The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-27
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.

IT is gratifying to find that the attention of
thoughtful men is being seriously directed
to the great necessity for thorough and
radical reform in our marriage and divorce
system. The word ''system, however, is
nisnomer in this connection, for the evils
which exist result from a total want of
system, and of such uniform national laws as
will alone prevent the scandals which are
constantly occurring under the loose and
irregular enactments of the several States
Civilized society depends upon a mainte-
nance of the sanctity of the marriage relation,
and there is ample evidence to prove that
nothing eonduces more to social demoraliza-
tion than laws which permit these relations
to be dissolved at pleasure. In Indiana the
scandal created by the divorce laws has be-
come so great that it has been found neces-
sary to inaugurate reform, and under exist
ing regulations residence of three years is
required before a divorce can be granted.
This is move in the right direction, but it
does not go far enough, and even if Indiana
were to institute a radical reform the root of
the evil would not be reached as there are
other States equally as bad. Governor Jewell,
of Connecticut, in his inaugural address, q
few days ago, called attention to the mis-
chievous manner in which the divorce laws
of that State work, and he presented some
facts and figures that are we'll worthy of can
did consideration. He said:-
"0ur divorce laws, unless changed, bid fair to bring
us into disrepute. They are netoriously oose-more
30 than In any other State except Indiana and Iii.
divorces and 4s71 marrages-arati OF ABOUT one TO
twelve, which has been about the proportion for
rafi
twenty-one, in Ohio one TO twenty seven In Massa-
chusetts one to fortyfour. Divorces be granted
IN this State for too many causes; in fact for al
most cause at all. Discontinued and vicious peo
pie come here from other States to get divorces
which the more strict legislation OF their own States
deny thus creating much scandal and furnishing
the fair fame of our State Some marked cases o., Of
this kind have occurred the past year, which loudly
call for reform In our laws"
1t is well for the men and women of Con-
necticut and other States where free and easy
divorces are permitted, who are capable of
appreciating the great danger to the nation
that will result if the doctrines of the free
love branch of the Woman's Rights party are
generally accepted, to agitate for an immediate
reform in their State laws; but they should do
more than this, for the existing evils cannot
be properly cured until the regulation of
marriages and divorces is taken away from
the States and placed in the hands of the
General Government In this matter a sys-
tenn of uniform laws for the whole nation is
imperatively needed, and it should not be
possible for the citizens of one State to go to
another and obtain severance of the mar
riage ties which they could not obtain
at home. The power of granting d-
vorees should be taken away from the
State Legislatures, who continually use it
most corruptly and unjustly, and it should
only be entrusted to the United States courts,
which, in all human probability will WELD it
Justly and impartially. To accomplish this
important reform a constitutional amend
ment will be necessary, and we
do not believe that there will be
any difficulty whatever in obtaining
such an amendment if the matter is properly
agitated. The power of regulating marriages
and divorces is Of no earthly advantage to
the several States, and the most enthusiastic
stickler for State rights can offer no valid
reasons why it should not be transferred to
the General Government. We believe that
the vast majority of the people of the coun-
try would cordially endorse such change as
this, if the matter were once properly
urged upon their attention; and the
only difficulty about effecting the much
needed reform is in getting proposition fol
the necessary constitutional amendment fairly
before the public. This can be done, how.
ever, with comparative ease, if those who ap
preciate the Importance of uniform marriage
and divorce laws, and who look with abhor
renee upon the licentious doctrines that are
openly advocated in certain quarters, will
bring their influence to bear upon our law
makers to urge them to take the proper mi
tiatory steps.