New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-18
MARRIAGE AND DITORCE.

WHAT FOR BETTER FOR WORSE OUGHT TO
| MEAN.
Apollo Hall was completely filed yesterday
morning with who desired to hear another wo-
mans opinion Of fugitive wives. Many notable people
thronged the platform and mingled with the less
markable in the hail. Mrs Robert Dale owen Mrs.
| Benjamin f. Butler, Mrs. Margaret Winchester, Mrs.
Laura Ballard, and many others equally noted, listened
to the views Of Mrs H. b. Stanton the relations OF the
married and the laws Of divorce Many gentlemen
obtain an entrance-Over Dyer among the
| but refused. Miss Anthony introduced the
speaker, after saying that she felt very much embar
raised in doing she had before faced audi
| ence composed entirely Of her own sex
Mrs Stanton begun her address by saying that she had
been accused Of entertaining FreeLove doctrines, but
having lived for many years with man. and expecting
to do until the end OF e she would let her conduct
prove her position that question. She had never
either Mr. Mcfarland Mrs. Richardson therefore had
personal interest in their affairs, but the principle
which their relations to each other involved Of the
greatest importance to woman, and TO the world. She
had read the touching story Mrs. Richardson. and he
heved il Ia he true IL carried conviction with it, AS
sat alone ONE . t ana read H. tSd 70 %ea .s
agony through the ordeal OF public trial In our courts,
the garbed testimony and the unjust verdict which vet
mailman free to keep her in fear for the rest OF her life
As thought of these things, and the insults heaed on
the wOmanhOOd OF the nation in her person, resolved
that as had heretofore devoted my life TO the enfan-
csement of woman, future days should he spent
in teaching her duties to herself In the future"
She did not desire the hanging Of Mr.. Mcfarland but
Mrs. Richardson testimony in court would certanly
have changed the verdict but neither women nor slaves
allowed to testify against their supposed masters she
claimed that no woman had moral right to live with
drunken husband diseased bertine. and asked why
an insane man who had committed murder should be
turned loose upon community TO commit the same
crime again. She believed that il it were not for
the apathy OF women, a law would he enacted which
would prevent murderer from walking at large.
innacy or better yet the case should be tried by law
yers judges, aud jury, composed of intelligent honest
persons Of their wives belonged to the dark ages and
should have revision In our laws which should give an
equal partnership in the marriage relation. She knew OF
women i'll this city supporting ia asylums husbands who
had become lnnatcs through dissipation, aud yet the
law compelled these wives to maintain the relation and
moreover that however happy some women might be in
thelr domestic hyes an OF Ihen were wsdng III deep
told her that there was one application for
She also stated that there we've 1868 divorces
granted in Massachusetts, last year. She believed that
Marriage should he the outgrowth OF intellectual SYM
pathy and any other union was one OF degraditOn She
quoted Humboldt John Milton Jeremy Bentham, Rit-
ter Charlotte Bronte John Stuart MIL Charles Dickens
and Others in brief passages to support her views and
they very ngenously selected She declared that
when Mrs. Richardson left Mr. Mcfarland she took the
first step toward virtue and selfrespcc though her
approval Mrs. Richardson should have been patient,
and should have asked for divorce in Newiork where
time. Right always prevailed, though i was
there was %os nsry in evsea iea married 1i
life from the present code OF laws than from any other
daily against it, and Gndeayor to have those who con-
temnafed such 2 relation make a tIuer, noblcr and
happier marriage than those which we have all seen.
All the laws Of marriage were one-sdcd, and wholly Ia
favor Of man. and Heg must be changed No par could
live together happily unless their relationship was
equal in power and influence Personal excellence on
happiness Of any married woman and not the pro-
lection OF the laws " he we not unequaily yoGed 10,
condition of subordnation 10 Mrs Stanton here
gave sketch Of the law which she thought should be
passed, naming the following as additional causes for
divorce Wilful descron and neglect for three years.
a ID "S S of s 70? Stanton would
limit these to actual residents Of the State for five
preceding the application, and would otherwise simplify
and enlarge the present restriction Mrs stanton Thought
that the Legislature should make an entire revision OF
women equal to men in all respects, and legally
annulng the marriage contract whenever 1t
or wife practically become dead letter Marriage and
maternity the most serious topics that could pos
how 10 marry. Sic believed that the saline
laws which improved the condition OF the lower animals
Muscle should he cultivated in women and the moral
So long women marry for position and men
satisfy their lower natures 80 long Will marriage he UNI
nppn men SO long will Women re dc graded and miserable
and live in horror Of their daily existence The personal
eanctity OF the female respected among civil
lied men than among brutes, and until there is change
in the condition OF this relation, long will feeble chill
eyed With Frances Power Cobbe that If dogs and horses
Mare primarily created for their own happiness ana after
ward for their masters service, certainly women
hshould have much liberty and consideration
She introduced the Lothario Characteristics OF Ben
iamin Franklin in a startling perOration which was al
together dscedabe to the remains of the poor old fell
inns OF Poor Richard while he had gay time with other
ladies in Europe Henry Clay did not ind praise at her
tongue for staying in Washington and being Gallant TO
pretty women, while his wife was making butter at Ash
land for the Lexington market Size said that he could
not be q wise statesman nor the father OF noble
sons while he so degraded the marriage relation His
who died but Yesterday after 30 years IN an asylum
suffered as a wife. she saw better days
before us. There would be better wives and
the equals of men. Physical unions would Cease
when women became independent in thought ana purse
and there would be less hearthstones where the res 0
Ala for the shadows in our home lives to-day! Al
idiocy mbecility deprayty or lunacy we depore our
social Generalization We pass laws to restrain crime
facure misery, disease and death. With womans edu,
cation and enranehiseInen new idea enters our social
gavanze the world with new thoughts and ideas. In
nsherng in TINS higher a, thg bran T np pay
prnging from the brain Of Jupiter fully armed has
When in the new development Of the race we
shall have true marriage-a union oil souls then
THy % make arSs earthly Pnre and
men and women 80 long wanderers IN the great Wilder
dence eternal law. When marriage is true union OF
| intellect and spirit between healthy, happy men and
Women when mothers and fathers give to these holy
Offices the preparations OF body and soul that the
viii marriage acquire new sacredness and dignity and
nobier type OF manhood and womanhood Will glorlty
the earth" Applause with hands, umbrellas and little
1 hnn
Mrs Mrs Bureigh read resolutions in regard to the
| Mcfarland which adopted by SOrosis yes
| terday and, they were not quite unanimously
adopted they read separately and but few Noes
| responded To the many and enthusiastic Ayes. The
resolution in regard to the purlOning Of the Letters OF
Mrs. Richardson received only alternatives. Two other
unimportant resolutions were struggling amid Ayes
and Kisses for adoption but they were lost IN general
desire on the part various ladies xprcss their views
| This question proposed: why did Mrs. Richard.
son pen loving letters TO man whom she dsnaed and
One stout lady, who was rather handsomer than she