The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-06

A husband recently obtained . divorce
IN New York city from his wife on the
ground that she had committed adultery
With one Ridgeway Moore. . man we'll
known IN club circles and in the society OF
fashion. for he 10 . wealthy bachelor. the
New York representative Of the we'll
known paper manufacturer. Jsssup Il
Moore. The testimony on which the hus-
hand secured the divorce VAS given by
this very man. Ridgeway Moore, who WAS
the only witness against her. and who
admitted his Illicit relations with the
woman. though previously she had cen
ssassd her guilt in letters pleading for
forgiveness. This witness, Ridgeway
Moore. who il closely related to one
NJ the most distinguished families in
Philadelphia, vent upon the stand and
frankly testified TO the only offsnse that
justifies divorce In New York state.
The New York correspondent Of the
Philadelphia Press says:
HE was member of number Of tho
most aristocratic clubs in this city. and af-
ter he left the witness stand he found that
those who had been his friends refused
even to speak TO him or acknowledge his
greeting. He 10 thus punished not because
he had sinned, but because he did not de-
fend the reputation Of that woman. He
will probably be driven out Of New York;
he Is blasted socially quite ~ much a.
She"
Tho New York Sun takes No this re-
narkable case, and editorially says:
AS consequences. the man is now os-
sracised in his clubs and rejected socially.
tie Is condemned to dirgrace; and un-
doubleday he deserves the fate because Of
his breach Of the laws OF morality. II the
offending woman II made to suffer, 90 also.
in justice. should her paramonr receive At
fneut Is administered TO him, however. on
other grounds than his guilt Of the offense
he proved against her by his testimony.
she Is cast OF legally because of her inti-
deity. hc il cast off socially because he
told the truth under oath, and thus gave
away the woman"
Al . matter Of popular morality IL this
a sound view or is it mere casuistry
In our judgment IL is sound. Men OF
aonor do not say that perjury 10 . moral
act. they only say that il a man consents
20 be . woman's partner in tho offense
against the marriage relation, he shall
stand the consequences. If he Is weak
enough to accept the extremity of .
woman's confidence. he must stand by his
guns. The time for him to decide whether
ne will ''go back" on the woman 10 before
SO has accepted her confidence. The
saoment he has accepted it he must pro-
iect the woman under all circumstances.
and IL he testiiies at ali in divorce PRO
oeedings. his testimony must b for her.
without regard to the truth. and without
regard to his oath.
This 10 the practical, everyday. outdoor
ethics Of mankind. and in our judgment IL
10 bottomed on equity. humanity and
justice. because the social sufferer Of the
Joint offense IL the woman and not the
man. The woman risks everything by an
unlawful iatimacy. for discovery means
her social downfall. while the man unfor-
,unateiy risks little in the way OF social
position. Under these circumstances
there Is implied obligation on the par. o.
The man to protect the woman from ex-
posture. The Nav York San CUTS all the
sanetimonious plea for the .hecpish nara
snour who testified sgains, the woman
when il says:
Gle enters into the immoral relations
understanding that such 10 his advantaee
and as a compensation for IL there is an
implied obligation on his part to protect
the woman from exposure. Ii She saer,.
does herself for him. men require tina. he
shall make At least the return of holding
snviolaele the secret OF the coyruut init
macy. otherwise he must keep out Of n.
IL his conscience forhids him to peri,,-e
himself Ia her behalf. il should have pre-
vented him from entering into the i.iici,
relations with her. Having Committed
the trss ofiense Tor his osn PURPOSES he
mas; commit the other for her salvation.
i III - sanitary requirement for IL holds
men "a some responsibility for such
iisgrans violations of social morality n
they wish ~ asosd the consequences thev
must AVOID the cause. woman who an
tsFs into such FORBIDDEN intimacy STAKE,
her whole reputation. and the Ynsa xho i,
guilty with her ought not IN Justice "a
risk iesA When he gets of from an af.
tease. which condemns her 10 social nan.
isament. With NO other penalty than tn.
Necessity Of keeping her secret. he escsnrx
w.sh comparative ease. The seventh com.
a;sndment makes no distinction between
asea and womea. but practically society
applies il IN its severity 10 women alone. /"