The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-13
Womcn's Rights-An Interesting Coutro.
versy.

versy.
Some Of the religious journals are indulging
in a curious controversy about the women's
rights movement and the marriage question.
The Observer, commenting upon recent
speech by Mrs. Walker, says that the women's
rights movement has degenerated into cru
sade against marriage. The independent
criticises the remarks of the O5seroer, and
says 1t would be difficult to crowd into brief
sentence more atrociously false statement
than that. 1t asks why the opponents of
women's rights do not refer to the utterances
of Bishop Simpson, Henry Ward Beecher,
George W. Curtis, Harriet Beecher Stowe,
Iucretia Mott, Julia Ward Howe and scores
of others, rather than t'like scavengers rake
IN the mud" from the speeches of persons
who, like Mrs. Walker, are not authorized
ITO represent the movement. The Oh
sercer retorts, reiterates its statements, and
IN support Of its position refers to the fact
that the editor Of the Independent was chosen
president of the consolidated women's rights
organization, and then quotes from his paper,
which is said to be an exponent OF the princi-
piles OF the women's rights movement, to show
the opinions on marriage and divorce enter
tanned by the editor and the women who called
him to be their representative man. Accord
ing to the Independent these women's rights
people hold that no authority has the right to
say, either on the basis of any statute law or
popular sentiment or supposed religious tenet
'''that any two individuals man and woman,
shall live together as husband and wife
against the inward protest of their own indi-
vidual souls" The Observer contends that
such sentiments are infamous, making the du-
ration of marriage q matter of convenience
and snbverting society by system of free
love.
Sentiments upon marriage and divorce such
as those entertained by the editor of the Ir,de-
pendent and so many of the long haired male
philosophers and female agitators who make
up this womens rights element are certainly
calculated to sap the foundations Of society
and reduce morality in this country to the low
level it has found in France Free love,
affinity, union during the pleasure of the par
ties, poygamy and promiscuous intercourse,
such as is practised by the members of the
Oneida community, are all dangerous doctrines
md should be condemned by all respectable
members Of society. Spiritualists, women's
rights advocates and others who advance fan
tastic ideas on social subjects are all drifting
in the same direction, aud the tendency of
their teachings is to disturb the social harmony
and corrupt the moral sentiment of the coun-
Try. Marriage is a solemn obligation which
should not be lightly entered into or departed
from, and the interests of the family and the
State require that it should not be cancelled
except in case Of crime. Facility for divorce
bends to axity of morals, social intrigues and
the breaking up Of family relations, which
might otherwise be lasting and harmonious.
we cannot countenauce the efforts of any per-
sons who would make marriage matter of
convenience for the time but, rather, would
advocate the establishment of such safeguards
as would protect an Institution whose origi is
divine.