The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-18

neither party can marry while the other
survives. 1t has been so always. except
during the existence of the government of
reconstruction in this state. The belief is
general in South Carolina that the lasting
nature Of the marriage relation promotes
domestic happiness, because the tendency is
to produce the habit of content in marriage
on account of its indissolubility | think
that the position of South Carolina on the
subject OF divorce is wise one"
STATE AND CHURCH IN HARMONY
In compliance with my request in behalf
of the Herald for his views as to 1.-THE effect
OF indlssolubility of the marriage bond in
this state upon the marital relation and on
domestic happiness" the Right Rev. Henry
P Northrop, Roman Catholic Bishop of
Charleston, writes as follows:
II have, of course, but to say, in union
with all the bishops and priests of the
Catholic church, and in accordance with her
teaching, that the law of our state being in
conformity with the law of God on I'll is mat
ter, the effect is necess arily benifclent-sanc-
tifying and strengthing the martial relation
and tending to secure domestic happiness.
This is an q priori conclusion, and | think
there are few men III South Carolina who
would not acknowledge that it is conclu-
sion justified by the facts of the last thirty
years. lam sure it was not in spirit of
mere wilfulneSs or an unreasonable love for
the old ways that induced our Legislators
in 1876, while accepting l may say all the
rest of the leg slation of the years since the
war ended, to make striking exception in
the very matter that you are interested in
They re-established tine old laws with re-
gard to matrimony and forbade divorce
absolutely q Utncuto in spite of deter
mined efforts made to admit at least one ex-
ception.
II believe the intelligent citizens OF the
state, who, like myself, are proud Of the
peculiar position we hold in this matter,
will admit that the experience of the past
decade will Justify the wisdom of our legis-
ture. l do not think that the effect of tie
contrary legislation in our sister states upon
the marital relation and domestic napDi-
ness will ever induce us to change our law
in this matter, especially when we consider
the blessings that 0ave followed its exercise.
individuals must sometimes suffer for the
public good, and cases of apparent hardship
may occur in tue state. but in the one as
in the other believe that the general good
is subserved, the proper relation between
husband and wife is defined and protected,
and that domestic happiness is in
creased and secured by the law forbidding
divorce"
POPULAR SENTIMENT ExToLLED.
The Rev. C. S. Veider, d. D., pastor of
the Huguenot church in this city, says in
regard to the position of South Carolina on
the divorce question:
Regard for the external sanctity OF the
marriage relation is undoubtedly promoted
in South Carolina by the unalterable char
acter of that relation. l am quite sure,
however, that the exc optional happiness of
the conjugal relation in our state, while,
perhaps indirectly affected by is not appre-
ciably due to tho absence of divorce laws.
II finds its seat and strength in the chival-
ric respect and reverence for women which
Caroiiuaus have never lost in the loss Of so
much else. | believe that this would con-
tinue to secure happiness in the domestic re-
lation irrespective of the divorce laws: and
by divorce laws | mean, of course, only those
laws which sever marital ties upon the one
scripture ground"
TIE views of these three eminent men
are expressive OF the sentiment of nearly
all classes of the people. If the question
of divorce were left to popular vote the
decision would be Overwhelmingly in the
negative.
While the divorce act was in force there
were comparatively few divorces 10 this
state. A prominent lawyer said yesterday
that he could not recall a single instance OF
a divorce case III which the parties be-
longed to what is known as respectable
society," And yet it is the fact thaJ not
withstandipg the severe care with which the
marriage contract is guarded, the state has
no law regula ting the conditions under
which the marital relation shall be assumed
This is regarded as very serious flaw in the
otherwise very happy status of matrimonial
affairs in South Carolina.