The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-01-25

M ON Ulv4kQAs 81
z II Ne importance \ = Y - " ~ y
infsrfsd from The pron1nss6s AadgnsA Tin
the public prints, the question Of divorces
may be considered as having . slzeagsg
claim than any other on The attsntion Of the
public, o. the present time. Such, We fear.
is bat too certainly the case, although every
right thinking mind, must regret that ths
polluted details Of court proseedingA ars
brought before the public eye. while the
great moral principles involved. are carefully
leit out Of vitw. o:ag.,s-. y. sg
There ID one monopoly which We ere IN
favor Of fostering and sapporsisg By legal
enactment--ths relationship exciting be-
tween husband aud wifs. For this interest
we advocate protection. We may svsn 90
farther, and confess ourselves prohibitionists,
TO the backbone. That legislative action u
needed on this subject. the number Of diver
ces granted daily In our courts, the ease
with which they are obtained, and, more
than all, the inadequate grounds on which
they are decrssd. sufficiently prove. The
question is one Affecting the very foundations
on which society Is built Of deeper Interest
to al who occupy che position Of husband
and wife, parent and child, than any other
Of purely political ot social character. g
We are IS . fsople, ct least In name
Christian, and CARROT therefore view the
marriage relationship in the mere light Of .
civil contract to be dissolved, % IL vas
formed, at the pleasure Of the parties con-
tracing il. Such view 10 alike rspugnant
to the principles Of morally, and the tsaeh-
ings of religion. In this, m in MI othsr en-
lghtened communities, 10 necessarily bears
the character Of civil contract, but u also
bears the higher and more important one Of
a religious ordinance, which, IL not instituted
by the Savior Of mankind, was at least sane
toned by his presence, and regulated and
bounded by laws promulgated BY himself,
for the guidance Of man to the end Of time
laws which no people may with impunity
set aside.
By other countries this authority has been
so far recognized, that in England, divorce.
uati recently, could only be obtained by
special legislation in individual cases, and
that for but one cause. Ia France, and in
deed in all Catholic countries, divorce 10
almost unAttainable. In the United States,
unfortunately for the well being Of society,
the marriage relation may be so easily dis
solved, that it may be said in truth, where
there's win there's Q way" Larceny Of
q sermon, mutual consent, warmth Of tenn
per, incompatibility Of disposition, intern
perance, absence, idlsness, ill-treatment, are
in this country deemed sufficient reasons
for asking, and with our juries sufficient for
grantiae dissolution Of the marriage rela-
tionship. -
We are on ordinary questions, those
coming within the legitimate province Of our
lawmakers and judges-no pharisaicsl adyo-
cate Of the "higher law" being ready at all
times to conform to aud abide By the laws
instituted for our government. We cannot
fail, however, TO view the question of divorce,
on the grounds on which it is generally
granted, as one beyond the powers Of any
court to deal with. IL is impossible for man TO
dissolve a relationship which God has de-
clared indissolnble, and In 80 acting our
courts Of justice are not only outstecping
The limits Of their prerogatlse, bat infiicting
= grieVOus injury on society, by legahxing
moral iniquity. Many parties who have
been divorced, by our courts, have formed
new marital relations. Many, it may be
feared, have sought divorce for the purpose
Of contracting other marriages, yet II
authority higher than any earthly, on this
subject, may be regarded, the original rela-
4ionship remains. unbroken, the offspring of
the parties is Legitimate, md they are guilty
Of the most grievous sin. ESQ
"What God has joined together Let no
man put asunder," is an Injunction as bind
ng upon US, our courts and law makers, Is
t was upon those, to whom ii was originally
given. There is indeed one ground, although
but one, specified by this Divine authority,
IN which the marriage relationship might be
dissolved.
Apart from this view Of the case, the fa-
:il;ty with which divorces are obtained il
calculated TO produce the most serions results
upon US as people. II encourages the forma-
tiOn, ii nxsty and unfortunate marriages. 1t
is seized upon as q deliyersnce from evils
often more imaginary than real. It is the
cause of separating and rendering unhappy
for life, many, who in an evil moment, have
availsd themselves Of il, and who might
otherwise have lived ogethsr in happiness
and comfort Let it be understood by the
married that they are bound together by .
tie which cannot be broken, and many Of
the evils complained Of in married life viii
disappear. When husband and wife learn
the fact that taey must live together, they
will soon discover the way hou tofive.
1t may be that there will arise frequent
cases Of .onnuOisl infelicity calling for the
Of authority, between husSaud
and but the remedy for such evils 10
not divorce. It may Be necessary for the
Law in some instances to step in between
contending parties, and in the interest Of
rmanity and justice, prsesnt them from
and assign to each their civil
is within Ito scope and power,
bet it is impossible to dissolve by divorce, q
which can only be dissolved by
death, and the frequency with which 1t is
attempted is not only destroying the morals
Of the community, but making ~ Is . people,
\ repFcach among the enlightened nations
,f the earth. 7
THE PROSPECT.
The sckual circumstances of thu civiIsxeA