The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-15

Sunday lawsy"
DiVOrce.o
Editor Rutand GIobe Under the
above heading, TnR GLOBE, in a recent Is
sue, defines its position on avery important
alSstion in social economy. While not
l-hg with it in every point, | can most
cordially assent to the intimation that the
way to free love lies through easy divorce
Were it generally recognized that large
share of divorces result from essentially
the same motives that actuate free lovers,
a great point would he gained for the sta
bility of the marriage relation. Most di-
yorces are the offspring of supreme selfish
ness One of the parties, or both, are
tired of the restraints which the marriage
contract rightfully imposes and seek relief
therefrom in divorce. Instead of endeay-
oring to ascertain the cause of this tiresOme-
ness, which doubtless at times affiicts all
but the most favored of married couples,
and removing it If possible, they seek entire
release from the marriage bond, in the
vague hope that new partnership will
prove more fclictous. What is this but
the action of the free lover similarly situ-
acd. He or she tires of the present rela-
ton and proposes a dissolution of it, for
the sake Of forming new one. This is
seltishness. unmitigated sclfishncss, unless
1t be lust, in which case it is nothing bet
ter than the pairing of beasts.
The true idea of marriage is that it is in
dissolublc save for the gravest offences,
and even where the grave offence of adul-
terry has been committed it is better then
for the injured to seek the reformation of
the guilty party, if there be reasonable
prospect of success, than to punish by di-
v0rce. So at least taught the late Mr..
Greeley, from whom on the whole subject
OF marriage and divorce, moralists gener-
allydo not dissent The marriage institu-
tionEor sacrament, as the Roman Catholics
consider it, is of all the institutions of civil
llledSsociety,, the greatest conseryator of
PUBLIC morality. 1t goes farther in this di-
rectioi than the church, by reason Of the
greatf numbers that come directly under
its influence. Anything. therefore, that
tendsgo weaken the bonds of matrimony
tends to weaken society itself That our
k.Srrasy divorce laws do this is painfully
evident to every thoughtful person. Hap
PLY, however, the very looseness of the
laws and the still lOoser practice of the
I courts in many cases, have caused reac-
/ ton, and legislatures are beginning to mod
ify and amend their divorce systems. The
state of Indiana for instance, to which you
alluded, has started off in the right direc-
ton, so that from having had the worst
system OF divorce of any state in the I'm
ion, ii now has probably the very best
While affording due relief to all parties
really aggIievcd, Indiana has made it next
to impossible for discontented husbands
and wives to obtain from her those scanda-
lousy fraudulent divorces, for which she
has of late been so notorious. The inquiry
naturally arises, whether Vermont could
not proftably follow so good an example.
But it is not enough that we have good
laws public sentiment should he right
in creating and maintaining healthy tone
, in the public mind, in this all important
5 question. That the pen does this may bt
$ very generally conceded, shallow and flip
pant treatment bring the exception, not the
r rule No single influence in society is 81
c marked as the conduct of those in high po
9 sti0n, when in their own personal eXpe
I rience they come face to face with TIN
= yexcd problem. 1t is safe to say that tn
Il late collusion practced by Mr.. and Mrs
II Charles Sumner in eyading the spirit of tn
n laws of Massachusetts, while conforming
= to their letter, does more to lower tn
y moral tone of society in its treatment o
u the marriage relation than much sermon
/ iling and newspaper writing can do to re
u store it, A most excellent opportunit
! was offered these so prominent persons, I
" do society great service, which Opportr
HllN, uhlHtulldtcll lOI sOSlttg anu th'h
' selves, they have neglected. To this en-
Il they lhould have harmonized their diffel
J. cncgjif that were possible; if not, the
e should have refrained from seeking relic
J. through the virtual breaking of the law.
It was not an encouraging sight to begi
70 with, to see want of harmony in the
= domestic relations; to see them resort
II the law for release from solemn obligation
70 was worse but worse still was it to wi
II ness cOllusive arrangement which, II
l. had been brought officially to the notice
s. the court which separated them, wou
+ have defeated its own ends. The court,
y must he assumed, in case so notoriou
D. was aware of the collusion, and so we ha'
" the demoralizing spectacles of court, cou
;" sci and clients, all, joining in proceedir
" the tendency of which is to undermine Il
u foundations on which society rests. TT
II effect of all this in giving a stimulus to q
70 Woodruff & Clafn doctrine, can hard
u. be over estimated. NDEX
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ne "FoR TRICKS THAT ARE VAIN.