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268 & ••••••••• 115 • Open Letter to Thomas B. Reed1 [14 January 1899] 2 Honored Sir:—We notice with keen interest a bill before Congress to regulate the political status of the inhabitants of Hawaii. In our opinion it is a grave blunder, at this stage of civilization, as a new century dawns upon us, to establish a “male oligarchy” in any of the new territories that have lately come into our possession. The marked feature in the legislation of the present century has been the growing liberality of our laws for women,until in four States they have been crowned with all the rights of American citizens. The women of Hawaii should be accorded the highest position occupied by any in the United States. But the bill before Congress proposes more restrictive legislation for women than any yet tried in the United States. By limiting all official positions to “male” citizens there is a new depth to women’s degradation we of the States have not yet experienced. 3 Our women can hold every official position from President down to school trustee, but the women of Hawaii would be denied all official positions of dignity and power should this bill pass Congress. If the men of our Republic have not the justice and wisdom to establish a government of equality in all their possessions, they should at least avoid giving woman an inferior position to that already attained here, especially as a most important step to a higher civilization is the education and elevation of the mothers of the race. It would be a grave mistake to begin the new century with retrogressive legislation for women naturally looking to our flag as a new protection for all their inalienable rights. Yoursentiments,HonoredSir,infavoroftheenfranchisement ofwomen have been so freely expressed on many public occasions that we appeal to you with confidence to use your official position to prevent, if possible, this proposed legislation, perpetuating, as it will, in other latitudes these invidious distinctions of sex. U Elizabeth Cady Stanton, U Susan B. Anthony. 14 january 1899 ^ 269 Y Woman’s Tribune, 14 January 1899. 1. Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902), Republican of Maine and Speaker of the House, served in the House of Representatives from 1877 to 1899. He had often provided congressional leadership for woman suffragists. In the House, the Committee on Territories did not report its amendments to the Hawaii bill until January 23. (BDAC. See also Papers 5.) 2. This is the date of earliest known publication.However,when publishing the same letter on 27 January 1899,the Hawaiian Gazette indicated that ECS and SBA dated it 5 January 1899. That is a possible date, as evident from the diary entries above. 3. The Hawaiian Commission’s text listed among qualifications for office being “a male citizen of the United States.” Neither Senate nor House committees removed that language. (55th Cong., 3d sess., A Bill to provide a government for the Territory of Hawaii, 21 December 1898, S. 4893, amended; 55th Cong., 3d sess., A Bill to provide a government for the Territory of Hawaii, 23 January 1899, H.R. 10990, amended.) ••••••••• 116 • From the Diary of SBA [14 January 1899] Sat. Jan. 14, 1899. At home Sister Mary & Annie both up this a.m—& Sister Mary discharged the nurse— all wrong—but that is her way—and it costs me too much feeling to insist against it— So we are left with two convalescents & one good-for-nothing to look on!! Y Excelsior Diary 1899, n.p., SBA Papers, DLC. 14 january 1899 ...

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