St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-25
Marriaee-Divorce.

=
IF some statesman can rise in his place and
show the Legislature how hasty marriages can be
prevented, there is a chance that something
| may be done with view TO remedying the di-
| yorce evil.
There is wisdom in this suggestion. Hasty
and ill-assorted marriages have much to do
in causing the widespread discomfort which
atflicts and profoundly agitates the cOnjugal
world. That vast number of our people
are not happy is proved by the constant re-
sort to our courts for relief What is the
cause of this discomfort? Marriage is not Il
new thing under the sun. Its estate was
once well understood ard was happy. HUI
! IN an nature has not changed. AS there is
! no result without cause, it may be well to
! look beyond the present legislature and our
! courts. No act of these can tit or qualify
men and women for the marriage state.
This must be done, if it be well done, at
/ home and in the family.
''Train up child in the way he should co.
and when he is old he will not depart from
] it., was the judgment of the wisest of men.
/ Are the children of to-day thus traineds
/ 1t is TO be feared that too many are not
The mother of the Gracchi lives in history.
She looked to the education and training of
her children. When Campanian lady made
q show of her jewels at the house Of Corneiia,
| and asked to see her own, Cornelia produced
her two sons, saying: ''Thcse are the only
jewels of which can boast"
She was evidently competent to discharge
the important duties OF wife and mother.
''Her feet abode in her own house,
Neither woman suffrage, the Ladies' Cos
pei Christian Temperance union, nor mis-
sions to heather lands diverted her atten ton
from the all-important duties of the family.
har cha inv of
Cornelias of the olden time given place to
the Jellubys of our own!
DIVORCE.
Causes or reasons therefor will multiply
and keep pace with the opportunities
for the successful preparation of frauds or
the infliction of injuries upon the
unsuspecting parties to the mar
rage contract The more binding that con-
tract, the more numerous and aggravated
will be these wrongs and injuries. This
proposition it is believed no thoughtful mind
will question. 1t is sustained by sad expert
ence and the history of marriage and di-
vorce, both at present and in the distant
past. 1t rests upon law, possibly ques
tionable law of our being. Hence the ne
cessity for relief.
How may, how should this be obtain ed I?
Certainly by the annulment of all contracts
so tain ted by bad faith as should cause the
RECESSION of business transaction. Is it II OF
greater misfortune for a man or woman to
be dcfrauded in marriage than in the sale or
purchase of property! We're it not for the
law of RECESSION, there would De | 900 fraudu-
| lent transactions where there is now but one.
Should the matrimonial villain enjoy an i'm
lnuuty for his crimes denied in less i'm
portant transactions!
Is it the law and its administration which
has brought marriage to what it is. filing
our courts with Inundated sup
plants pleading for divorce, or are
we less worthy than were the Pagans of
whom we write! There is a sermon in the
following extract from a recent police re-
port:
august i. Straussberg, charged with be-
traying Ella Paulson, was arraigned before Judge
Burr yesterday, ana the continued until to
day. Straussberg and the girl were in court, and
the offender given the alternative of marry
ing, going to jail or furnishing bonds in the sum
of $50. He went to Jail. 1t is believed he will
consent to marry the girl to-day"
Should this girl Paulson be thus permitted
to take legal advantage of her own wrongl
Should our courts thus aid in degrading mar
rage and encouraging prostitution? The Pa
gan stood on higher ground. The judge
4
GUM and other states, VINO should permit
woman to appear in court proclaiming her
unchastity and naming her partner in crime.
''He who asks equity must do equity" If
hasty marriage should be condemned, what
shall be said of the compulsory process of
marriage under duress! 1t is asserted that
Christ exalted the condition of woman, that
previous to the Christian dispen sation she
was little more than slave, that marriage is
a Christian sacrament. What was marriage
aud the actual condition of woman previous
TO the Christian era!
PAGAN VS.. CHRISTIAN.
The Romans appear to have been as pow
erful, just and wise in their palmy davs as
any people OF which we have accurate knowl-
edge.
With them, marriage was usually civil
contract Divorce rested with the husband,
a resort TO the courts was not necessary. He
could ''put away his wife for any cause he
chose TO assign, or without cause.
To the lasting honor of the Roman name,
SOB wears elapsed before the first divorce had
been obtained.
At length this monotony was broken. The
great historians Of Greece and Rome in
formed the world that Sin the year of Rome
523," Carvillius Ruga repudiated his wife.
Think of it. He was the first to exercise
that prerogative. ale was questioned by
the censors, and hated by the people, but
his divorce stood unimpeaehed in law. " The
student Of American history will open mis-
eyes with some little degree Of amazement
should he read in any standard work that,
in the year 101 Of the Independence of the
United States John Smith obtained divorce
from his wife, and whyi mot on
~ no inf of
but for the reason that
single case among the myriads Of causes Of
equal dignity had been noticed. While the
requirements of the age compel US to admit
that these faithful and exemplary men and
women, though highly cultivated, rem owned
for tie wisdom OF their laws and their per-
lection in letters and the arts, were pagans,
who had never heard OF the NaZarene or hfs
mission in behalf Of women. We may be
permitted 70 mark this contrast with all that
IS seen and known in this Christian land
and TO ask the cause. The investigation may
be profitable for instruction IL not for re-
proof. If there be.a subject calling more
loudly for wise adjustment than the one
under consideration, it has not been recently
mentioned. Again We say:
Are we By nature less intellectual or NOR
ally more depraved than were these Romansl
Or should our laws and their administration
be held responsible for having placed US at
so sad a disadvantage
God has i'm plsnted in animated nature the
love Of sway.
The infant rules by cries and tears,
The maiden with her sunny eyes,
The miser with his hoard OF years.
The monarch with his clsnking ties
Thus has the Supreme Ruler thrown upon
our race chain which ages may not rend.
SbylOck ''stsid upon his bond" and IN an
evil hour demanded bis pound Of flesh.
The men and women Of Rome knew, be-
fore entering the married state, the cOndi-
tons upon which they entered. These in