The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-08-03
JAMES H. MILLS. PUBLISHER
{ 'GovERNoR Crosby promptly offered re-
ward Of $500 each for the stage robbers.
Steele and Roberts made nice fee.


{ GOVERNOR Crosby promptly offered re.
ward Of $500 each for the stage robbers
Steele and Roberts made a nice fee.
--~+=--------------------4--
Francisco BARco, Spanish Envoy and
Minister Plenipotentiary to the United
States, suiclded al the Albemarle Hotel, New
York, last Sunday. No cause assigned.
1.-THE President ought to drop down here
while out West. A man who would come
West and keep away from Denver, would 20
TO France and never think OF going TO Paris. !"
-Denrer Tribune. Going to France and
not visiting Paris might be excused, say on
moral grounds; but what would be thought
of Mohammedan who would 90 TO Arabia
and not visit Mecca? and yet IL is limited that
the President does not contemplate visiting
Salt Laile.--iS. J.. Tribune.
THE SECRETARY OF WAR has ordered the
Judge Advocate General of the army TO pre-
pare the necessary charges for the trial by
court-martial of Captain Touissant Mesplic
for numerous Implications Of bis pay &C.
counts during absence without leave. He
recently returned from abroad, and on reach
ing San Francisco was placed under arrest.
An official of the War Department says on
several occasions at least three accounts
were out for aslngle month.
We publish In this issue the statement of
Secretary McCutcheon concerning his recent
divorce and marriage. While II is er parte
and not competent testimony on which to
base judgment II is right beginning for the
formation Of just opinions. Secretary Nc
Cutcheon's Identification with these matters,
and his conduct, have been violently assailed.
Governor Crosby has officially asked OF him
Il statement of the facts, which he has made.
Contemporaneous with that, he goes before
sthe bar public opinion and submits his case.
This was optional with him, and We can ap-
prcciate the respect he has for that opinion
and The suffering IL must cause q man TO dis.
cuss in the public prints his domestic affairs.
lie is therefore most certainly entitled TO a
fair and considerate hearing. The alleged
cause OF divorce Is one that cannot well be
commented upon and yet that cannot be
avoided in forming judgment. Moreover we
haye but the statement OF one OF the parties.
Marriage contemplatcs relations between
those who inter-marry expressed in the
phrase that they are made one. The law
.contemplatcs the ,consummation of marriage
as essential TO Its legality, and human nature,
the commands of inspired writings and COM
mon sense recognize and affirm it. We be-
lieve in absolute fidelity In the marriage re-
lation, conceding no more privilege unto the
man than TO the woman. II is a contract of
honor as we'll as a civil or religious contract.
The refusal or avoidance Of either party of
all that marriage implies, unless for good
cause, is infdelity 10 the obligation only sec
ond to unfaithfulness. These good reasons
any honorable husband or wife will recog-
nize and respect. This infidelity 10 obliga-
tions estranges and wrecks. The law we
believe classes IL as desertion aud tenable
ground for divorce, and IL is deseuion such
as this that is alleged. We do not believe
In divorce, because we do not believe there
should ever be causes leading to it. Man
and wife take each other for better or for
worse, always assuming fidelity to each other
and TO their marriage VOWS, and no lesser
event should lead TO separation. II Is hard
ly necessary TO say that cruelty, non-support
and crime are violations Of the VOW. But
where there Is inddelity or desertion the law
cannot give too speedy deliverance. As TO the
evidence Of fact in this particular case. we Of.
fer no opinion. II is stated the right of the
plaintiff 10 divorce was admitted by defend
ant, and IL was for the Court to determine If
the evidence was sufficient, That can be as
certained. We believe, however, that the
Montana law, requiring but one witness, is
100 lax. The Legislature should remedy it.,
and In the meantime the judges of our courts
should require the amplest proof the law
contemplates before granting divorces. Sec
rotary McCutcheon raises question ofverac-
ity as To- the introduction OF the lady who ac-
companied him, which Is certainly easy of
determination, He slso asserts right to marry
"when" he pleases. IL had been wiser had
the demonstration Of that right been defer
red. In this mention we have referred to
the 'cause" Of divorce. Ifhe states correctly
the cause upon which lie based his applica-
ton, and there are no justify!ng circumstan-
ces; IL he conveyed TO his late wife all his
property, and will maintain his children, we
do not condemn his application for divorce.
But 1t Is to be remembered his late wife Is
yet to be heard from. As to the procedure
in the case, the Secretary has nov given his
version and il It is incorrect the fact can be
shown.