New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-31
MARRIAGE IND DITORCE.

i ne dUIldl ItDDIl VI tIl' -'"''N''''
Reform League proves that tho work winch the
League exists to prosecute is making progress
In saving this we give to the word proves
lis full significance. for we have learned to trust
implicitly the statements of the corresponding
secretary. DR.. Dixie has the capacity to be eX-
acty truthful. where many other excellent men
have only the desire and intention This gift
or requirement is tho first requisite OF all who
are similarly employed, but unhappily zeal is too
often accepted as substitute for precision, and
in consequence the success Of many useful en-
deayors is hndered by diStruSt OF their Stats
tics. Among the reasons why the National
Divorce Reform League is steadily accomplish
ing its purpose must be reckoncd the trust
worthiness Of the information disseminated by
DR.. Dixie.
Six States, containing more than one-fourth
of the population of the whole country, have
created commissions to promote uniform leglSla-
ton upon marriage and divorce. This fact is
at once the evidence Of considerable intelligent
interest in the subject and reasonable aSSur-
ance OF practical achievement, for these com
missions are well constituted and in harmonious
co-operation The obstacles to National action
by means of constitutional amendment arc
many and great If not inSuperable but, as Judge
Brewster points out, if National action is finally
found to be essential no better preparation for it
can be suggested than the concurrent action Of
the various State commissions. The League ac-
ccpts that conclusion and will continue to apply
it. A conference of the six commissions Is likely
TO be held at an early date. But valuable ana
encouraging as is the promotion Of uniform leglS-
lation it is only part OF the problem to be
solved Eighty per cent of all the divorces
in the United States were granted 10 parties who
had been married in the very states IN when
they obtained divorce while large part OF the
remaining 20 per cent cannot be scrlbed to
the inducements which are offered by our con-
hicting laws to emigration for easy divorce ~
This and other ascer'aincd facts do not sustain
the common supposition that uniform statute law
is the chief need On the contrary, they lead
DR.. Dixie to declare that "most people who are
married or divorced, or who make wills or IN
herit property are practically unaffected for good
or i'll by the conflict Of laws"
Tho creation of comm SSions has usefully tended
10 suspend or decrease legislation pending their
agreement and report but nevertheless some
valuable laws have been enacted and much in
structive discussion has promoted popular knowI-
edge and interest. The sources Of poverty and
crime the protection of women and children from
insult and injury, the moTalities and influences
Of the family and tho home, and their relation
TO society, have been made 10 an increased eN-
tent the subject of inquiry and reflection. An
encouraging indication OF the desire for icnowl-
edge and the diffusion of il Is seen in the fact
that a second edition OF the report Of the United
States Commissioner of Labor on marriage and
divorce in this country and Europe has been al
most exhausted This educational work, the
very foundation Of reform, is largely assisted by
the colleges, which arc dcvotins more and moro
attention 10 sociology, especially in their theo-
logical departments, where only recently that
branch OF study was almost totally ignored To
the diffusion OF sound knowledge of the social
structure and it, institutions the University Tx
tension movement is peculiarly adapted. DR..
Dixie calls special attention 10 this opportunity
and Obligation, and hopes during the coming
wear to undertake little work in that field him
sslf. One important contribution to the perma-
nent literature Of the Family, that Of Professor
Westermarcl1, has been made the last year but
the periodical press has not furnished much OF
exceptional value.
Altogether, it is evident that the unscfSh
activities of the League arc progressively fruit
full that some forward steps which can bc ac-
c,lratey measured have been taken, aud that
tho state Of popular enlightenment which is
essential 10 the solution Of a great problem il
arpreciably nearer than il was year ago.