Morning journal and courier., 1882-06-19
CONSECUTIVE POLYGAMY,


 Dr. Leonard W. Bacon's powerful article | in the current number of the Princeton Re- Ciea0, entitled 'Polygamy in New England" | is rich reading and is calculated to stir up | much thought and discussion. Of course, Dr. Bacon does not assert that polygamy in | the common acceptation of the term is openly or habtually practiced in New England. His position is that, while simultaneous poIyg- amy " is under the ban of the law, "consec- utive polygamy" is largely and effectively encouraged by the operation of statutes which make it very easy and simple matter for any wife or husband who has been disap- pointed with the marital relation, and who desires to escape from it's obligations and marry again, to gain the release which is af- l forded by a decree for divorce from the bonds of matrimony. A consideration of the results which have been produced by the fa- 1 ciIity with which divorce is obtainable in Massachusetts, Connecticut and other States, leads Dr. Bacon to suggest that perhaps it | does not become us to denounce the Mor- mons with such show of righteous indigna- tion as it is usually thought proper to exhibit when the polygamous practice of Salt Lake l City is the subject of discussion. He compares the polygamy of Utah and l that of New England as follows
 ''In the first place, polygamy in Utah is un- lawful. It is scarcely just to speak of it as institution of that Territory, when it is only a prevailing social usage, sustained by some religious sanctions. In the New England States, on the contrary, polygamy is distinct 1 ly instituted by act of legislature and the polygamous marriages, instead of being sealed in some private sacristy of a religious sect, are authorized by the highest judicial officers of the State under the seal of its Su- perior court, aIdignity which is not bestowed by these commonwealths on ordinary Chris tian wedlock. The concubinage thus author 1 ized is usually blessed in the name l of the Lord Jesus Christ, and declared | to be 8 Christian marriage by minister of l the Christian religion, which Gas it can hard ly be necessary to inform the reader) is the prevailing religion of the New England States. This singular rite is frequently made the occasion oe a good deal of social festivity | and merry making. The perfect solemnity ! of visage with which the ecclesiastic goes ! through his part of declaring that, in the | name of the Lord, to be Christian marriage ! which the Lord himself declares to be adul- l tery, tends to impart to the affair a 6a.10 as- | spect that may naturally minister to the ! hilaritv of the guests and spectators"
 To the question what part of the people of New England are polygamists as compared l with the population of other polygamous 1 countries Dr. Bacon gives the "of hand an- | swsr' that actual polygamy prevails among l the New Englanders to greater extent than among the Mahometans, but to 6 less ext ent than among the Mormons. There is lack of full and reliable statistics, but after weighing the attainable evidence Dr. Bacon concludes Altogether, the nearest we can safely come to statement of the ratio of polyganies to the total number of marriages among the New England population of native stock in the State named (Connecticut) is that it is somewhere between one to eight and one to | four. This estimate includes only the legal polygamies The unlicensed or criminal polygamies class by themselves and are | generally regarded in good society as not only unlawful but immoral. Rarely, if ever, can an acknowledged bigamist maintain his position in society and his good standing in the church, unless he can show his authori-
 zation from the Superior Court. In view of the facility with which such authorization is granted, it is felt, not unreasonably, that person desiring to indulge in bigamy is with out excuse for not complying with the pre- scribed formalities."
 Dr. Bacon points out that the friends of progress, in the direction in which progress is now tending in New England may count with confidence on the future. ''The time is not far distant when the ratio will be not as now in some parts of New England, two bigamy permits to every eight marriages, but a much higher ratio. Progress in this direc- tion is so rapid as naturally to alarm timid 1 minds. But calm faith in evolution, a we'll grounded confidence in the perfectbility of 1 human nature, a serene and abiding trust in Stuart Mill, can witness unappalled the change that shall make po- 1 lygamy the rule in New Eng land and Christian wedlock the excep- tion. Even mind sunfriendly to the change may comfort themselves in view of the incl dental resulting benefits. Whether it result happily or disastrously to New England, the experiment will be one of great value to so- cial science, and the conservative and theo- logical folk who are shocked at it as both sinful and ruinous ought to be able to find comfort for themselves in the favorite New
 England dogma concerning willingness to
 be damned for the glory of God ," We may also hope, Dr. Bacon suggests, that in the good time coming there will be more har- mony between the Puritan and the Mormon and that when that happy day shall arrive
 Judah and Ephrsim shall cease their mutual
 vexations; apostolic delegates from the Church of the Latter, Day Saints shall be wei comed with fraternal greetings in the Nation al Council of Congregationalists and Meth
 odist bishops from New England shall con- nicate in the peculiar Eucharist of the Deseret
 Temple"
 This is pretty severe on New England, but
 it is fair hit. The way in which our di- vorce laws are used is shocking. It is well
 to be reminded that ''consecutive polygamy'' may be quite as bad as simultaneous polyg-