New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-22
THE BIGANY MOUENENT.

The practice of ligamy is having, for 'one
reason, universal attention the part OF the
men Of this country at present The epidemic
seemed to begin with Ohio man, who had
FIVE wives and got five years in I'll" pcnItcntlary'
though This precedent OF one year ior each wife
las not been followed. since in the next case,
which WINS reported from Michigan, the man had
only THREE wives; still they will be deprived OF
his support and comfort for ~ les than eight
years Then followed m Iowa man with half
dozen helpmatrs scattered about the country, and
after that came tho blgamous dclugc, with CAGES
reported from every State in the Union. and with
wives hurrying about on every train TO keep APP
pointmcnis for presenting too industrious hus-
bands The movement eliminated two weeks
ago with a man in South Carolina. who was
brought into court and mad" 10 fac" twenty
tire. wives gathered from Maine TO California.
When the ease Of this man was first opened
fhcra We're only twelve wives present. but two
others coming In the Judge looked ont of the
window and obsrryod three moro approaching
from the direction of the Hallway station, and re-
marked that IL would probably be advisable to
adjourn court Till after the arrival Of the o'clock
train. 10 give ia" back counties II chance TO he
heard FROM the wisdom OF which NOV" was shown
when SIN FIRM determined women alishted M tile
depot and inquired the way to the courthouse.
interesting 10 the student of human nature on
account " the number Of difficult questions
which It brings up. We never hear Of woman
being brought into court after having wandered
about the country and married number Of
men WHY l. this 30 . TIL" hnsty may answer
that IL is because women are not SO anxious TO
yet married IA mon: but this would he an in
iudicious reply for the hasv 10 make, as one plain
South Carolina man cannot accumulate twenty
three hclpmates without considerable willingness,
if not enthusiasm, on III" part OF III" women Of
the country 10 enter into the blessed state Of
matrimony Can 1t be- possible that the answer
lies in the opposite drcction-thnt men are
temp,cd 10 30 about marrying right and left be-
couse il IL such an easy thing to do? Perish the
Thought For proof that women have no desire
20 marry We have only 10 look at neichboring
New -Enqland Tho number of unmarried Indies
there shows beyond doubt that women are not
anxious to secure husbands. What, then, Is the
reason that frequently make large col
lcctions Of wives with apparent ease while women
never seem even 10 attempt the accumulation OF
husbands In sufficient quantities TO attract the
attention Of the courts We are inclined TO
think that the secret lies with the men who are
doing the widespread marrying we do not he
licyo that every man need lnttcr himself that
he could start out and get together enough wivcu
In six months Il that the Jury would have 10
stand up that they might all have seats We
believe if the matter is investigated 10
will be found that these men who 70 about max
ing their lives wedding ceremony have some
hopclessy bad habit-drink, Jet IFS say-and that
their wives all married them 10 save them.
Woman's enthusiasm for saving man through mnr-
rage is too wcll-SnOwn to need comment. We
are Of tho opinion that many New-England women.
apparently committed to permanent spinstcrhood.
could he induced to marry by bringing forward
man for whom the outlook for saving was
sufficiently discouragng. or course this view OF
tho matter makes it highly altrustic and noble
on the part of woman, but this il precisely what
we have always held woman 70 be-noble and
altruistic, and universal JOY forever
The thought occurs 10 ns, Will the advent OF
the political control Of the country by woman.
which must Of course soon come III crinoline can
lac war,lcd on, be marked by any change in tho
laws relating to bigamy? Will they be repealed
or course while man is in States prison he can
not be married, even il il were TO save him from
a dozen bad habits. But If the law is done away
with. it will i'll become man to mako fuss
ohout II