New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-14
The End of Indiana Divorces.


The glory of Indiana divorces is gone.
The law which for 1uany wears was
beacon light of joy for distressed husbands
and wives has been amended that it
offers now only the nCrest Elmuer of hope
10 the wouldbe divorced. Three wears
bona tide residence is required ere a divorce
for any cause can be obtained, and in case
of the application being made gu tle ground
of acts committed III another State, it must
be shown that those acts are legal grounds
for divorce i'll the Stat. where they were
committed These are important moditica-
tons of an obnoxious law, and i'll ease they
are rigidlv enforced they will do away with
the scandal and pest of Indiana divorces.
which have for years been the fruitful
source of unhappiness and crime, not in
'Hoosierdom alone, but in nearly every State
i'll the Union. The three years clause is in
itself sufficient bar to all proceedings on the
part of citizens of another State, for it is not
likely that any one, whatever his or her
grievance, will consent to live in that State
for three years in the hope of release at
the end of that time, unless, indeed, we
except citizens of Chicago. who are not
likely to have any pressing need for divorces
which they can not obtain at home. There
is a hope springing eternal in the human
breast which makes every one, whatever
his distress, believe that something will
turn up ere three years to relieve him.
The traffic in divorces in Indiana under
the previous regulation was a source of
great profit to that enterprising State, and
we can not sufficiently commend her hber-
atty and self-sacritice in amending the law
SO as to put no more money in her purse
1t is estimated that the transient custom
alone was enough to run all her newspapers.
1t is probable, therefore, that there will be
some contention for the succession among
other aspiring States Illinois. which means
Chicago, would carry the field without any
trouble, but that divorces there have be-
come so cheap, owing to competition among
her divorce attorneys, that thew are not
priced very highly or considered very sub
stantial, and the higher priced and more
elaborate article for the extravaganza classes
has not as yet found sufficient demand to
make it paying commodity. Connecticut
mas heretofore had promising record in this
direction, and Rhode Island has quite re-
Gently shown an earnest and determined
spirit that may go far to entitle her to
the succession. Massachusetts has shown
reasonable Willingness in the matter, but
there are so MANY better modes discovered
IN Massachusetts, of serving all ends without
divorce at all, that, except for the benefit
OF strangers and the profit that may attach
thereto, it is not likely that she will present
her claims very forcibly. Some of our en-
terprising States, therefore, have a gold
placer before them which may equal the
California mines or the Newfoundland sea
fisheries in richness. The legislatures or
governors ought at once to hold consulta-
ton with some hero or heroine of divorce
several are at present prominent before the
public-and discover just how the law could
be made most satisfactory and at the same
time how it could be made to work most
proftably.