The Portland daily press., 1881-02-10
Divorce Laws Again.

There is more variety and entertainment.
if not more edification, in the Boston Mon
day Lecture Course since the Reverend Jo
seph Cook went over seas. We must be
deeply in love with a voice to be willing to
hear it continually; and however much peo-
pie admired Mr.. Cook, not many, outside of
Boston-which always has its little passions.
sometimes for ministers, sometimes for
blasphemers, sometimes for Poncas-were
mashed on him." Since he has been gone
the lecture course has attracted more gener-
al interest. Two of the lectures are proyoc-
ative of much discussion: the one by Chan
cellor Crosby on the temperance question,
and the other by the Rev. Samuel Dyke on
divorce laws Both these topics are of es-
pecial interest just now to the people of
Maine Both are before our Legislature for
its consideration.
DR.. Crosby's views have been presented,
here but Mr.. Dykes views have not. In his
Monday lecture he treats of divorce laws in
relation to chastity. He had addressed let
ters OF inquiry to people in every section of
New England, and of the replies he says:
form, so far as these letters 90, the opinion
that there is probably less of open and coarse
vice OF certain kinds in many respectable coun.
try towns than there was 20 or so years ago
very likely less than so years ago. But, with
this exception, which covers but part of onr
country towns, and occasionally city, as cor
rect a summary of opinion as 1 could give
would be like this: In three-fourths of the To-
caities reporting on this point licentlousness is
said to be increasing. In nearly as many the
dncfr frny, of e.
faster, than ever. Physicians are very emphat-
is on this point, and many speak with great in
dlgnation of the wicked practices of some
church-members. In one-half the places licen-
tiousness and drinking are found together,
while one-quarter report more licentious than
incorporate persons in their communities,
Nearly all find the increase among the native
population, while several call attention to the
recent increase among people of foreign birth,
and especially their descendants in the second
generation. Some alarming things are said of
the mischiefs wrought in shops, and especially
6y commercial travellers. Very few report an
improved public conscience, or stricter punish
ment OF vice and its crimes, while on no point
40 hnd SO near an approach to unanimity as
in the opinion that the public conscience is
dormant, and that these offenses are punished
less frequently than formerly
The alarming increase of this special evil
is not attributed by Mr.. Dyke to the laxity
OF divorce laws. Indeed, he finds that in
New Hampshire, where the strictness of
divorce laws has not been relaxed for CEN
tury, the increase of divorces is as noticea.
BILE as in Maine or Massachusetts. He does
not make the mistake made by some agita
tors for more stringent legislation in this
State. He does not confound cause and
consequence. Our Legislature will do well
to sit at his feet, and to inquire whether the
frequency of divorce is brought about by the
iberality of our laws or by the multiplica-
tion OF offences which lead to estrangement
between man and wife. 1t may be urged
that the lessening of the pretexts for which
divorces are granted would decrease the
number. But would it promote marital f.
deity? That is what we seek. Is the evil
an evil that can be reached by leglslatione
We want better men and women. No one
denies that. But the question is: Can we
make them better by act of the Legislature?
Would it not be well t. fall back on the good
old Christian plan of conversion?