New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-18
CTTTL MARRIAGE ~ HUNGARY.

Instead of remaining of old the chief cham
pion Of conservatism the realm OF the Haps-
burgs 10 becoming the vertable 'enfant terrible
Of European radcalism. ON the Austrian side
n scheme of well-nigh universal suffrage is
afoot introduced b. Count Taane. and sustained
nv his successor Prince Windischgr;itz. under
the direct monition. IL Is believed of the En-
peror himself. That it will go through soon
or late but probably soon. is forcgone conclu-
sion. on the Hungarian side there has been
introduced with the Kings permission. II not
actually with his support. a Civil Marriage bill
Of the most radical character That it, too. will
be enacted though perhaps with some modifica-
tons seems also we'll assured. although the
Roman and Greek churches are opposing 1t with
Utmost vigor If 1t does pass. in anything like
its present form. 1t will put Hungary. 50 far as
marriage and divorce concerned. In the very
front rank Of liberalism; though indeed the
measure is only revival Of one proposed
twenty-five years ago by the illustrious Francis
Deak
Az Introduced this Civil Marriage bill is a
formidable document Of l67 clauses 1t deals
with all phases of the marriage question. In
GLIDING gagements and divorces. and Is in
tended to be applied TO all subjects. without
distinction Of creeds In many respects II IL
similar 10 or Identical with the French code,
but in some important particulars goes consid-
erably beyond 1t. Enphatically It Is civil
marriage bill. for II not only makes Invalid any
contract OF marriage not made before the civil
registrar. but II imposes a fine OF $3.50 upon any
priest OF any creed who solemnizes a marriage
before the contract has thus been made. The
civil ceremony Is thus made compulsory. and
the religious ceremony reduced to the standing
OF mere work OF supererogation. Marriage
with 4 deceased wfcs sister long and 30
desperately wranged over In England. Is per-
mitted Damages can be claimed for breach OF
promise. Divorce is relegated exclusively to the
civil courts and may be granted on any Of ten
distinct grounds including cruelty. desertion
and incompatibility OF temperament-the last
named to be decided by the judge. Marriage OF
a guilty respondent with the correspondent may
be forbidden. And there is provision, in cases
OF incompatibility. for a separation for six or
twelve months during which reconciliation is to
be attempted through judicial mediation.
The Greek and Roman churches opposing
the measure three grounds. with only one
OF which will Americans feel sympathy, II. in !
deed. much with that. one ground Is that 1t |
makes marriage a civil contract: and another. |
that It establishes the principle and practice Of
divorce. almost unknown under ecclesiastical |
law These objections will here seem COM
Churchs Offices are altogether nulllhed. mar
rage by a priest being void. With that objec-
ton many Americans will doubtless sympathize.
being accustomed to seeing the clergy, for mar
rage purposes endowed with civil official func-
tons But in going to this extreme of secular
ism. Hungary will only show, France has
done. the zeal OF a new convert Our Govern
ment began vita entire freedom Of Church and
State. and consequently could afford to allow
the clergy of all creeds certain important privi-
leges. European States. bursting with mighty
efforts the bonds OF clericalism naturally
prone to exercise some vindictive tyranny over
their former master But In time an equilibrium
Of forces will be attained, and the nation will
enjoy the blessing OF IA free Church in free
State"