Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-02-19


war, during the very years when those
school returns were made removing
large numbers of men from their homes,
and destroying the lives of many-might
account in part for this falling of of
scholars, but this cause alone is not suf-
ficient. The comparative decrease in
population existed q long time before
the war broke out, and we fear will
continue for long, long time to come.
This crime has far more destructive
influence upon human welfare and in
crease than war can possibly have. In
the language of this committee -
1T spoils the family relationship: it
weakens the bond Of conjugal affection !;
it destroys physical health it skaters the
constitution, and thus shortens human
life 1t dries up natural affection at the
fountain: it intensifics the selfish passions (;
contributes TO the gayetics and vanities
of life; and turns the sweetest things of
earth into the sharpest acids. 1t burdens,
Oh! how many conscience, with loads
of guilt which our poor short life can
not well bear; and so gives them over
chiefly to eternity for retribution. II is n
blood. stain upon Christianity, forcing q
hundred times more hands 10 heaven red
with blood, for the curse of God, than all
other murders in our land put together"
And in reply TO the question, what
have we to do with this crime as a Christ
tian body3 the committee say:
1--WE can speak out with reference TO
IL. We can throw our best and broad-
cast influence against it. We may seek
to stir the Stiffened conscience, and moye u
the corpse-like sensibilities Of the guilty.
We should do what can be done TO ex-
pose and arrest this evil, striking as il
does at the root Of civilization, blasting
the germs of society, and Of the gencrn-
tions, destroying the sense OF moral
right. the sentiments of humanity and
purity, thus paralyzing the heart Of
Christianity. This crime has had the
shield of silence too long. 1t has worn
the robes of responsibility too long 1t
must come to be felt that they who do
such things have no claims TO respccta-
bility,--no right to character or position
in society, or in the church Of God"
The whole report is admirable, and
must do good wherever read. In It's
style, spirit, and character. it presents
quite contrast with report upon vir-
tually The same subject made last year to
the General Association of Connecticut.
The main object of the latter report
seems to be an explanation, defense. and
apology for the present state of society
in respect To change, and increase OF
population. The writer of this report,
even can irea. in triiling manner the
question why the Irish, the Scotch. the
English and the Canadian French, should
have itco or three times rs many children
az the same number of American women !;
and can reply with q SnecTing $pira, ut
is enough TO say OF such question, that
it deserves nothing better than to be left
10 the man who can ask it, to answer
IL" The question was answered rs the
writer well knew. in the pamphlet re-
ferred 10 Uaw of Human Increase upon
great physiological laws-which are
part of the will and government of God
in this world, n much as the ten COM
mandmcnts-one of which reads, Thou
shalt not kill,n or to borrow the language
of distinguished divine, commit fash
ionablc murder"
As this writer has challenged differ
ent answer, what will he the verdict of
history in this matter, two or three cen
turies hence? Why should the Puitans-
the best stock the world ever saw-phys-
ically degenerate, and become in New
England comparatively extinct? Was 1t
not in consequence Of the violation OF the
lars of human iife and health, rs well as
the revealed commandments Of God?
And who had most To do in educating the
conscience, shaping the morals, and di-
recting the religious duties OF this people?
Was it not the clergy? If the right kind
of instruction had always cmanated from
this source, would any such disastrous
result have followed? The crime referred
To by the Committee Of the Maine Con-
ference. and its kindred evils, requires
something more to eradicate it than
smooth, popular, fashionable preaching
that "all is well, and there is a good time
coming" Or is it possible that this
crime does not prevail in the "land OF
steady habits and needs there no ex-
posure, rebuke, or condemnation
But there is an evil in Connecticut, of
no small magnitude, growing in part,
out of this very state Of things, to which
some reference might very properly
have been made. According to statistics
furnished by President Woolsey. there
were I'M 1866, 4SS divorces in Connect
cut, and for series of years, they aver
aged nearly AGA. The ratio of divorces
to the population in this State is more
than double, VIC think, to what is found
in the other New England States, and
with one or two exceptions, the ratio Is
larger than in any other State in the
Union. 1t represents state of things in
Connecticut in this respect, worse than in
infidcl France in her darkest days. Why
should there be so many divorces in this
small State, whose educational advanta-
ges, and religious privileges have been
of so high an order? We will venture to
say that very few cases Of divorce occur
in the foreign population, which has de-