Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-09
UNIFORM lIARl1Aeg AVID DIVORCE Law


The want Of uniformity in our marriage
snd divorce laws ia attracting more and
more Of thoughtful attention, and the close
students OF the progress of thought are
convinced that We are rapidly approaching
time when the demand fer national leg
islasion on the subjects must be responded
20. OF oOursa any such suggestion will be
met by our Democratic friends with depre-
oltory EXPLANATIONS. Capitalization is
81 them such a frightful speoter, THAT
every step taken TO better the condition Of
Tho people. involving the assumption and
exercise of enlarged national po8ers, is
viewed with extreme alarm. Bat the same
students, to whom the conviction regarding
our marriage and divorce laws has come
home, have also observed that the alarm
Of the Democracy is more OF the SEN
simental kind, and that in fact
the men of that party are not
so fearful Of deprivation of liberty as of
loss Of the political power that resides in
Democratic principle OF State Rights, Mr..
Gordon a. Stewart has in the current
number Of the Popular Seitnce Monthly an
interesting paper on our marriage and d.
vorce laws, tho reading of which has sug.
gestsd this preface.
It must be accepted IS true that few
contracts are so easily avoided and SO
readily dissolved as those of marriage. and
this io neither creditable to our civilization
nor our morals. Let the truth be plainly
spokeu-d.vorce has largely come to be the
means to practical polygamy. II the
chsrge appears severe, an examination Of
ne statistics will be found to justify it
The ease with which DEGREES of divsrcs
NAY be obtained, has encouraged basty
marriages End ill-considered unions, aud
thus contributed to the sum of human uu-
happiness, and these in turn have fed the
mills OF the divorce Courts. Now, It is Ger.
tain that the lack Of uniformity in our
laws contributes to both of theee evils.
dow can thsse be remedied? So long as
each State is its own authority and deter
mines for itasH the conditions on which
the marriage relation may be assumed or
laid aside. there can be no uniformity, ex.
cept there IS uniform agreement Of pub
lie sentiment npon the subject. THIS, if
brought about, must be attained through
Che usual means employed TO make the
public intelligent on any subject But our
people are scattered over vast territory,
cling to old traditions, have natural State
pride and State jealousy. resent dicsation
in the matter Of legislation and receive ad.
vice relative to looal laws with poor
grace. To educate the public sentiment,
then, to such common view as should re.
suit in uniformity of divorce laws is the
work of a century. Ba. there is \ more
speedy method and one which in other
matters has proved effsctual and has not
met with resistance from the people,
and that is tie exercise OF Federal author.
ity, But it is question if this must not
involve an amendment to the Federal Con.
stitution. Assuming that it does, it is
easy of realization that the people may
consent to the Federal Legislature legislAs-
ing when they wOuld be unable to sgree
upon the uniform legislation in their local
capacities.
Rsturning to Mr. Stewards article We
fza6 some interesting evidences Of ununi.