The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-03
Our DivorceIaws

The evils which grow out of the existing in =
cOngruous marriage and divorce laws through
out the various States are becoming more and
more manifest. The remedy for these evils
can only be found in uniform laws regulating
these relations. Thus far the advocates of a
uniform law are divided into two classes
first, those who favor an amendment TO the
Federal Constitution. giving the power to
legislate upon the subject 10 Congress- second.
those who advocate concert of action among
the States. These two classes may. for
convenience. be designated az those
who desire a national law enacted by Con-
gress and those who favor voluntary unifica-
ton through enactments by the various State
legislatures. The object TO be gained is the
same in both cases. but the means recon-
mended are very different The desired end
must be secured. and the least Objectionable
method should be adopted. Such system
of harmonious laws regulating the matri-
monial relations is absolutely essential TO the
welfare of our Republic, representing the
greatest nation and the most ambitious peo-
pile on the globe There is no longer any
room for hesitation or argument on this sub
iect Of uniform legislation for the necessity
Is imminent ard imperative. On March 3,
1887, Congress appropriated $4,000 TO enable
the Commissioner Cf the National Bureau of
Labor TO collect and report 10 Congress the
statistics Of and relating TO marriage and
divorce in the several States and Territories
and the District Of Columbia. That report
was issued by the said Commissioner on
February 20, 1889, and covers a period of
twenty years from 1867 10 1885. The stats
tics presented are of the most startling char
acter, showing a decided increase III the num-
Der of divorces granted and also in the ratio
Of divorces 10 the number of marriages during
the same period. They also show that while
there has been an increase of about 60 per
cent. in population, there has been an In
a
Der of divorces. which IS in excess
OF twice the increase in population.
The total number of divorces granted in
the United States during the twenty
years covered by the report reaches beyond
quarter of a million With these appalling
facts and figures before us, no one animated
with a patriotic concern for the public well
fare and for the purity and perpetuity OF our
peculiar social and civil institutions. can re-
main indifferent to this growing evil. which
threatens the foundations of our splendld
national superstructure. Divorces, and the
many evils which accompany them, are not
to be attributed alone TO the sO-called essen
tial wickednass of human nature, but also TO
the weakness and imperfectiOn of human
laws on this subject. AS long as divorces
may be secured in from one day TO
three years and on conditions from
the most trivial to the most severe, as
according 10 the various and conflicting laws
of the different States, these evils which so
shock and outrage morality and Christianity
must continue. Our only hope of escaping
tho sad anomalies which now 50 frequently
occur, rs of man being single in one State
but married in the next, IS by means of the
proposed uniform law It makes no differ
ence whether il be secured by national or lin
terstate legislation only give us the needed
reform and save the future generations from
this ciinging curse that enfOlds American So
ciety to-day as in a winding-sheet Of moral
death-New York Mail and Express.