Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-02-22
As To The Divorce Laws.

From the indianapolis Herald)
The Evansville Courier has some
sensible views in regard to divorce
1--WE believe that people who can
not live psaceable and contentedly to-
gather, whether they be man and wife.
or brothers. or friends, ought to separ-
ate. There can be no sanctity in the
marriage relation where pot hooks, po-
kers or broom sticks are resortsd TO,
by either party, as arguments. Mar
riage is sacred only when mutual rev.
erencs and respect temper the passion,
andiwhen love is the household god,
to be adored as creator, and not used
as a servant. The marriage vow ought
to be binding, without relief from val
uation or appraisment laws, fit does
not really join together those who take
1t, because sooner or later the world
that merciless and omniscient Judge
must find out that the nuptial cham
Der is but skeleton closet, and there
can never again be any privacy in the
home circle. The gossips and the
busybodies make that home their
roost, and swoop down like flock
ofcarrion crows. to revel in its dead
hopes and stricken happiness All that
Is vile and malicious In humanity Is
thus exposed to the public eye, and
even sympathy OF the plying soul who
has compassion for the miserable
pair but makes malignity OF the town
takers, by contrast the more devlish.
We believe the laws OF this state ought
TO compel married people to live long
enough together to become thorough
ly acquainted with each other A year
ought to be sufficient. II, at the end
OF that time, from incompatibility OF
temper or other sufficient causes, both
parties become convinced that they
have already caught "a glimpse OF a flu
ture hell without glasses as our elo-
quent friend, Rev. j. w. Webb, put il,
let them separate decertly and in or
der, and then let the children. il the ba-
by be twins, be given in 10 the custody
OF the one best fitted for their
training. Better have the children
know that their parents separated be-
cause they could not live happily to-
gather, than let them grow to man.
hood and womanhood in an atmos-
phsre or domestic hate and strife"
So far as The Herald is concerned,
it is for easy divorce. 1t has little re-
gardfor this hypocritical cant about
the "sanctity Of the marriage relation"
Marriage is a civil contract, and the
contracting parties are just as liable
to be mistaken as in making any
other contract. The law, or religious
sentiments. which holds a man and
woman to marriage bed unsanctified
by love is responsible for tho worst
sort of prostitution. The religious
sentiment favors divorce law which
makes adultery the only ground for
divorce; but that sin is the very least
which some married women have to
complain. Habitual drunkenness is
worse. Failure to provide is worse.
Incompatibility of temper-notsim simply
an occasional quarrel or fight, but
that constant clashing Of opinions,
desires and taste, which makes the
lives ofthe married couple like the en-
ioyments OF two cats tied together by
tails-is worse. And there are men
who observe all the commandments,
and present fair face to the world,
but nevertheless slowly break the
heart and spirit ofthe women to whom
they are married, by a series OF petty
cruelties and tyrannics that become
insupportable. A strong man or woman
may be killed by'pin pricks. Between
the rigidity OF biblical law and the
laxity OF free love there must be a
happy medium. 1t is hard to find, we
admit; butt is better tc err on the side
oflaxity than to attempt to hold two
people in a loathsome union.