Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-24
4 Dl,.srtatlonupon Marriage and divorce.

A DisssrtatlOuupOn Marriage and Divorce.
81. MARY's. w. VA, May II, 1892.
Il IL the highest function OF man and
woman TO raise and train family.
Civilization has put this end In view
the perpetuatlon and improvement OF
the race. The establishment OF homes,
the raising OF families, the founding OF
schools aud colleges, the planting OF
institutions, the maintaining OF govern
ments, all are but means TO this
end. Therefore marriage being
necessary TO the existence Of the family
is the most important and the most
sacred institution known TO humanity.
It's older than the state, and ranks
higher in importance, for the home
makes the everlasting foundation on
which civil government rests and is
stable and righteous in proportion as
homes are permanent and pure.
When we arraign the public life as
corrupt and low in moral tone, we are
making sad confession Of the corrup-
ton OF the private life and OF the low
moral standard OF the home. To re-
form the public life, the publication
must begin at the hearthstone.
The highest ideal OF marriage is like
" 10 eventuate in the highest type OF
family, and the best thing that can hap
pen TO any human being is to be well
born. A true marriage is the union OF
one man with Que woman, both OF whom
are normally developed, mentally, NOR
ally, and physically, Of suitable age and
similar convictions, who are drawn 10
each other by mutual respect and love.
The attraction OF each to the
other is so strong that it uniieS
their different tastes and temperaments
and makes their happiness consist in
mutual helpiulnesS. y renders con-
cession and fOrbearance an ever fresh
delight TO both, divides sorrow, doubles
pleasure and creates an Elyslnum that
is found nowhere else on earth. Now
whatever impairS the Integrity Of mar
rage is not only at war with its primary
intention (the proper rearing OF a
family. but it demoralizes both the
contracting parties. There always re-
sides in the highest ideal
of marriage the purpose OF
permanency. But there are crimes
committed by the married which defeat
the ends OF marriage and render con-
tinuance Of welded life intOlerable II
not impossible, to one or both OF the
parties. These are marital inhdelity,
drunkenness contracted after marriage,
cruelty, desertion, conviction for felony
or infamous crime, and, in the case OF
the husband, failure to provide
Tor the family, when the
81
the result Of physical inability or when
il might have been avoided by ordinary
industry.
These violate the solemn contract OF
the welded couple, made in the pres
ence OF a clergyman and witnesses,
which publicly ratified their previous
private betrothal. IL lowers the ideal
OF marriage and is at variance with the
best interests OF society, for such per-
sons TO be compelled to live in martial
relations.
II divorce is obtained because OF such
ofTenseS, il may, indeed, break up the
home; but far better so than TO perpe-
trato a greater wrong. No woman has
a moral right to become the mother Of
children when the father is liceutiOus,
drunken, and cruel. For this per-
petuates the brutishness aud woe Of the
race, and gives an extension of time TO
evils that humanity should outgrOw.
Unthinking as TO their cause, it has
appealed 10 heaven for relief. We are
learning to-day that relief can only come
from obedience 70 the laws Of being,
physical, mental and moral, from
higher ideal of marriage, from nObler
conditions OF parentage. 1t is the
very sin of sins to invoke the gift
of little children into homes foul
with corruption, where drunken
ness gibbers, lust ,poisons, brutality
deals murderous blows, and hate has
usurped the place Of love. If any law
made by man should seem to command
IL. by prohibiting divorce under any cir
cumstances, we may be be sure 1t would
be in contravention Of the divine law,
and be better "honored in the breach
than in the observance.
Yours, etc,
ANONYMOUS.