Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-03-18
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.
Interesting Dissertation Upon III. SUBJ
ject by u Western .%pournaiixs.

- WI LsIN IS-tS lb1ICa lllCItIDtiS w
which the advent of Il new year is
celebrated in the United States, is
the publication of the number of mar
riagcs and divorces in every COM
munity. No newspaper, however
humble, neglccts this mark of respect
to the statistical progress of our
Christian C.; sili2a,ion. We have not
vet rcceived the figures for Chicago.
Kansas City. MARTINEZ, and other
popular divorce resorts; but those of
san Francisco Indicate that, though
VIC may not have a place of honor in
The very first rank. We hold a respect
able position we'll forward III the
blithcsomc procession of the severed
The preliminary step toward divorce
neutrality-suspicious. to !c taken
here with laudablc frequency.
Tho annual output of these mar
riagc and divorce statistics is invar-
iably followed by Il revival OF the dis
cussion as to the causes which impel
the welded to seek freedom. Ii, as
is usually held by the grave clcrgymcn
and sociologiSts who are most promi-
ncnt is this recurring debate s:thc sa-
crcdness of the marriage tic is the
hope of the nations stability" this
country is in a bad way, since inquiry
has developed the appalling fact that
there are more divorces granted am
nually i'm tho United States than in
all the Christian world lcsidcs-Pro-
tcstant, Catholic, and Greek. This
statement should, VIC think, cause Il
pause On the part of those who assume
it as an automatic truth that Il na-
tion's morality l., gagged by it's divorce
record. Certainly America is no
wickcdcr than the relatively divorce
less nations of Europe. and j. is not
of common knowledge That South
Carolina, which grants no divorce at
all. is conspicuous among the States
of the Union for the domestic and
other virtues. Those who assume the
immortality, arc also of the class who
hold that the esteem i'm which woman
is held is Indicative of the stage of
civilization achieved by community.
Here, obviously, as we have bcwil-
dcring contradiction, for i'm no other
country on earth is Woman's position
so high as in the United States. Our
Difference to tho sex and their indie
pendcncc, not To say arrogance, OF
attitude toward the male of the spc-
cieS. excite the wonder Oi tho travcl-
ing foreigner, and also sometimes his
ungallant laughter and contempt.
We are deemed, and with Justice, to
he a nation OF wolnam-wo!shipcrs.
How comes it, then, that in IL civil
iZation which accords to "oinan IL
higher place than is given hcr else
where, is so notably prolific oil di-
vorccs?: We Il not, Of course. listen
for IN instant to the cynical suyges-
tion that the question presents the
solution, since il state, both cause
and effect. Heaven forbid that any
attempt should he made to abatc di-
vorcc by restoring III to that
humble state OF subsection i'm which
less advanced peoples restrain her, to
the great comfort OF the male inliabi-
tants. The truth sCnimS TO lie in the
hands OF tho women of the United
States alone lies the power of remedy
ing this condition of things which
embarrasscs us as IL people, for it must
be confessed that the statistics of di-
NOrcc are confusing tn the mind
which is educated to believe that
only by the elevation of woman is tic
arrival OF the sinlcss millennium to:bc
fastened. 1T would lie we'll. of course,
to secure uniformity OF the law among
the States. or a National Statute de-
erecting uniformity: but, after all, the
ladies will ever continue to be the
court OF last resort. Were it possible
to induce them, of their free grace, to
exercise a little more patience with
the coarser-iibcred, undermined
male, the situation, we think, would
speedily be corrected. Fifty women
apply for divorce. to n man. This
does not always mean what it seems
to mean, however; for so profound is
American reverence for woman that
a custom, having the force of law,
exists, under which Il gentleman who
desires separation permits his wife,
who may really DC the offender and
defendant, to appear on the records
of the court, in the newspapers. and
to the public mind. as the injured and
interesting plaintiff. No true gentle.
mar will be guilty of any act which
would tend to reduce the chances OF
his wife to make an advantageous
second marriage. In nearly all of the
States. divorce may he obtained fol
unfaithfulncss, dCsertion. cruelty, i'm.
prisonmcnt for felony, drunkenness,
and ncgi,ct to provide. These are
the statutory olfcnses,. hut, in reality,
the principal cause of divorce is i'm
politencss. "A man. even an Amcri
can, finds it not always easy to be a:
ardently attentive to IL lady who has
become his wife as he was won't to bt
to the am lady when she wa.
single and open to unscalcd proposals
Naturally this failure in enthusiasm
is not agreeable to the lady, who
with a %irequncy which is understand
able, hut yet deplorablc, proceeds tt
create Il home atmosphere distastcfu
to the husband. who consequent,
seeks, in obedience to the prompting
of native masculine d%cpravity, diver