Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-17

the court records show that there are from
two to four applications for divorces for
each one granted.
The fact then is undispUtable that in the
New England states two thousand families
| and more,are annually broken up,and more
than four thousand people divorced. OF
the series of states under consideration,
Maine offers the broadcast opportunities
for divorce. In that state, a divorce full
and absolute, may be grantad, not alone
for any one of liberal number of causes,
but by any justice of the supreme court
whenever in the exercise of a sound dis
cretion he deems it reasonable and proper,
conducive to domestic harmony, and con-
sistent with the peace and morality of
society" This puts it in the power of a
Judge, over whom there is not, IN fact, any
controlling agency. to grant divorce
for any cause, the only qualifying re-
straint being, that he shall deem any cause
reasonable.
The consideration of this subject, with
this array of facts and statistics concern
ing the section of the country founded by
the Puritan Fathers, produces a shock to
the moral and religious sense, and ex-
hibits a laxity of moral and religious
purity that is revolving and degrading.
The conclusion is that the modern New
England idea of marriage is that it is
simply civil contract and not a divine
ordinance. What are the uses of religious
and Christian training and teaching,
If, among people whose opportu-
mites are unsurpassed for the highest
type of personal rectitude, these practices
obtain. Under the New England system as
thus exhibited, it is not only possible, but is
it not probable, that the day is not far hence
when divorce will be as common as mar
riage. If the class of citizens, from whom
it has not been deemed unreasonable to
expect that which is most exemplary in
humanity, because the leaders in defiance
of the laws of God and contrive that the
regulations of men shall be license for the
destruction of home, the provision for
wretchedness, the contamination and
wrecking of society, where shall we look
for purity, virtue and wholesomeness. Why
need there be an cutlery concerning the
Mormon system and a national demand
and effort for its overthrow, when under
another system all that is hateful in that
is readily obtained, and what success will
be reached in the attempt to put down
the simultaneous system of polygamy
while unfolding and nourishing the con-
secutive system of divorce.
The only standard by which society is
to be protected, the sanctity of the home
maintained, virtue and decent liv-
ing secured, is faithful and hon.
eet adherence to the di-
vine mandate, 'What therefore God
hath joined together let not man put
asunder," and there is but one cause by
which the man should be permitted to put
away his wife or the woman her husband,
and only the innocent party be permitted
to marry again. Futher than this human
law should not go. 1t does not follow that
under incompatible conditions, personal
danger or harsh and cruel neglect, separa-
ton is not permissible, for sometimes I'M
happily, it will occur that it is imperative,
but the law can be made to protect, and
community will cheerfully cherish with
its helping hand, the weaker and suffering
party, without the intervention of divorce