New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-07-27
M,ppI.cE AND DIyoHCE"...u.

MARHJACE hND
History is Philosophy teaching ~ example
When specious theory, or one PFC msioe pre'sn' ai
vantage ~ individuals is tsented the hrst iDq11
which naturally arises is" Has not tnls theory H.
"resd, been suggested and tested by experience IL
go what ssys History as to its WORKINGS ana cohss
"ooe1ces7" Ifthis be not legitimate aud pertinent
then History is worthless and all past generations
have lived TO no purPOse-that Is I" d" purpose
for us or cur scendsnts But all men % KNOW iha
the lesfons Of History are repl~te with wisdom 70
those who read them impartally and wisely Hence
We 90 Lot say, Let watch the progress OF the
"Mormous, and see whether tler poygamy M! not
"pJCyc LencGcent;' for that point was settled IA
Syria, i'll Egypt Ii CLina, centuries ago Ii yon Suii
doubt visit Asia or Africa and see how 1t plralyzes
The eueey and prectdes the emil shtenmeut AMI pro-
cress of it, votarics to day; but advocate no new
experiments to decide a point long ago absolutely
SGT at rest. Ii pOlygsmy be possible good, then
Aslautee or Tuibuctoo is perhaps more enlightened
and exemplary than Germany or London.
So with regard to ali the theories which would
iryslidate the aw Of Indissouble Marriage, and urge
fila. the pair who fnd or fancy themselves nnfty
mated should be at liberty to separate and form new
relations THERE CAS BE so DIVORCE WITHOUT
CRIME, says tie Llw,-says 30 wisely aud truly.
Tie chine mey lie that Of husband or wife only. and
the evil the shame, the restraint from renirfying is
limited accordingly but the two whom the state has,
ut their own request recognized and consecraIel to
oaoh other as Husband and wife, are tn rmselves cul-
psble if they have. through whatever impulse OF pas
SON. avarice. ambition or leyty, proaued the sym
bos of that holy latiOD by invoking their sanctions
when they were not truly one in heart and soul
Tbers alone il the fault; why should not theirs
be the puntl nent7 How shall The Law s'oop to
be the acconplice or the shield Of their traasg,es
sion?
We have said that the evidence of History on this
point is Uniform and overwhelming And the
Uniform Testimony Of Christian anDais.s might not
be conclusive with the IIuXiIat of our day, We are
accustomed to cite rather that of the skeptc Gsboh
who certain! had prejudice 10 cherish no fath 70
uphold in assigning the sexual corruption consequent
on the relaxation of the Law of Marriage
of the silent but powerful causes of the decline
and fall of the Roman Empire. lie says: &C. Xiv
"Whcr The Roman matrons became the equal a,d vol
ialy palOHs of IhCr uros new -prud ~
introduced that marriage like Other partnerships, might
IL d.oy,d by lie addiction Of Que OF he associates In
tiIoc centuries OF prosperity and corruption tbs PrIc.o
enigrcCf 10 teqGCI practice dud pericOis nbu-c
Paa.0n interest caprice suggested daily tivcs Tor
III O UuilOn - marriage; WOTd, sign, message,
Letter tL mandate Of freedman declared escpI-to1
lie most teCcr If human connections degraded 10
eIsit society of profit and pleasure According = the
VIfIous dllOIs lie, both alternately Iei tie
her wealth 10 new family. abandoning numerous, pr
hay spurious, progeny 10 the pateInuI care OF her ne
Husband Il beautiful virgin might be dismissed 10 the
world old INDECENT and fiendltss; but the reluctance of
tie Romans when they pressed to marriage by Ad-
pUstus, suici' nty marks that the prevailing Institutions
wue least favorable TO males specous heor' con-
fuod by this and perfect experiment which demon
hat tie liberty of Divorce dos not cOhtr bule -
haIrntss auc virtue The facility of separation would
destroy all mutual confidence and nhame every trang
dispute thc minute difference between a husband and
stI5uger, which might so ea.ily be removed, m ht sill
easily be forgotten and The m.tTOn rapidly trans
feled Iom hnSbald 20 hU band To
the chastity Oi her OWI person.
Abundant confirmation OF this general truth may
he found in AlisOns account of the consequences re-
sulting from the Liberty of Divorce accorded during
the phrenzy Of tho French Revolution, in other
histories but they be needed The conclusions
enunciated by Gibbon those of the human under
staLdipg, enlightened b! investigation and reflection;
sId few can have advocated freedom to UDn lrry at
pleasure except in subservlency to the requirements
of iallacOus theory OF some ancied personal
advantage
And We; the civilized world now swarms with
tTtatises novels pamphlets periodicals, whereu the
Liberty of Divorce is openly advocated nsdiously
commended. The yellow covered denominations
which are hawked by the charac:erleSs panders TO
juvenile deprayiy are hardly more numerous anl in
fuitely less pernicous than the pretender 10 scen-
t.fc or philanttropic unct on which be gin with dis
questions on the Sovereignty of th- Individual the
Divinity of Love, the brutality and sacrege of
uniting together i'll hateful bonds those who loathe
and abhOr each other, &c, &C., and eud by Offering
U
conception or produce abortion for many shlings
per bottle. With all this nauseOus rabbe we shall
NEEDLE no further than to Indicate by passing kick
that we are aware of its existence while proceed
in our next 10 consider the arguments for Liberty OF
Divorce sdduced 10y recent writer that side whose
character and motive, command respect bat whose
arguments fall far short Of producing conviction.