
But the claim is made that women
Ire not interested IB political subjects,
know nothing about them aud, there
ore, should know nothing about them.
As a rule, people understand the work
hey have TO do aud are interested in
L Even a mao, handicraftsman
hough he may b-, does not always
understand nor show interest in the
,ommOnest employments of his wife's
needle. Let women be edu ated for
let them be trained for TAX
ne part in politics and they Will be
o terrsted and informed.
When women We're sharing In the
truggle against the opium aud lottery
'iil- no one questioned their right u