Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-07-15
A WORD oS PURITY.

A WORD On flklll.
We arc informed by a correspondent
that some Of the people Of Fountain
Green have been gravely discussing
the question whether three.fourih- OF
the worlds population vino marry do
10 with the "impurc motive" OF IN
dulglug their passions. At last ao'
counts they bad not yet come to
positive decision, and wanted the
DEsEREr NEWS 10 settle the question.
Speaking generally, we should say
that discussing msn'a motives In any
transaction or viclsslludo Is n profit
less occupation, unless, Indeed the
arguer's "notiye" IA 10 perpeirntc n
scandal upon some person or
institution whose actions without
such discussion mlght not afford
any basis for arraignment We feel
perfectly safe In ssying that "throo'
fourths." or nlnety.nine hundredlhs
for that mattur,of those who "indulge"
the somewhat prevalent passion for
impugning motives, not only sluluiy
themselves In every case, but by the
circulation Of error not iuir'quently
become responsible for serious wrong.
But leaving mere speculation entire.
ly out OF the discussion AMI referring
Judgment to simple questions Of fact,
the query Iropounied, we think, can
be disposed Of In very few words TO the
utmost satisfaction Of any thinking
person. Proceeding upon the
general axiom that the only
proper evidence of "lmpure mo.
tive" IL impure or dishon-
orable conduct, we would ask:
Fret, what are the obligations OF mar.
rage which could be- construed Ia any
way TO affect the question at issue?
On the part Of tho man there 10 "a
pledge In the usual and formal cere-
mony Of marriage to cherish aud pro.
tect his wife anu children; In other
words he promises 10 supply the wants
Of the home and be n constant pro.
teclor OF the family against adversely,
30 far as ho Is aOle. These are serious
obligations, aud II would BIO preroslcr-
Gus TO assume that any rational being
would look upon such a contract
Rs trivial while entering upon II
In good faith. The only legitimate
question IN the premises for die.
cussiOn II, therefore, whether three.
fouTths Of such pledges are made dis.
honestly. IA before explained, the
only safe guide to the question 10 the
actual conduct OF men. DO three.
fourtha OF the married world regularly
and deliberately violate the pledges OF
mAtrlmony In the line indicated? II
IN short time or with the frat oppor.
tunity after MARRIAGE man deserts his
wife or u wife her husband, without
sufficient cause, 1t Ia evidence Of bad
faith in the contract, showing with
much certainty that the relation was
entered into for simply a temporary
qualification or by reason Of ileetinp
within. II, being in tho maTElage rela.
tion, a man CANDLES away his earn
ings, or squanders his meaus la pTOhi
gate extravaganza by pampering hu
personal cravings and absorbing lol
his own appelites and desires tina
which belongs 10 the wife, chill
dren aud home dependent uplr
him for support such mal
may DO justly charged with ba,
faith In his marriage contract. with
out multiplying examples, guppos,
that all whose conduct In married M,
beIrays some such palpable evidence
OF dishonesty be- olassel together a,
having married with "impufe mo.
tves," while over against them at,
chased those who to all outward ap
pearauce have fulfilled their mprgiag.
covenants u Cue ne indicl.eI 20 the
best Of their ability Tor the motives %
n man who does this cannot uo lm
peaoued. D4es any one urleyc tHal
such an rXnibet woulIsnud ass 90 ]
against tuo purity VI the maruag,
cuuimc2
But We mlro than suspect th,
pre-,nre Ia this "Iiscuslon" Of tur
tan ouuIonlal Aiaoy that the c4rau
passion it,elf 10 a pollution under q.
circumstances. II 10y pure marriage
10 meant only the matrimonial uuiol
Of persons who believe the pn,m Il de
sire 10 be a sin, there 10 no question 4
be decided. Sucn morbid eEailalion !
rare article in this munIaue exist
once, which, II We undentupd u
plan Of nature, was uesignoi quite O
much foraiau as Tor the rec. Of creation