Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-02-16
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.

OF hpdce, 10 Wfltc thehlh on the SUB
jocts indicated in our caption, w,
merely intend, in view of the vas
importance Of these topics, and tn,
growing agitation concerning them
10 remind the passing reader Of few
substantial facts which many may
have forgotten inthe whirl and bustl,
of ordinary life.
The "atiinities" OF the present day
are growing so tremendously strong
between the wives Of other people and
the gallant, high-toned gentlemen
who are too delicate and precious an
organization TO incnr the plebean sup
port of wives of their own; and sud
Iien shooting. clubbing. throatcu
and poisoning are consequently becom-
ing 80 rife, that it is worth while for
us TO refresh our recollections of Di
vine laws little, on these points.
As population increases over the
Earth, and men are daily striving,
more, and more, TO shake off oppres-
siye system and establish free govern.
ments, the need of sound, stable, and
wholesome regulations adapted to the
physical and mental constitution OF
the human being, is he moro press
ingly felt. Genuine democracy, in or
der 10 subsist, must necessarily be the
most orderly of all plans of associa-
tion, since every individual is directly
interested in the public tranquility =
The State is what the voter makes it,
and, therefore, the voter is the State
If the principle to sheer force and the
violation Of all right predominate in
common life and ut the ballot-box, il
will predominate ia the government
springing thence. In 6ne, mob,law
crystalizes utmost instantly into des-
potism, and social disorder is the hot
bed of mob-law.
Now, among the most essential
pledges and safeguards Of the public
peace is happy home, and for that
there is no such guarantee as honora-
bic wedlock. Cut away home from a
man, and you, at once, make him reck-
less, while exposing him, at the same
time, TO temptations Of all kinds. The
races who are nomadic and without
permanent abiding places are chiefly
the children of fraud, rapine, and yio-
lence. 1t is precisely among them,
too, that the irregular intercourse Of
the sexes obtains, as recognized, or, at
least, venia affair. In the earliest
ages as tribes began TO settle down in.
10 one place of residence, so did they
begin TO organize matrimony-the
wedding Of one man to one woman
In this, too, they began to obey the
distinct law of God, as illustrated by
the example he made conspicuous to
all mankind, and, afterward, when
men were counted in millions, by ex.
press and solemn command.
For Adam, the Creator provided
)ne ioomdn, who was bone of his bone
md flesh Of his flesh, and the bliss of
Eden, until disobedience came, is still
the yearning and the dreaming of our
fallen race. After that disobedienoo
and that fall from Eden came, with
other mistakes and iniquities, the fol-
y OF polygamy.
The laws OF none of the most an
'ient nations sanction Il, even at time
when the rapid replenishment of the
Earth with inhabitants would have af.
orded the most spacious plea. Far
lway back ia the Hindoo records,
which, like the Chinese, boast the re-
hottest antiquity, we find no approval
'fpolygamy. Menu, the great Indian
awgiver, writes that "a man and his
wife consist of but one person per
cct man consists OF his wife, himself,
md bis son." The same great old
ime authority declared the first duty
if the married to be the oath and ob.
ervance OF mutual idelily-and CIV.
'ry Hindoo god, hero and poet had
lis own proper wife.
Among the Arabs, who were a noma-
lie people, but had much of the Hin.
loo mythology, polygamy was not
'ountenanced in the days Of Job. Is
ael, it is true, departed in this, as in |
many other things, from the prccepts
# their great Friend and Heavenly |
father, but they rued il in bitterness
Iown to the moment when their follies |
irought about the fnal overthrow of
erusalem and the destruction of the
'emPle The jeaiousies, discords asd
liseries which the Scriptures them.
elves reveal, as having prevailed in
be household Of Abraham and Others
{ the most venerated patriarchs, are
roof enough OF the evils of the unau.
horized system.
Ii has been we'll said that che who
herishes lore for moro than one wo.
han, cannot possibly know tho pure,
intense aud transporting pleasure
'hich love, centering on one female,
10 him the enchantments
{ domestic life, and the absorbing at.
lohment to the innocent offspring of
ne pure, impassioned love, are utter.
unknown, and hepassesto the grave
! the yearning, unsatisicd condition
one who has fitted vainly from
oint TO point in pursuit Of that hap.
mess which he had himself dissipated
'rever by subdividing it,
SO beautiful is this image OF matri.
ionial love for one woman in one
ome, that il is used in Holy Writ as
ne peculiar emblem of the nnion and
&c love Of Christ and His Church =
hrsiians arc said to be betrothod in
hrist, and the pleased period when
icy shall possess the Earth, is termed
ne marriage Of the Lamb
In the Old Testament. the Cove.
ant with Moses on Mount Sinai. by
hich the reconciliation between God
nd Israel was scaled, was often styled
4 marriage" Tho Lord became the
husband Of His chosen people. and
ley became His Wife. lie found her
Lterly detected and wretched, be.
owed on her the richest dover, and
ng, long endured her infdeitics be
re he cast her of.
Thus sanctioned by the direct teach
z Of God, by the constitution Of
salthy human nature, and the better
dgment of mankind, marriage once