Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-08
FOR COIN YOU DID THIS THING.


The sections of the code which permit
marriage to be made without ceremony of
solemnization, contemplate that entry upon
such agreements shall be supplemented by
immediate, open and notorious assumption
of the. n.rital relations. Secrecy is abhor-
rent to the whole scheme of the statute. II
man and woman may marry by contract,
and keep the fact secret, there is concu-
binage and prostitution If two may thus
contract and agree to non-disclosurc of the
making of the instrument, then they may,
by agreement divorce themselves at pleas
ure by destroying the evidence of the mar
rage. 1t needs no elaboration to demon
strate how rcpulsiyc secrecy is to the Sys-
TEN of the law that Publicity is absolutely
necessary to lift the contract into the sol
emnity of a marriage agreement. Without
it the marriage relation is degraded. and we
make strident movement downward in the
scale of civilization. Without it we shame
true wives and loyal husbands, and cause
children born III wcdlock to blush for the
system of laws under which they live.
Had the attorneys for Sharon. in the Hill
Sharon infamy of nastiness, at the outset
made this point, and rested upon it, their
client would have had safe defense, and the
country might have been spared the ava
lanche of filth which the San Francisco
press has sent down upon a devoted and
suffering people Now, when the oceans of
impurity and beastlineSs with which this
State has been flooded by the enter
prise 90 o. Of the SAN Francisco press, have
ceased to pour their sluige over each days
record, one Of the attorneys for the defend
ant makes the point to which we refer.
Had he rested upon that AZ the outset, we
repeat, the decent-mindcd people Of Cali
Fornia. the homes of the State, the maidcuS.
wives and self-respec;ing men and women
Of the commonwealth might have been
spared the unclcan details Of the most
filthy and abominably nasty Court proceed
ings of which judicial annals give any &C
count.
But that was quite too much to expect.
II might have shortened the smutty trial,
have lessencd the fat fees, and have clipped
the wings Of bar eloqucnce upon which
couhsel nave ll'"'e'' III al A'iiioSl'l,ei' ie'N-
ing WITH 'u Iou4lleaS' more ucA4iy 10 Tue
morals oi the Fe'.ui'ls you'h uiAh 'i'e hoN'-
Gus influences o' "A"'y houses or lhe
Lowest SINKS oil wee a''' crime WIN "i'ch
gFea' cues l'elh.
IL would ''o' nave qcinVed an enter
prlsins press ia lHe Guy Oh San FRANCISCO
OF t'e opportunity 10 ''l' 'i''o Tue MONIES
Of me iai''' ana pun mo 'he haiidS OIL 'iho-
cent youth, '''A.'e, more 'A'l"I'''e1 10 de''''
anu S'a' vain '''' '''' ron 'l '''''ul'i'''h'e
tii''ii al. '''' l''5'' % ! "u' i'e Ao'N' 'ie
AinoN,'s'S, '' "'G '',l''i'"S chapters Oh
tne lo' '-''''.'' D.'''s' repeal 'haI 'heF'
Is no i''o''' u sum '''''.''''u' ana uhI'aT-
uon"O.' l'.'''''','6 10 - vicious uS'e Tor o"-
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