The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-07-27
Kin Marriages..

The italians, says Lord Bacon in one
of his essays, regard first cousins almost
in the light Of brothers and sisters,
especially if they are brought up togeth-
er. This sentiment they probably derive
in large measure from their Roman
ancestors. The ties of blood and of affin-
ity were held very sacred among them.
The right of adoption also, which was
quite frequent and very solemn. among
them, conferred rights and duties which
it was held impious to disregard. In
deed the word impiety among the Ro-
mans meant not only irreverence towards
the gods, but any gross wrongs to those
whose relation should have kept them
sacredly secure from injury. The Greeks
also had vivid sense of the claims of
kinship, but their manner of displaying
it was in some respects strikingly differ
ent. The Romans had great aversion
to marriages between those closely re-
lated by blood, and when the Emperor
Claudius married his niece, Agrippina
the younger, his example was followed
by but one Roman at the time, and by
none subsequently. The Greeks, on the
other hand, in some circumstances en-
courage such marriages. One finds in
the Phormio of Terence. which is pict-
ure of Greek and not Roman manners,
that, when an ingenua Attica civis was
left destitute orphan it was the duty Of
the nearest male relative to provide for
her if able to do so, or to spouse her.
This humane requirement of the law, or
at least intended as such, included even
the paternal half brother, but with the
maternal, marriages were prohibited.
At Sparta it appears it was the re-
verse. These regulations probably sought
by different means to effect the same
purpose to prevent the accumulation of
inheritances upon the same person, so
contrary was it thought to the true in
terests of republic. At Athens it was
feared that the inheritance falling to the
wife from one father might be added to
that which the husband already possessed
as heir to the other. The reason for the
Spartan law is not SO obvious, but it was
probably intended to enable Spartan
mother to equalize fortune between two.
sets of children not equally well provided
for At Alexandria such alliances were
indiferently allowed in either case.
Indeed if one calculates the descent,
one will find that first cousins are really
as closely allied by blood as half brothers
and sisters; each having the same an
cestry on one side, and therefore, any
physiological or psychological objections
to marriages between them are equally
valid in either case. As to how far they
arecontrary to good morals and decorum,
depends much on the mode of life among
the respective peoples. We find in the
earliest ages, and among the most primi-
tive nations, a common aversion to al
hances among those closely connected
by blood or affinity. The early Romans
and the Arabs OF the desert had no COM
munication with each other, and were,
perhaps unaware of each others exist
ence. Yet each held marriages between
those related within the fourth degree as
unlawful. A like simple and primitive
mode of life contributed much to esta5-
fishing this regulation in each case. In
early time. and among people uncor-
rupted by luxury, not only persons, but
families closely related, lived for the
most part together. An innate sense of
what is becoming and right soon i'm
pressed them with the idea that all gal
lantry, courtship erlove-making, toward
those brought up under the same roof
was contrary to decorum and morality.
These sentiments appear to have been
held long before any sanitary or scien-
tific observation, theories or controver-
sizes on the subject. In this respect, at
least, it does not appear that, as the ey-
oiutiolists contend, the aesthetic and
moral sentiments of man have continu
ally advanced and improved. Rather
through the teachings of false religions.
the examples of kings and other promi-
snent men, the vagaries of fancy. the
capricious power Of love, and the more
constant sway of avarice, the sentiment.
or as some might consider it, the pre- iu-
dice upon this subject seem to have been
weakened and in some cases to have en-
tirely disappeared.
Cambyses. King of Persia, for an in
stance of the power of example. was
enamored OF sister, and wished to
espouae her. Desiring the sanction of
the law for his action, he called together
the royal judges and inquired if there
was any law of Persia which authorized
q brother to marry his sister. With a
proper regard for law and prudent re-
gard for safety, they answered that they
found no such law, but they had found
another which declared it lawful for the
King of Persia to do what he wished.
From that time such marriages, though
hitherto unknown among the Persians.
became lawful, and even frequent. The
custom extended to the Egyptians, and
was adopted even by their Macedonian
Kings. But wherever the Roman power
extended, such alliances ceased, or at
least were no longer sanctioned by law.
The extirpation Of this blemish upon
ancient civilization, which the widely
extended power of Rome in a great de-
gree accomplished, was completed and
rendered permanent by the still wider
way and deeper influence of Christian |
lty- Cousins germaine are, in all Chris
han countries, the nearest relatives not |
within the prohibited degrees. Even |
reasons of State policy have not been |
sufficiently potent to render alliances
between those more nearly related. and |
Richard III. is probably the only soye- |
reign who, in order to strengthen his
unstable throne, even wished to marry |