New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-23
DIVORCE LAWS AND THE FAMILY.
srGGEsrroNs BY THE REV. SAMUEL W. DIXIE

SUGGESTIONS BY THE REV. SAMUEL ". DINE
To me Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: Permit me to make through THE TRTB-
UNE two suggestions that may be taken Tor wha 'ey arc
worth / am sure there are many among your ieauoi'
who will be prepared to give them consideration.
E,rsf-In conversation yesterday with a gentleman OF
this city, who distinguished alike for his lega e'rns
and emnence public affairs, the remark was maze '""
1 conld think of object ON when inc Na'ionN
Government could spend $4,000 to better advantage
than in the work OF n commission to DC cre''eu
m ,o,grcss whose duty II should be make extended
and thorough inquiry into the condition and working OF
olr divorce laws and the general needs OF the fay
He replied a. think so. too; but the subject Wn
dr3ppcd after a few words about the apparent dlucuy
Of securing So useful aud comparatively inexpensive
mcasurc at the hands Of Congress But conversation
with Others since, and my own reflection upon lhe "e'
which is not altogether one lead me to make pun
lie the suggestion.
This iuouiry might well follow which the state Do
narncn took mp recently at suggestion from myself
into the moral conditions Of the Family IN European
countries with a view 10 getting Mt the bearing % tue
social conditions 70 Europe on the classes elnkhs ~
this country.
The growing demand for uniform divorce laws the
chaotic condition Of the present State Legislature. and
the iinpossbilty Of private effort getting NJ the Na'
amount OF formation which present public provision
supplies will sooner later render such work hbso
Inf
Then too the differences OF opinion which exist among
the best informed the actual facts should nave the
light which such a commission properly constructed
could furnish. For example, find myself Inclined To
make less relatively ~ the evil, arising nom the conflict
Ing divorce laws the several States than most others
do These evils very great AMI deserve earnest con
alteration But after much careful inquiry the past three
years on this special point the conclusion Il reached
that the percentage Of divorce, obtained By other than
actual residents OF the country il very small, except In
the great cities think that this Is true Of New England
and probably Of other States except In the extreme West
The testimony j. almost unanimous from rural clh III
New England ana lho-r tuhl,ilnE 'l,3 ,,, ,n -,
FRAT nearly all parties King divorces are known 10 ~"
residents in good faith. Put th' fact alongside lWo
other considerations ana u nr sun bI,1
statistics making II pretty clear, ana II J, hlh'u!
pro ven Of Ma-sachu-ets, In the last registration report
and officially pointed out that the rural counties nave ~
rule higher divorce rate than those containing graf
I cities contain fourhfths and more OF inc ch'Is
| population. That + t., say tno spiing i ,,O
prccatcd with this social poison ana Jnbc orioh ~
cline, relatively Ia oNcTe-thae me cNil arising IIo .e
l1rg of national uniformity In marriage aud divorce laws
Now inquiry by Official authority alone can Iih' OF
Justify this opinion, which AFTER all the care on, man
mas fake must al present be mere opinion Ana 40 OF
1 e,,n,, ,ftcr years II oricll experience that
c,ntio ness greater cause In swelling ihe volume OF
toUrcs in witch divorce has led 10 murder suicide
w0ud surprise those who noted the facts Nothing
ear be- OF more consequence 10 the phpHo welfare uAu
/ official Investigation Of the whole subj ct.
Ss'osd-rn. DINER suggestion Is that "a" time has
nearly com. vixen some sort ~ association should be
formed I'm me city OF NcwYUrk for the fullest possible
study OF hi, question with view to public action III va
riuls forms The discussions Oi the press ana r-pthJ
those in Tuf TRIBUNE. 10 show that many arc mp.
fo this such "a body may or may not he large one u
might bring together or two hundred AT least,
OF the best clcIymen, scholars, JuT-ts, lawyers ana
/ uhy,icana, who would take up the systematic ana
iuGrough study Of the entire question ot the Family IN Us
manifold forms, with at the most comprehensive
and efficient legislation, far ~ tnat il needed hn
at the diffusion Of those facts and truths rS oi
| which the people are tn SAD nccd. Tue
very diversity Of opinion among those VINO iAy3t
some kind OF change for the better NUuiu
nr An element OF strength. or such body might DC
fashioned more Ike tba OF the NewEngnnd Divorce Ike
form League, which, however makes Just such "Oik -
! il here suggested part 81 ts plan fy men OF hlgh
STANDING and representing six or seven Christian bodies
nave called convention TO meet IN Columbus ONO, De
ccubcr d, to form association In that state lht
1ktBNE has eduIally called Tor the formation Ot such
associations or leagues throughout the country. nave
been encouraged to make The suggestion by the gentle
men TO whom reference has already been male. Nheh
such pubcst. rs WOOl,cy MuiOrd and Professor
| Goodwin smith and L. ". Dwight agree In putting Tue
Family IN the very front OF all questions pressing upon
the American people solution, Hicn OrSduiLttl Ons
seem TO be- called Tor They will do much to save tn
work from the prrls which hcset all reforms when thr
rail- INFO the hands Of incompetent leaders. am very TO-
| suertulIy YOURS SAMUEL W. DIXIE.
Nm