The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-09-08
from the Christian Union
The New Theory Of Marriage.

Inc new IneOry OF marriage.
In our time n theory of marriage has /
found favor with some, which to old /
fashioned people seems to mean simply /
repeal of the seventeenth command |
ment. To few honest men and women /
! il seems a great step toward the millen- /
/ ium. In Justice to these last we give |
the theory as we suppose they would |
choose TO state it. IL is this: that the /
external relation of marriage is justified |
only by the highest form of affection, |
and by that is justified always. In the |
absence of such affection the legal form |
of wedlock has no moral authority to |
bind man and woman together. And !
a man and woman between whom such |
an affection arises are morally justified
/ i'm uniting themselves TO each other,
whatever may have been their previous
external relations to each other.
1t is not easy to trust such a doctrine
with sufficient respect to cOOlly contrO-
vert it. Yet this must sometimes be
done. For such ideas are held by few
persons who are honestly and earnestly
I irving TO reform society by them. Yet
the best refutation of them is n plain
statement of what their practical adop
ton by society would mean.
The institutions of society can deal
only with external acts. What is per-
mitted or forbidden, by the law of the
statute-book and public sentiment, is
pre-eminently matter of outward con-
duct. Indeed, the laws of the State
touch nothing else. Decision upon mo-
tives, apart from actions, is too fine and
delicate a thing to be attempted in the
broad regulations adopted by societies of
men for their government. Public Opin-
ion, it is true, to some extent awards
praise or blame by its sense of the secret
springs of action in men. But the great
Must and Must Not of society are uttered
. only upon actions, not upon motives.
You cannot by Institution or ordinance
secure that men shall be patriotic, YOU
can only oblige them TO pay certain eX-
ternal service to the State. You cannot
forbid covetousneSs, but only actual ag-
gression. You cannot by social arrange
ment punish impurity of heart, though
, you can punish adultery. And so in all
things.
Suppose society undertakes to reform
the marriage relation in the way pro-
posed. 1t is utterly pOwerless to regu-
late the inward feelings upon which
these unions shall be contracted. 1t can
, only deal with their outward form. Its
action must be simply to abrogate en-
tirely every element of obligation in
2 marriage. The law must permit any
man and woman TO come together for
as long or short time rs they please.
Public sentiment must regard such tenn
: porary unions precisely as il now re-
CARDS marriage. 1t can visit the worst
of them with no harsher judgment than
il now bestOws on marriage where the
highest affection is wanting. Inclina-
{ tiOn alone is to regulate the most inti-
,Iaf Of nd l.. lax - IN
prevail from top to bottom of society.
Such freedom is to be offered, not to a
= strong and disciplined few, who might
5 be incapable of misusing it, but to the
whole race, i'm all its gradations of weak
ness and animalism and selfishness. FoI
. all alike there is to be no bond in mar
4 riage except inclination.
n This would be the practical realization
of the theories we have indicated. What
would be the right name for such a state
S of things? What is the responsibility o
i those whose course tends directly to bring
il about?
The theorizing on this snbject is ut
terly wanting in comprehension of the
=, actual facts and necessities of life. II
frames ideals and urges men toward:
e them, obliviOus of the pestilent swamp;
: that lie in the way. Because love need,
no law, all law is to be abolished upoI
< earth!
re The truth is, the whole institution o
/ marriage is based on the fact that MAJ
E is not perfect or angelic. All contract
le all law, all forms of obligation exist be
cause men will not spontaneously ant
er without restraint do just what thel
l. ought. If all men and women were per
l. feet there would be no need of forma
I'd marriage VOWS, no need of law or q
Is public sentiment. To such beings tn
W only possible unions would be those in
IN spired by love, and love alone wOulI
Of amply guard their purity and fidelity
ne But, in truth, the race is 50 far from per
Je feet that its members need laws an
e barriers and external helps, and withou
e. these would plunge into utter ruin
er There must be governments, institu
ld tiOns, public sentiments, which shal
20 hold men to right ways. And far be
es yond most such forces in the width of il
as prevalence, the depth of conviction SUI
a porting it, and the vastness of its inflU
IL ence, is the institution of marriage.
TIA is like temple built to guard the hol
E. est treasure of mankind. The treasuI
of itself, the pure love of husband and wifi
ty no social construction can ensure. BJ
society can so guard and fortify the eN
ternal relation, can so protect it again
foreign intruders, 80 maintain il in pc
ry manence and honor it with an invest
Dy ture of sacredness, as TO give ii the be
Ell possible security and fostering to the 5;
TO cred sentiment. All this is done by ii
ne institution of marriage. Through it hi
eri come the best happiness of mankinC
eu under its shelter have thriven all Il
no sweet household relations; by its purit
'le have been measured the strength of q
- State and the greatness of the peopl
u Under its laws there has been occasion
~ suffering, as there must be under all I'M
~ versal laws. But so transcendently ha'
-ie It's blessings exceeded its evils, that
~. thoughtful minds this Of all social a
VI rangements bears the conspicuous stan
~ ~ of Divine authorship.
-, IL Is the foundations of this tenn
~ that some men and women Of good /
ibo tent are tampering with They can !
~ more overthrow it than they can chan
aid the course of the planets. But VIII
81 they can do, what they are doing. is
~ temporarily weaken, in the minds
a. not a few followers, the conyiction
"a the saeredness of marriage. In dol,
"a that they are sowing the seeds of n da
aS harvest of suffering and sin. let tbe
49, look well TO the wisdom and risht
asl their course.
The newest wonder at the West !.
di soda lake near RAWLINGS ~, a., r. :