The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-08

The Governors Of two great States, Ohio
and Pennsylvania, on the same day in
their messages called attention to the
looseness OF the divorce laws in their re-
spective States, and suggested revision OF
those laws in the interest OF better morals.
Both Governors refer to the growth Of the
evil and suggest a restriction ofthe causes
for divorce and further limitation OF the
right to marry again. The admirable re-
marks Of Governor Hoadly arc worth re-
producing,
Ifniarriage were union Of hearts only
there might be some foundation Tor the
claim OF either party to withdraw at
pleasure. But marriage is IN objective
reality, the foundation OF the family rela-
ton, which, however lightly it may be en-
tered in, can rarely, il ever, be severed
without serious injury to the parties, their
offspring, and to the community. Retig-
ion, morality and the welfare OF society, as
well as their own permanent interests, de-
mand OF melI and women in this relation
that they bear largely with each other
defects and iiitirmities, rather than seek
relief in separation. A system oil laws
which encourages the opposite is at once
shocking to the moral sense, and highly
iinpolitic. AS divorces have for many
years increased in numbers in ratio be.
vond that OF population, am constrained
10 believe that our system is lax, and
tends 10 the dissolution OF families.
Governor Patterson is equally forcetul:
Steadily, since 1916, our laws have been
opening the doors Of escape from the mar
fiase state wider and wider, relaxing the
restraints and destroying the solemnity Of
that sacred relation. At the same time,
the rules OF practice Of the courts, follow
ing the bent OF legislation, have made
smooth and easy the processes which
bring death to the holy institution which
Is at the base OF all private virtue, social
safety and national hope.
There are two lines upon which the
Legislature may move in proceeding to
correct this abuse. One is providing d
more rigid and less expeditions divorce
law, and tile other in such legislation as
will tend TO prevent hastyy; and ili'assorted
marriages. These remedies are helpful 10
each other, as the evils which they are in.
tended to correct arc really productive Of
each other. Hasty marriages are trult'
iulparent Of divorce, as strict laws and 9
heaithful sentiment upon the subject oil
the indissoluble character Of matrimony
are restraint upon imprudent marriages
Perhaps the Governors OF other States
will embrace the occasion to hit this social
monster blow. 1t may be that the Gov
ernor of West Virginia will advise the
Legislature to make it less easy to sever
the marriage tie in West Virginia. There
Is hardly State in The Union in which
the divorce laws are not lax and there.
iorc menace to the foundation Of society.
So long Us divorce is easy in any State,
and the States generally do not shut their
doors to persons divorced under circum-
stances which in those States would not be
good and sufficient, The divorce getters
will continue to thrive. 1t is not main
tained that divorce ought never to be
granted; but it is notorious that in most
cases the alleged cause is not sufficient,
there is indecent haste, often irrcgularity,
and great harm to society.
Ii divorce is to be allowed for every
family jar, or when one party to the mar
riage contract tires OF it or "has learned
to love another" we may as well feadiust
society on different basis with the mar
rage contract left out.