New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-21
AN EXPRESSION FROM DIR. ARMITAoE.
VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW TO BE PUNISHED BY THE
LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP.


VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW TO BE PUNISHED BY THE
LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP.
The Rev. DIR. Thomas ATmitage, of the Fifth
Avenue Baptist Church. cheerfuy consented 70 give his
views on the question of divorce to reporter of THE
TRIBUNE and expressed his qualification that TIE TRB
,NE had given much attention to subject so closely
associated with the welfare of society. "The whole
oueston of marriage" he said, has, in our country
drfted into new aspects because OF the cosmopolitan
character of the country and the intermXture OF new
blood and after order that has not been known
IN ureyious history IL has therefore come TO inter
weave itself with all the lawmakng powers OF our and
each local legislature trying to remedy the difficulties
that it meets with within the empire of Its laW-inakhg
power.
ANY impression is that shall never get down 10
uniformity and the proper basis of Justice on the subject
81 marriage and divorce until we have amendment TO
the Constitution of the United States which shall make
certain general provisions the whole subject 10 De ap
pied by the several States and cut the GOrdan kO OF
this whole question by enactng that no man can De
citizen or shall exercise the franchise OF citizen who
has more than one wife, about the marriage to one OF
which there are legal questions pending All legislation
on the subject has proved futile and Will continue TO be
ineffective until the social and civil institution OF mar
rfage becomes identified with citizenship that one
cannot broken without losing the other Ihen you
will get something like radical legislation that may
possibly remove the evils TO which we are subjected In
theU ned States because Of the peculiar forms OF our
Federal and State Government Let the people or the
United States SO alter the Constitution as to preserve
the liberties citizenship by preserving the social ins
tutions on which citizenship is built That VIII throw
guards around virtue and check vice in all these essential
directions"
asked the reporter do You think the privileges
of citizenship are generally highly priced that the
pospect of their forfeiture would constitute sufficiently
strong restraint ~
You cannot tell until you put it to the test" re-
piled Dr. Armitage men in this country value nothing
so highly their citizenship, and there is hothug 'at
enters closely into the satellites OF cuLehSp is 'he
family relation" ,,,,
1t to me that the New Testament cohnhes the
cause of divorce to adultery on te par o one III tn
parties 10 the marriage; still can conceive on adoha
reasons why divorce should be granted FOR example
dHSk s and who daily abuses her When she
him she shought she marrying man ana she hoped
beast Who would make her life wretched. would not
have tied TO such brute al the days OF MS OF
her life So also when man is convicted OF crime ana
sent 10 state Prison, do not think woman should ne
compelled 10 resume her marital relations VIII nun al tGr
yorcc il she desired it, There may be other causes pu
think the generality of them be included under the
headings OF personal abuse ana delameheh' oI cnaI"c
Our civilization is a Christian civilization, but our
legislation is controlled absolutely by BDncaI lh
ciles with regard TO E,2rals fheIeiore tne ke-
public is not obliged to follow the scriptut hchhS on
such social questions do not involve violations OF Tue
higher moral law, and 50 long as the maIlasf Graton III
our country Is looked upon as Simply GlN
YOU cannot apply all the Biblical principles To marriage
would he dppIcable 10 an OlutI Vi lAILS7 "HSic
Church and State united" go
DO YOU approve OF divorced people marrying again g
Supposing law has been altered as 10 protect
The innocent. would then extend the nght OF ltlhdl
riage to innocent parties divorced but MOI 10 te
guilty parties aud any violating this law should De
deprived Of citizenship" ,,--
here g.
certainly do not think IL csults from any general
Tower moral tone here compared with other countries
The general moral tone is higher here than elsewhere.
Tt indicates looseness OF law IN new country INTO he
bosom which all the Civilizations all the lOsl
OF every nation have been thrown into one amalgau
And because nothing of the sort has ever existed before
We do not exactly how to CONFORM all these ele
lnemts healthy status.
Intimately associated with the prcvaeucy OF divorce
are the present lax regulations with respect 10 marriage
would compel all Who seek marriage To tTst obtain a
license of civil authority magistrate sDr whom
soeyer the law may provide that minister might
celebrate marriage until license was brought 10 nm
the law stands AT present couple may rug my bell at
this moment and there is reason why should not
marry them provided they take the oath an empowered
under the present law 20 administer They incur the
penalties OF perjury they swear falsely but we know
how lightly Oaths sit many people, especially under
circumstances where direct obedience 10 the DATA might
prevent the marriage they seek