Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-06


cheap laborers, to make cheap manufact-
ures here? If we continue to do so we will
simply enrich the manufacturer at the eX-
pense of the consumer, whom, so far as he
is of the laboring class, we will reduce to
the lower levels of pauperism.
THE DIVORCE QUESTION AGAIN.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, in the North
american Reric3c, has an essay critical Of
the position of Justice Noah Davis on the
divorce question, that is forciblc and
which the learned iurist, whose study of
the subject has engaged the best years of a
useful life and a fine intellect, will admit to
be witty and incisive. Justice Davis views
we have explained and commented upon
at length on two occasions In his demand
for uniformity of marriage and divorce
laws, ana his advocacy Of constitutional
reform on those subjects. We have conceded
his position to be invulnerable But Judge
Davis would have marriage restriction upon
infants strengthened by making the lawful
age for females at least Is and for males Is.
To this the female esSayist replies with
visor On what principle she asks should
the party on whom all the inevitable hard
ships Of marriage must fall be the younger
to enter the relation? 1t might be said to
her. in reply that the female natures
earlier and wears out soonest. But this
will be illogical in the face of the fact that
- is not the mature age for girls. 1t is
from % to -. though Stanton enormously
places it at %. Unquestionably, however.
her questions will find right responses in
every parents heart when she asks, Are
girls fit for the trials of maternity at 10?
Are not both mother and child enfeebled
in such premature relations? If fathers
and mothers will not consent to the mar
riagc Of girls Of -, should not the State re-
fleet the common sense Of the people?
With all its laxity France is .rore severe
in the matter Of contracting the marriage
relation than we in America. If the parents
refuse consent in that country, the contract
cannot be made until the man is % and the
woman p.
Davis speaks Of divorce as the foe of mar
ria.c: Stanton says it would be as reason
able 10 speak Of medicine as the foe Of
health In truth, adultery, intempcrance,
brutality and the like are the foes OF mar
riuge, and divorce is the escape from the
results OF those vices The lady makes
strong point when She declares
that whatever promotes the best interests of
| tho individual promotes The best interests
of society. since the normal condition OF
men and women is one Of individual indie
pendcncc. We have bandoncd the Roman
and pagan idea that the individual was
| made for the state, and have based re
publican form of government upon a
loitict estimate OF human beings
Judge Davis would have the reform OF
the laws move upon the basis Of greater re
strction of divorce, while the essayist
would have freer or At least less restricted
causes Of divorce, He cites South Caro-
lima. with its absolute refusal Of divorce.
as an example whore the peace. purity and
| felicity Of the family are most promoted.
| Bat she returns "a shell for his shot, by eta
tions from Judicial decisions, showing that
the result has largely been state of con-
cuhinaec and the formation of illic.j la
lions. Other evidences cited hy Juiscpa,i-
/ OF the beneiicence OF restricted iiv1-D, laws.
or of the total absence OF difUr. .
are responded to by this woman opponent
with equal felicity Butt. was u,, needed.
! since the Judgment Of the majority OF the
people is that adultery. habitual iutcm-
perauce extreme cruelty, wiilful abandon
ment and absolute willful rcfusal-haying
| the ahility-to support the wife and family,
a-e jn-,idable grounds OF divorce all States
/ should recognize.
! Itma-t he admitted that the lady sup
ports with great strength the negative OF
The propositions advanced ny the radical
opponents of divorce laws. First-That To
make divorce respectable is to break up
the family relation; doctrine not true,
| since the human affections are not the re
suit OF church canons or statute laws. Sec
ona-ihat liberal divorce encourages the
tihjng and unprineiplcd, from love OF
change. to take d new wife every season.
But woman viii not always remain the
helpless victim of every man She meets,
! says her well-known advocate who looks
10 new type Of womanhood to become a
| factor in government. Third-Tnat the
interests Of children demand an iulis-
soluble tie. But. next to the misfortune
of birth under a roof where the parents en-
tc-tain disgust for each other. or are untrue