The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-06

give implicit obedience. There Is indeed
potent rule without. which We woald
not overlook or in any measure beliftle
The esteem Of family. friends and society
has strong restraining infinsncs from In
temperance or other vice. bat the supreme
Law Is written upon mans inner being
and requires him 20 act IN obedience
thereto, simpsy because il is in Obedience
70 the Law OF reason. This is really the
highest Law OF ethics, which obeyed must
constantly develop what is best in man
hood and womahood. This higher law
when in force compels respect for its ma
j4sty and authority. To il appetite Is
sacrificed and sense subdued: and, when
the soul is made bond-siave 10 drink, It's
terrible retribution is the consciousness oil
selfabasement. aud not so much the loss
OF esteem, which can easily be imagined as
unjust or not wholly deserved.
What is especially sad in the Ease to
which We have referred, IS that the cause
Of this deplorable condition OF mother
is attributed to trouble in the family. II
marriage were no more than civil con-
tract, we should infer that the one into
which this woman entered was the very
worst that could be made. and that Its
violation had brought upon her and her
children fearful punishment But the
marriage relation, the foundation OF the
family. rests upon broader ground than
that of mere private or special agreement
IL is more than private contract L. Is
the foundation Of society, and has FOR Its
grand end the perfection OF the whole
domestic institution. Nor Is IL imposed
upon society as means to an end. 1t
finds the reasons for its existence in the
human constitution itself. Iss origin Is
higher than mere human convenience. A
mans spiritual nature differs from
woman's; both are one-sided and incom-
plete; and to render them complete re-
quires union or BLEEDING of the two, SO
that they may become essentially one.
This is the real foundation Of the family.
and there is found in it more than the
mere civil contract which the. law recog-
nizes.
The family should therefore not be the
cause of any moral enervation or degrade
ton of either husband or wife. On the
contrary ii should have an elevating and
refining influence; it should tranquilllze
differences in disposition; and the CON-
plete spiritual union should strengthen
each in his sovereignty over the animal
appetites. The birth of children should
add additional strength to the union, and
their subsequent care and education
should be a constant incentive to a higher
life on the part of the parents; for they
then live, not for themselves, but for their
children.
When, however, wife and mother,
whose moral nature is naturally stronger
than mans. or at least exposed to less
danger. becomes through domestic trouble
a victim to habitual drunkenness, the evil
influences that lead TO such condition
must be great indeed. Such influence, If
it became widespread, would greatly de-
range, If not destroy. society; and it is to
be hoped that the law Will ultimately be
made flexible enough to reach such cases,
as il is cheaper to prevent depravity than
to care for the depraved. The state has,
indeed. an interest in the family. as mar
riage is a public institution. Especially
has it an interest in the children; for.
since the sovereignty Of our government
is in the people, its very perpetuity will
depend upon the intelligence and morality
Of the coming generation.