St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-27
A CRYING EVIL.

minneapolis naQ tragic sensation
last week, which will furnish good
text for the moralist in pointing out the
necessity for social reform in direc-
ton where American society is running
down at the heel. We alludo to the
killing Of young man who was shot
down in the public street by his wife's
alleged paramount. 1t is not with the
intention or disparaging the case now
before the criminal courts of Hennepin
county, nor in any wise to reflect upon
the slayer or the unfortunate woman
who was the cause of the tragedy, that
we take this episode as the text for
Sunday morning discourse; but rather
to use it as an argument i'll favor OF a
stricter observance of the marriage re-
latlon than is now the practice, aud
that the duties, the dignities and the
SacredneSs of that relation should be
universally respected. This obligation
attaches not only TO the parties to the
marriage contract. but to all the world
besides, including every member of
society.
1t is a sound proposition to state that
the only monopoly which can be justi-
fled Oh the ground of public policy is the
one acquired by the purchase Of mar
riage license. When man and
woman are married each is entitled to a
monopoly Of the others affection, and
the person who rObS either of their
priceless jewel is d thief of the most viii
famous type.
w, ra No;nF,,IJ,, fJ,nt hn 1oy
morality of the age. and particularly the
loose notions which prevail concerning
the sanctity of the marriage State-a
notion unfortunately encouraged by
legislation and judicial decisiOnS-has
had the effect of giving light coloring
to this particular form of vice, and to
reduce American society almost to the
standard of European ideas. 1t may be
too morbid view to take to say that the
intrigues and flirtatiOns of married men
and women are almost as common in
American society as in the French CAPT
tai. yet it is strictly within the bounds
of truth to say that they are too common
for the health of society, and that the
levity with which such sins are treated
is having a ruinouS effect upon the ris
ing generation.
There is an Old Latin maxim, the En-
lish of which is that 1.-THE path to hell is
of easy descent" And SO it is in all
social declines, the vices of one genera
ton are sure to be enlarged up0u by
the next. The proper course is for
each generation to reform itself; if it
has started wrong to tack and get back
into the proper pathway. There has
never been a time in the history of
American civilization when society
stood more in need of lessons impress
ing upon the minds ami hearts of til q
people the purity and sanctlty of home
life than now. And the way to teach
these lessons is to make notable eX-
ample of those who violate the sanctity
of the marriage state.
1t must be depraved and debauched
public sentiment which would seek to
shield the polluter Of the home from
punishment, and which will permit to
go unscathed of the law that class of
Lotharios who prey upon virtue and
turn it into vice, who sport with inno-
ccnce in order to poison it, and who
make mockery of love and play
thing of truth. And the spirit Of
eternal justice must have fled from a
land where husband can be shot down
in cold blood for protesting against the
robbery of his wife's love, and aproper
punishment not be melted out to the
robber and slayer. 1t can be no iustif-
cation for crime Of this character to
say that the woman met the man half
way. All the more pity it is for fallen
womanh0od, that she should be an &C
complete in the theft of her own honor
| or that she should be party to the
destruction of her happy home life; yet
her criminal conduct does not mitigate
the otfenSe against society perpetrated
by the principal in the crime.
1t is better to go back to the puritani-
cal ideas Of our ancestors. which cling
to the old and homely virtues, than to
follow the new path which society is
treading, and which will surely lead
into debauching the public mind into
the belief that vice is virtue, and that
turpitude is morality. 1t is national
necessity that we shrsl maintain che
sweet. bright home of the olden DAYS,
| with its untainted domestic circle, and
upon which the nlildew of shame can
uot fall without swift visitation of
punishment upon the author of the out