The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-10-09
No Divorces in South Caro-.
lima.

After a prolonged debate the South
Carolina constitutional convention has
decided to stand by the time-honored
policy of the state IN the matter OF d.
yorce laws. 1t was the sentiment OF
the CONVENTION that 80 divorce should
be granted for any cause whatever
The debate was full Of interest. On
the one side it was contended that the
high standard of morals in South Caro-
lima was due to the escredness OF the
marr,age relation. and 10 the practical
carrying out OF the rule that husband
and wife should take each other for bet
ter or worse until death parted them.
The other side argued for divorce on
the scrip,ural gr"und of adultery. but
it was without avail II came OUT Iii
the discussion that nearly every news
paper 10 the state. nearly every preacher
and the majority of the people opposed
a dis sorce law.
South Carolina is the o;ly state in
the union iD which it Is impossible TO
obtain a divorce. II has beea SO from
the FIRST. with the reception of brief
period of carpetbag rule. In those evil
dsys alien legislators forced a divorce
law upon the commoo wealth, but it was
very unpopular. aud i's provisions we're
taken advantage Of only by persons
from other states aod the negro popu-
la,ion. Tue moment the whites re-
gained control they repealed the "d'ous
Law
If the South Carolinians GO to ex-
tremes in this matter they err Oh the
side of virrue. It is better to have 10
divorces than 10 allow then: upo" the
pumerous and loose grounds permitted
iu other states. In some parts Of the
country the marriage tie is hardly re-
spec,ed because !: is so easy tor men
ADD women to get rid of it and contract
uew alliances. Ubder such system
people are careless in selecting their
partpevs for life, whereas in South Car.
olina i: is regarded as a very serious
business. The young tuen and women
aud their parents in that state know hat
marriage is solemn thing and that it's
bonds cannot; be broken. Naturally,
this makes society more guarded 10 its
Conduct toward strangers. Handsome
and magnetic adveuturers knock 10 vain
for admissiou| toto the society circles of
Charleston aud other cities in South
Caroliua. A man's credentials must
be something more than his outward
appearance and a we'll filled pocketbook.
Before people, admit MIN to their FIRE.
sides aud introduce him to their daugh
,ers they want to know just who and
what he is, and ali about bis ante,e
dents
Still it must be admitted that i. works
hsardsbip iu some cases for woman
to be compelled 70 remain the wife of
q man who turns oat felon, brutal
rascal or potorieusly unfai'bfri nus
band But this makes woman all the
more careful to select the right man for
husband. Whatever may be thought
of the wisdom of South Cardinals pei
icy in this respect. it must be said that
for pure morality her husbands and
wives canuct be surpassed by those Of
any civilized CO ountry in the world
One thing, I'D owever, ought to be dole,
South Carolina shculd be liberal enough
to recognize the divorces granted in
other states. even in cases where per-
son goes feom bat state to another and
gets the courts TO release him from his
matrimonial obligations In such cases
there should be DO legal ban upon the
parties OF their children by later mar
riages il they should return TO South
Carolina -Atlansa Constitution