The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-09-22
DIVORCE In FRANCE.
THE POLITICS OF THE DECREE.
Regarded rs Revolutionary-Fa Favored by
Observation-Disclosures to Mother-jn-
Law One Gound-Its Peculiar
Working Marriage.

No political event occurring in France
since the death of Gambetta has pro-
duced so deep an impression, or excited
so much discussion, AS the passage of the
divorce law. A revolution In the form
of Government could hardly be consid-
cred more momentous This grows out
of the circumstance that in France di-
vorce law, without being exactly aparty
question, possesses deep political slg-
niticance, to which we are strangers i'll
the United States, though divorce is
here IA perpetually recurring subject OF
discussion. Divorce in France was in
! troduced under the first Republic, and
/ abolished when the Bourbons were
restored to the throne. Years of agita-
| tion preceded the adoption of the pros
ent law, and it is regarded as distinct
! ~ Democratic measure. AZ originally
passed by tho Chamber of Deputies, the
bill was Objectionable to the conservn-
tive Senate, and its authors had to ac-
copt amendments that materially
altered its character and made IL very
much less sensational and revolutionary
measure than IL WAS as originally
drafted. But even in its present form
il Is deeply Objectionable to the clerical
party and to other men of conservative
instincts. The different lights In
which it is regarded can be understood
when 1t is mentioned that by the Liberal
press il is referred to as the "decree of
enfranchisement," while its opponents
term it US the "abominable decree" II
I is perhaps singular that France SHOULD
/ have been thirteen years Republic
without instituting divorce, when II II
y permitted in England, Russia, Sweden
4 Germany, Denmark, Holland, Belgium
! the United States and many less impor
tant nations,
An examination OF the new divorce
u law shows that, as compared with law
y on the same subject in the Unite'
: States. it is peculiar mixture Q
4 liberality aud OF conservatism. |
!, admits divorce for enough causes I
y satisfy even Utah Legislature. Is,
4 sides adultery, there is conviction i,
u felony, grave violence, cruelty, brutal
= ty, habitual bad temper, threats All
J spiteful nagging. Habltual insolence
IA mOther-in-law is even enumerated III
der u general head as one of the Otfenc,
& constituting bad treatment sufficient
Justify divorce. But lest II he though
from this list of causes for which mar
tai separation may hereafter DO %
tanned, that they are to have "lree d
~ yorco" In France, let II be CAREFUL
noted that the privilege is hedged abo
Id with restrictions that Will mai
o. it considerably less valuable To the pa
y, ties concerned than II Is found to be
70 the United States. For example, who
is tho divorce In obtained for adultry d
ed repudiated husband or wife cannot ms
- ry his or her paramour. A divOrc
wife cannot marry again until L
re months after the formal separate
NO though the divorced husband is free
"A wed again AT once. If divorced par
'ar marrios again and Is second time
IL Vorcud, he is not permitted
tes marry third time unless
ue, the party from whom he was fl
yer divorced. This is useful rest
nc ton which will prevent such scand
inc rs we sometimes have In this count
OF where there are parties who have N
LOT ried and been divorced from half do
cul husbands or wives. Two divorces
IN parently ought to he enough Tor one !
IN time, and are as much Ms the law can
III low without becoming license,
ers Thole are other features Of the Frel
III law that will tend to prevent its ahl
u unubeing that il is very eNacting ab
inc the sort of evidence required. Tie
or mOny of the parents of sutton or deio
nun ant, or of children or servants is not
Ier- mitted. But tho strongest
lul best safeguards against
decentralization of society are found
Yea in the restrictions ON divorce but
NY marriage. In France men cannot ma
hS7 under the age of - or women under
anu Of u, without the consent of pare
'eh- while hasty marriages arc PROV
way, against by requiring that after the Il
nan age three citations must he served al
lulu teryals of three months ON fathers
Cat mothers. ON the whole, IL may be- s
bur anJ diynr,o laws nf Frnucr ns nov \
,ued iG"d ihnt rsoi brenk down tho bnri
pou- of ,nnr,lit,, mr. undo snciniv i'm tho 4
N. nor predicted by those who take
! tho possimistic Yiew.-San Francisco