New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-14
TIE INCREASE OF DIVORCE.

WORK OF THE NEw-ENGLAED DIVORCE REFORM
LEAGUE DESCRIBED By THE REV. 5. W. Dixie.
The New England Divorce Reform League
Is composed OF about fifty gentlemen Of all Christian
faiths who have united TO promote improvement in
public sentiment and legislation the subject OF d-
organized about two years being the
outgroNth Of Boston Monday Lecture by the Rev. s.
W Dixie, Of ROyatou Vt, who for than year has
been its corresponding secretary Mr. Dixie was in the
city day ago In conversation with reporter or
TIE TRIBUNE he explained the nature OF the work done by
the League gave many statistics showing the alarming
increase divorce in many states aud pointed out some
OF the errors into which thinks that advocates OF lax
divorce laws have fallen.
81 was pleased 10 see the able presentation OF the
subject Of Divorce and Marriage in NewYork in sun
days TRIBUNE" said Mr.. Dixie and also the editorial
accompanying II. have been studying the subject Of
divorce half dozen years and have never seen such
fair and complete statement Of the conditions existing
in New-York contained IN the opinions OF Judge
Davis and the other gentlemen expressed in the pub
lshed interviews So far have besn able to learn,
the increase OF divorce has generally followed upon an
increase IN the legal number OF for which d.
yorces could be obtained When Connecticut and Massa-
chusetts added several those ady their
statute books the number OF divorces soon doubled,
WHILE OH contrary, decrease in the number Of d.
vorces has uniformly followed restric ton in the law
Vermont essened the number by simply forbdding the
renarrage OF the parties for three years inst whom
the divorce was decreed. repeal of the omnibus
clause in Connecticut has had q similar effect and
further improvement could be made 10y better court
practice In one Of the New-England States as am
credaDly informed the average length Of the trial Of
divorce case Is not fifteen minutes. Greater pains
should be taken 10 punish guilty persons in divorce
cases In New-Haupshire eighty divorces were granted
last year adultery while only two persons were com
mted to the state Prison this offence. A prominent
urst called attention TO the fact that II man steals
watch he will be pursued by the machinery OF law
until he captured, aud necessary he Will be taken
across the continent for trial and punishment while II
the man deserts his wife In the East he may marry
another one In the West with perfect impunity"
WHAT'S your idea OF a marriage T. -
think mistake Is made regarding the individuals
solely the relation and IN ignoring the FAMILY
I'm winch the individuals find the real determination OF
their relation This the real defect In the defence OF
lax divorce laws made in this city in lecture last sun
night The best scholarship In political science has
discarded the theory OF lndVidualsm on which that
defence proceeds II true that evolution Is going on
In the social organism, but II Is movement In the drec
q On Of better ethical conception OF the relations OF
the members Of society than these indyidualistc
theories afford As President Garfield once said that he
had learned to spell Nation with large N so need IN
discussing the evils OF divorce to spell Family with
capital f. We must come ultimately 10 ormiy In
this matter National law the domestic relations
must be agreed upon for all the States. This cannot be
done no w. but am confident thatlt will he the QUE
growth Of long debate which will be materially aided
BY such articles rs THE TRIBUNE had OIL sunday"