New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-07
rgE 1Nrt DJv0RCE AofrA T1oM

The annual report Of the National Divorce
Reform League proves that interest In this Vital
question Is growing and affords some ground
for eHcoura cement ID Is q significant fact
that the only States in which there are fewvr d.
volces now than there were twenty years ago
Maine. Vermont and Connecticut and probably
Michigan since the legislation OF 1s96-are
those in which the League and its friends have
succeeded in securing better divorce laws. Be
sides this, the rate Of increase has been diniih-
ished somewhat by legislation in one or two
other States This Is progress, though mere
glance at some Of the figures obtained 10 the
forthcoming report Of Commissioner OF Labor
Wright upon this subject makes . startling
showing of the growth Of this evil.
These prove that divorces have been inereas-
inp out of all proportion 10 the population. The
total Of divorces in the Stntes and Territories
during 1887 was 9,937 during 1885, twenty
years afterward, there were 26,535-an in
crease OF more than SO per cent, though the
increase of population during that time was
only about 90 per cent. The statistics Of GET
tain States are striking proof Of the looseness
Of their divorce laws. Illinois stands first on
the list, having granted during this period
g8,o72 divorces out Of total Of 92s,7le for
the entire Union, or nearly one-ninth Of the
whole number. Ohio ranges next with %, s67,
or nearly one-twelfth Of the whole number,
followed closely by Indiana with 26,193. Next
come Michigan with iS,4B3, and Iowa With
1864. Pennsylvania with 5000, precedes
New York with Is, 8b5. Considering the rela-
tive populations Of these States Pennsylvania
and New York, it must be admitted, make On
excellent comparative showing, and especially
New York. In fact, it may be remarked in
passing, that both the State and city of New
York has record in the matter Of divorces
which must be considered eeditable AZ divorces
20 In these days. There were only eight
States and one Territory having In 1880 a
larger proportion OF married couples to ons
divorce than New York. These are Georgia,
Maryland, New-Jersey, Louisiana, Virginia,
Eew-Aletico North Carolina and Delaware,
and Of course, South Carolina. where divorces
are not granted. So that under this head New
York State stands tenth In the list Of forty
seven States and Territories, And the differ
ences are wide. Fo. example there were less
| than 275 married couples to one divorce in
Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, but In New
| York State there were I,15t. EewaYork City
does not appear at all in the list Of sixteen
cities having the worst records fer divorces,
| beginning with Indianapolis, giving that town
a bad eninenoe, and continuing, In the order
Of their divorce rank, through Providence, San
Francisco, Chicago Portland, Me-, Nashville
Cleveland, Memphis Eilwakes, ST. Louis
New-naven, Detroit Louisville, Boston, Dis
triot Of Columbia and Savannah. 1t hardly
need be said that this does not necessarily ind.
cate the looseness with which the marriage tie
! Is regarded IN these communities, but rather
the laxity Of the law, which attracts many from
elsewhere. who find the laws Of their own
| States less accommodating.
It IA an interesting fact, which Is probably
not generally known, that the most rapid in
crease in divorces in proportion to population
Is in the South, although II 20 still true thai
much tho larger number are granted in the
| North and West During the FIRST five year.
Of the twehtS-year period undor discussion tht
fourteen NUrthefn States east OF The Mississippi
granted Bs per cent Of all the divorces, and
during the last Ave years 81 per cent, which
was exactly their proportion Of the total pop
ulstion BY the osnsns Of 1880. The divorces
In shis region wsse 81 per cent more during tA'