The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-29
THE CAUSE OF WOMAN.
.u. TREATMENT OF WOVEN UNDER
THE NEW LAW FOR HAWAII.
- ward .Male" Used Repeatedly In the
law, Rarring Out women From Victims
T,.,o-A straw which shows the Winds
n,,.c,ion- Hale Old women-SuSrasists.

direction Ha'c Vu
u.su,yoros, April % Hawaii Ia adopted "a
.".,orv NJ the United States and Its Govern
Im., d.ened by Congress. Although more than
rn,,,rv and a quarter have elapsed since
-. establishment Of n representative form
y Government in this Western Hemisphere,
-, other state Of Territory has there ever
IN such marked and unjust discrimina-
~. ,yains, women. In this new Hawaiian
.,,,,ion the word male" Is introduced
.,,o frequently, in the determination to bar
y" ~, ,omen from voting and ofice-holding,
u., in the Constitution Of the United States
."o, ony state in the Union. Because Of the
Wing DISPOSITION on the part Of women
- dsmand the right Of representation. our
y,,ional Congress, at the dawn OF the twena-
.,h century Of supposed progress. has I'M
,o.ed every restriction within ia power to
,n.ts I, impossible for them to exercise this
Lrh, in this new Territory. There certainly
a. No indication Of progress for women in such
.o,,on. and it Is difficult to see where II shows
any such spirit on the part OF men.
vbcreyer there could be a loophole OF ad-
.,r,sgo for women in this Hawaiian consti-
,,ion, the word male" has been vigorously
r.sd. although they are very carefully declared
A he citizens" in order that they may be
Mold to their full share OF the taxes and strict
~,bsdIence 10 the laws. To he eligible TO cleo
,on rs Senator a person shall he a male" citi-
.n To be- eligible to election as Represen-
.tye a person shall be q male" citizen. To
he qualified TO vote for Representatives a per-
.on shall be a male" citizen, Only those
ouaIAed to vote for Representatives shall
- - 20 Atk.r nNa,arG anA Cp1x-
electors" shall hold the offices,
There ia not a State in the Union whose Con-
,t,u,ion so absolutely excludes women from
Al share in the Government az does this new
territory, under this Constitution made for
Il by a Congress- which includes eight Senators
and FIVE Representatives from four States
where women possess the full suffrage and
the right to MI every office; and members from
over thirty States where they hnvc n limited
franchise and practically every ofice-holding
~n1yilege. II this is not a stride backward
what is Il? Here are the prescribed classes:
no idiot or insane person, no person who
shall be- expelled from the Legislature for
siying or recei ving bribes. no person who
shall have been convicted Of any criminal
offence punishable by imprisonment, shall
VWs OF uNlu OllN'r il'T N"' l''''A W WI
victed shall have been pardoncd and restored
10 his civil rights.
They did not dare commit the open insult
Of adding woman by name to this disgraced
calendar. but placed her within II by the covert
process of putting the adjective male" be-
fore the qualified electors. wen the con-
ucted criminal may be pardoned and restored
10 his right to vote. but there Is no pardon
for the infamous crime OF being born a woman.
1t may he claimed that the masses of the
women Of the Hawaiian Islands are not fitted
70 exercise the suffrage, This Is equally true
Of the men, but any one familiar with the his.
tory of these people will testify that the womer
Of the different classes average as well as The
men. The possession of the ballot is a power
hl factor in education and development. i
will simulate and improve the men of Hawaii
q il has done with those Of all other countries
but the women will have no incentive 10 inform
Themselves upon the questions of their new
government, no power TO influence them II
any manner. Take the very first proposition
which is to b. submitted -local option on TIN
saloon question-tO DO decided by the vote'
Of men oaly, Had the franchise been granted
10 the American, the English. to all the women
under such restrictions aS were imposed or
the men. how quickly they would have Informed
tsmselyeS, with what pride then would have
accepted the responsibility, how much they
would have risen in dignity and strength, but
nov every Kanaka. Portuguese and japanese
man will look down upon them with that SUI
priority always felt by the enfranchfsed over
The DISTINGUISHED.
in all the debates on the floor OF Congress
with reference 10 the all-important subject
orolsly they were defended, how carefully
they were protected. The whole effort seemed
to De how to place the ballot in the hands of
the greatest possible number. The eagle of free
DIN screamed until every yeStiGe OF a prop
ety qualification was removed. The re-
qareme1t 10 speak the English language was
voted down. Absence or lines, was made
sufficient excuse for not registering The
nan had his jealous protector, but who was
aNe 10 speak for woman Not one,
IL in the future, the women OF Hawaii de-
ermlne to obtain this sacred privilege Of in
tvdual representation, they can do "a those
OF the United States have been doing for the
past ffty years-besicge the Legislature I'M
VI they are thrown out and the door slammed
y their faces, and then srovel n the dirt az the
let Of the voters, foreign and native. black
! sd white, ignorant and educated drunk and
sober. But not satisfied TO make the acquire
/ nelf OF the suffrage as difficult for the women
o. hawaii as for those of this country, these
American Commi %ssioners have put up addi-
tonal barriers, Whereas here the Legislature
q every Territory has full power to enfran-
snlSe It's women without submitting the ques-
denied 20 the Territorial Legislature of Ila-
van by this new constitution. There is in
a the future no possible way in which women
an secure the suffrage except by the consen,
q the majority Of these native and half-breed
voters II is an Infamous measure.
Inc Woman. Suffrage associations OF all
ue l~o,rty-hye States sent petitions TO Senate
snd House praying that sex distinctions might
Y Territory and these were supplemented by
IUy individual appeals but not o member
!. either House would make this fight for jus
We ~ might be expected that surely this
rSuh be done by those from the four states
snrre women already are voters, but those had
XIII OAE on hand for irrigation. for public
.uiulngs for divers local and personal objects,
m y !, hl not wish to antagonize their fellow
m m no leaders of tine suffrage move
geht urged tinat the question of striking out
Nv word male be brought up even If IL went
ssnn 70 defeat for the moral effect Of a, Discus
h. W. ana a vote But this was precisely what
M ShatOrs and representatives were deter
y ~'rl hot 10 to-to put themselves on record
"Iue subject Of woman's enfranchisement,
M nov maj This outrage prrpetrated against
"a "onen OF Hawaii in denying them all right
s,u Wv IN thclr government, IL any more
e~pS '. man th1f against those OF our W
1 tH p, Tor more than a century. All things
r,,rrTei u ; BY no means so great, but the
n t,m' :, II Is that al this late day, the Congress
,. wy f, hl"d States siould deliberately enact
d Tive Veg station against the vested rights
rrrohI'h. President Dole. Of Hawaii, repeat
r,rs naN ra,ayoGl;"d u" REIMBURSEMENT OF
I ,,s IN" Hon. ". +. Frrar. Associate
s6r%o.,r o. TIE Islands and one of the Commits
on, H. VINO drafted this constitution, said
W. own signature Feb. II 1899;
Gov, "l'N'd AZ n meeting. of the Hawaiian
"nnsNlon that the Legislature Of Hawaii
nd H.IImIt,t"d 10 authorize woman suffrage.
narS III Dole supported me. but the other
View S'S or the commission took a different
ssmn."a = we have the Hawaiian COMMISSIONERS
tOnsr G".ring enrranchiSement for their